We at Green Machine have focused our efforts to design a complete single stream recycling system that requires the least amount of upfront capital, labor, and building space. The complete system is capable of processing 6-12 TPH of traditional single stream material within a 17,000 sq. ft. building space with 20 ft. ceilings, and can be operated with only 5-10 employees! Our modular phased approach requires little to no site work and enables recycler’s low initial start-up costs with the ability to grow.
Manual, semi, and fully-automated systems utilizing hyperspectral artificial intelligent optical and robotic technologies.
5 questions about the most powerful primary shredder on the market
Custom Content - Ask the experts | Hydraulic-Driven Primary Shredders
Sean Richter sales manager, shredding & recycling systems at Shred-Tech, answers questions about primary shredders.
1. Which application trends have been growing in demand this decade for primary shredders and why?
We have seen gaining momentum and demand for primary shredders in North America for waste-to-energy, composting, wood waste, natural disaster cleanup and construction and demolition applications. The general need for volume reduction of materials previously thought to be too tough or bulky for existing technology also has increased.
With mobile primary shredders, you have the ability to bring the reduction equipment to the waste stream, which typically reduces hauling costs by as much 10:1. Shredding these bulky materials on-site also greatly reduces material handling costs.
2. How can primary shredders benefit companies with multiple application shredding needs?
Sites such as transfer stations can benefit immensely from using this machine for batch processing as it can shred wood one moment, then move on to white goods, mattresses, solid waste and more.
The HAAS TYRON transportable shredder has the ability to process materials ranging from green waste to baled aluminum extrusions to mixed streams, such as construction debris, and more. By simply adjusting the settings on the machine, we can vary shred size, throughput and even capability in terms of capturing and shredding difficult material.
3. What advantages can transportable hydraulic shredders offer in terms of durability and output?
The HAAS TYRON has been designed to operate 24/7 in all weather conditions, ranging from extreme heat to frigid climates. The machines are equipped with proven Scania industrial engines, top-of-the-line closed loop hydraulic systems and an easy-to-use operator interface.
Throughput rates can be optimized and even controlled by simple program changes to match downstream equipment requirements.
Sean Richter sales manager, shredding & recycling systems, Shred-Tech
4. What features should waste processors look for in a primary shredder?
Choosing a shredder with an independent shaft control will provide you with the most versatility when processing varying material streams. HAAS TYRON shredders have the ability to run either shaft in forward or reverse, together or separately, and at different rates per minute for varying lengths of time. The main advantage of this feature is that tough materials can be broken down with a random shredding action from the back-and-forth shaft motion (always reorienting material in the cutting chamber), so soft pliable materials such as plastics and wire will not wrap the shafts.
5. What are the maintenance considerations for owners of these shredders?
Ideally, choose a shredder with cutting tools that can be maintained and rebuilt on-site. The HAAS TYRON’s cutting chamber is a unique design of welded, hard-faced tools, combs and breaker bars that can be easily touched up or repaired back to their original state when worn. With regular service, these chambers will last for years, maintaining their original reduction performance. There are no tips to replace, break off, wear or seize in their holders and no chamber screens to wear or jam.
Shredders without internal chamber screens typically have the highest throughput with the least chance of damage from materials that cannot be shredded.
Metals, Mergers & Acquisitions
Departments - Newsworthy
Recent news from the various sectors of the recycling industry
Alter Trading Corp., headquartered in St. Louis, has purchased substantially all the assets of Schneider’s Iron & Metal Inc., headquartered in Kingsford, Michigan. The purchase expands Alter’s physical footprint into Michigan.
In 1948, Theodore “Ted” Schneider founded the company, which has four scrap processing facilities in Kingsford, Escanaba and Negaunee, Michigan; and in Marinette, Wisconsin. The Kingsford yard includes the company’s automobile shredding operation, which features a Metso 80x104 shredder that was installed in 2013, says Patrick Young, Alter regional director of operations for northern Wisconsin.
“The Schneider family has always run a great operation and has been a strong supporter of all local business in its communities, and we look forward to continuing in their footsteps and to expanding Alter’s presence in the Upper Peninsula,” says Michael Goldstein, senior vice president of operations for Alter.
