Shredding technology presents new opportunities for wood recycling and biomass sector

A new electric-drive shredder designed and engineered by Austrian headquartered UNTHA, is set to increase capacity, profitability and safety levels in the pioneering wood recycling and biomass market. And, unusually for this sector, the ground-breaking technology is now available as either a static or mobile solution. 

The UNTHA XR shredder has received worldwide acclaim for its production of high quality RDF and SRF. Yet six months of rigorous testing in a variety of wood shredding conditions across Europe, mean the machine can now be configured to suit numerous biomass and wood recycling specifications.

Purposefully designed to achieve high throughputs, low operating costs, energy efficiency, low noise, foreign object protection and ease of maintenance in an array of alternative fuel production environments, the XR delivers a number of additional benefits of particular value when shredding waste wood and green waste/root stock.

The slow speed yet high torque drive means the XR can consistently process up to 40 tonnes of wood per hour, with utmost consideration for safety. Dust levels are significantly minimised and the potential for a spark is also reduced, which drastically lessens the risk of fire when compared to competitor machines. For added protection, UV, infrared and spark detectors can be installed alongside extinguishing nozzles.

UNTHA’s trials also concluded that, thanks to the machine’s particle homogeneity, the XR produces fines as low as 5%. The shredder therefore yields up to 20% more saleable biomass material per tonne than other solutions on the market – often without the need for any additional screening systems – and reduces the disposal costs associated with non-specification outputs. The ease and speed with which foreign objects can be removed – in a matter of only five minutes – also supports the impressive performance of this machine.

Commenting on the wood shredder’s market launch, UNTHA’s product manager Christoph Lahnsteiner said: “We put all new shredders through their paces in our own testing centre in Salzburg. But trials with real customers allow us to make ongoing refinements that ensure the technology really performs in the environments they’re designed for.

“We’ve configured a screen setup specifically to meet the ISO 17225 P63 wood chip fuel specification, for example, which, during trials, achieved impressive throughputs of 30-35 tonnes per hour without compromising the safety, homogenous product quality and energy efficiency benefits we set out to deliver. And, it’s important to add that we did all of this in a single pass, even when shredding bulky products such as board”

The electrically-driven XR is available as either a static machine or a mobile solution supplied on tracks. Christoph continues: “Because this shredder was designed to be flexible, it’s important that we offer clients the option to move the kit around their production facility, should they need to. It can also process other material streams such as C&I waste, bulky waste or production materials, which maximises the return for operators who may not always have enough wood to shred.

“This emission-free technology also consumes drastically less power than diesel-electric or diesel-hydraulic equivalents which saves on energy costs and is kinder to the environment too.”

For further information about this wood shredder, to arrange to see it on the upcoming European roadshow or to pre-register to watch it in action at IFAT 2016, email info@untha.com or call 0043 624 470 160.