Ron Schneider, president and co-owner of Schneider’s Iron & Metal, says, “After working for decades to build this business and maintain good family-supporting jobs for our community, we were committed to finding a buyer that would continue our tradition of integrity by valuing our employees and providing excellent customer service. We found that with Alter, a family-oriented company with a dedicated leadership and a business model that will continue this company’s success into the future.”
Alter says the Schneider yards will become part of the northern Wisconsin division of Alter, which is led by Young and his team based in Green Bay.
Ben Schneider has been managing the Kingsford yard, while Aaron Schneider has been managing the Escanaba facility, Young adds. Both men will continue to work in these capacities for Alter.
Bob Ellis, senior vice president and general counsel for Alter, says Schneider’s employed between 35 to 40 people, which Alter plans to retain.
Padnos, with headquarters in Holland, Michigan, has announced the acquisition of Regal Recycling, Howell, Michigan.
According to a news release from Padnos about the purchase, the acquisition includes two locations: the one in Howell, which Padnos will operate, and one in Whitmore Lake, Michigan, which GLR Advanced Recycling, headquartered in Roseville, Michigan, will operate. Padnos acquired a significant interest GLR in the summer of 2018.
The Padnos-GLR partnership now has 26 locations throughout Michigan as a result of the acquisition.
Padnos President Jonathan Padnos says, “This move furthers regional consolidation and allows us to better serve our customers throughout Michigan. Padnos views Howell as a vibrant and growing community, and we want to be part of that growth.”
Vern Brockway had been the owner of Regal Recycling since 1993. At that time, the company operated a single location in Howell. In 2011, Regal opened its recycling center in Whitmore Lake, near Ann Arbor. The 4.5-acre facility includes a 10,000-square-foot warehouse, according to the company’s website.
The former Regal facilities offer ferrous and nonferrous metals recycling as well as auto parts salvage and electronics recycling.
Paper
Departments - Newsworthy
Recent news from the various sectors of the recycling industry
McKinley Paper Co., a subsidiary of Mexico-based Bio Pappel, has acquired U.S. Corrugated Inc., Washington, Pennsylvania, and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. U.S. Corrugated is an independent producer of corrugated packaging.
Combining U.S. Corrugated with McKinley Paper’s business will help to create a fully integrated paper and packaging company with a vertically aligned network of paper mills, box plants, sheet plants and a distribution network in the United States and maquiladora region in Mexico, U.S. Corrugated says in a news release announcing the acquisition.
McKinley Paper operates a paper mill in Prewitt, New Mexico, and one in Washington state.
U.S. Corrugated is part of a fully integrated packaging company with a network of corrugated industrial Alpha-Box Plants in Southern California, Georgia and Indiana. The organization also includes an Alpha-Box Plant in Mexicali, Mexico, and a full-service sheet plant in Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
“The personal and professional relationship I have enjoyed over the past 25 years with Bio Pappel’s CEO Miguel Rincón and his family served as the impetus for this strategic alliance, which will allow U.S. Corrugated to become a fully integrated paper and packaging company,” says U.S. Corrugated founder Dennis Mehiel.
“This strategic acquisition allows Bio Pappel to expand its international footprint by doubling the size of its current operations in the USA to achieve an outstanding integration into higher value-added products and to substantially increase the geographic reach of its operation in [the] U.S.,” says Ignacio Rincón, Bio Pappel vice president.
Indonesia to use ISRI specifications for recovered paper imports
The Indonesian government has announced that it plans to use Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) specifications for recovered paper imports, according to a news release from the Washington-based trade association.
In May, the Indonesian government imposed new regulations on imports of recovered paper in an effort to crack down on illegal shipments. They included a 0.5 percent contamination limit and preshipment inspections on all shipments, according to ISRI. Also, shipments entering Indonesia needed to be “clean, dry and homogeneous,” under the new regulations, which led to much confusion in the recovered paper industry, ISRI says, as little clarity was provided on what “homogeneous” meant.
However, ISRI’s specifications for recovered paper set a standard of 1 percent to 2 percent for prohibitives and 3 percent to 4 percent for outthrows. Malaysia also is using the specifications to define its use of the word “homogeneous,” ISRI reports. Indonesia’s use of ISRI specifications will offer more clarity in the nation’s regulation, the association adds.
London-based DS Smith, a packaging provider, has announced plans to further expand in North America by opening its new headquarters in Atlanta. The firm’s growth in the North American market follows DS Smith’s acquisitions of Interstate Resources, Corrugated Container Corp. and The Display Connection recently.
The new headquarters is in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta and will house more than 50 employees in DS Smith’s sales, marketing, finance, legal and technical departments.
“We’ve always thrived on finding innovative ways to help customers achieve more for less—sell more, reduce costs, manage risk and complexity in their supply chain,” says Miles Roberts, global CEO of DS Smith. “For years, we’ve helped companies across industries—from pharma and consumer packaged goods to retail and e-commerce—to redefine packaging across the world, and this expansion marks a key milestone in our journey to bring our innovative business model to the U.S.”
“We see a major opportunity to redefine packaging for the U.S. using our closed loop system and heritage as a leading innovator in Europe. Our new Atlanta headquarters will help us with that effort,” says James Morgan, president and CEO of DS Smith North America. “Atlanta is a global hub of activity for the packaging industry, and we’re excited to bring competitive, challenging career opportunities to this particular market while having access to some of the country’s top talent.”
DS Smith also broke ground in January on a greenfield facility in Lebanon, Indiana.
The Port Townsend Paper Corp., Port Townsend, Washington, says it plans to increase its intake of recycled cardboard with the installation of a new pulper. The company also has announced plans to reduce its consumption of freshwater by roughly 1 million gallons per day.
Kevin Scott, Port Townsend Paper general manager, says the mill currently consumes about 40 percent recycled fiber. With the upgrade, it will be able to consume an average of 60 percent recycled fiber. Additionally, he says the mill’s old corrugated container (OCC) processing capacity will increase from 400 tons to 800 tons.
Scott says the mill will complete installation of the new pulper at the end of October during its annual maintenance outage.
“Recycled fiber is available,” Scott says. “It’s a good, quality fiber. It’s lower cost than virgin fiber. By modifying the pulper to run continuously and with improved cleaning systems, it allows us to increase capacity. It will decrease our mill’s water use because it won’t need cooling. It also will be adding about four jobs to support increased capacity.”
Port Townsend Paper Corp. primarily produces containerboard for domestic use and unbleached kraft pulp that’s typically exported to Asia.
Scott says the mill buys much of its recovered fiber from the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Transportation, Associations
Departments - Newsworthy
Recent news from the various sectors of the recycling industry
Recycling industry seeks relief from excessive rail charges
Members of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, have testified before a U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) hearing that rail is a critical mode for transporting ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal, particularly for distances greater than 200 miles. Because many recycling facilities are served by only one major freight railroad, few options are available. According to a news release from ISRI, this means recycling companies often face poor rail service and skyrocketing transportation fees.
ISRI called on the STB to address unreasonable railroad practices related to rail car supply and storage fees.
“It’s time for the STB to evaluate the commercial fairness of railroad demurrage tariffs and practices, which in many cases are the result of delays across the broader rail network,” says ISRI President Robin Wiener.
Since major Class 1 freight railroads implemented “precision rail scheduling” at the beginning of 2019, scrap metal recycling companies have seen astronomical increases in shipping costs, ISRI says.
The system also includes unreasonable rail practices, the association says, such as reductions in available time for rail car loading, unloading and storage; service inconsistencies that precipitate demurrage and storage charges and impact facility operations (e.g., bunched cars or missed switches); the introduction of “not prepared for service” charges; and congestion charges.
According to ISRI, the association found additional examples of unfair rail practices experienced by its members. One member reported an increase in demurrage and storage charges of 669 percent in the first two months of 2019 compared with the 2018 average. Another member paid 1,000 percent more in demurrage and storage charges per month so far in 2019 compared with 2017.
To mitigate the expense, scrap facilities must employ a second crew or require employees to work overtime, driving up operating costs.
ISRI says it is asking the STB to apply the following principles in its evaluation of reasonableness of railroad demurrage practices:
demurrage practices must serve their underlying purpose of incentivizing an efficient rail network and must not be designed to generate additional revenue for the railroads;
railroad customers should not be penalized for railroad service failures; and
railroad customers should be given sufficient notice to allow for adjustment of their operations.
ISRI says it also supports the STB’s collection and analysis of rail data on demurrage and accessorial charges to help ensure these fees incentivize rail network efficiencies.
