Suppliers of grinding and shredding equipment are important partners to the pallet and lumber industries. Pallet manufacturers and recyclers and related businesses generate large volumes of scrap wood material. They are faced with the challenge of disposing of the material or processing it into a marketable product that will help improve a company’s bottom line.
On the following pages we present information about advertisers that supply grinding equipment to the pallet industry: Boulware Equipment, Cresswood, CW Mill Equipment, Recycling Equipment, Rotochopper, Vecoplan USA and West Salem Machinery.
Choosing a grinder or shredder depends on a number of factors related to a company’s particular application. One of the foremost questions is: What do you need to reduce? Is it hardwood or softwood? What species? Is it in the form of slabs, edgings and other residual materials from a sawmill or scragg mill? Or is it trim ends from cants and lumber remanufacturing operations? Is it scrap material from recycling pallets, such as dismantling pallets to reclaim usable lumber? Do you need to grind whole scrap or junk pallets? Or do you need to reduce some combination of these materials?
The grinder or shredder for your application also will depend on the volume of material that must be reduced. How much material do you need to grind? Is the volume likely to change in the future? If so, when and by how much?
Another consideration is the desired end product and potential markets for the wood fiber. Will the grindings be supplied to various outlets for further processing, or do you plan to produce a finished, value-added product, such as colored mulch? What type of potential markets do you have for wood grindings? Boiler fuel? Bedding material for livestock? Mills that manufacture particle board or other wood products? Material used as a ground covering for playgrounds? Mulch? Colored mulch? Talk to potential customers in these markets and find out what their requirements are and what they pay for wood fiber.
If a company is going to grind or shred used scrap pallet lumber or scrap pallets, separating nails and nail fragments likely will be an important consideration for certain markets.
If you plan to produce a finished product, such as mulch or colored mulch, will the operations require any ancillary equipment, such as screens or coloring systems?
The purchase cost of the machine certainly will be a factor, but so will the operating costs. Grinders and shredders typically require regular maintenance; weigh the maintenance costs. Are you considering an electric-powered machine or one that burns diesel fuel?
What is going to be the most efficient, cost-effective way to collect or divert residual material to the grinder? A conveyor belt? A vibrating conveyor? Collecting material into hoppers and using a forklift to dump the contents into the grinder in batches?
Finally, where is your grinder or shredder going to be located, and where and how are the grindings going to be handled and stored? Will they be stockpiled on a concrete slab? Pneumatically loaded into a storage silo? Loaded directly into a waiting trailer van? Consider the following suppliers when you evaluate your options for investing in grinding equipment.
Boulware Equipment Provides Turnkey Solutions
Boulware Equipment
Newton, North Carolina
(704) 651-6061
Boulware Equipment is 100% committed to repurposing and merchandising wood pallet trash. Designed with the probable end use of your particular type of wood scrap in mind, Boulware can develop a customized solution taking into consideration species, size, color, moisture content and local repurposing options. Like a wood pallet, converted wood fiber has logistical limitations. You can only transport wood fiber so far before it loses economic benefit.
Focused on size reduction, Boulware’s systems are designed with new and rebuilt Cresswood quality shredders. These systems have the flexibility to convert pallet wood trash to sizes suitable to meet their local customers’ needs.
Providing full turnkey solutions is Boulware’s proven formula to keep happy customers. These solutions automate reclaiming scrap, convert the wood pallet trash to the desired wood fiber product, provide delivery/transport for the lowest cost, and assist clients in finding a buyer (and a back-up buyer) for their converted wood scrap. Boulware’s approach allows customers to make one call to get the answer for their wood trash challenges.
Boulware helps customers improve their monthly operational profit. Boulware’s solutions also are sustainable and reduce the carbon footprint for their clients. This makes Boulware installations more valuable to their customers as companies look for sustainable suppliers who are committed to reducing landfill waste and carbon footprint reduction.
Give Boulware a call and see how its staff can develop a customized solution that seamlessly integrates with your production layout while boasting the profitability of your scrap material.
Cresswood a Leader in Low-RPM Single Shaft Pallet Grinders
Cresswood Shredding Machinery 
Cortland, Illinois
(815) 758-7171
Cresswood Shredding Machinery features a range of industry-leading grinders to provide the perfect solution for your specific pallet recycling needs. From huge volumes of whole pallets to right-sized solutions for smaller volumes of pieces off a recycling line, it has an engineered-to-order model that fits your company’s needs.
- XR500 Series: Introduced in 2020 as a small footprint solution specifically engineered for pallet manufacturers and recyclers needing to grind boards, blocks, and miscellaneous scrap from recycling lines. 3,000-5,000 lbs./hr. output capability*
- XR600 Series: Still the most popular choice for pallet companies in the U.S. It can easily handle both dump-and-go grinding of whole pallets as well as boards, stringers, and blocks. 4,000-7,000 lbs./hr. output capability*
- XR700 Series: This beast features a 70-inch long rotor with 20-inch diameter that provides high output characteristics and increased capability to handle extreme loads for decades. 6,500-10,000 lbs./hr. output capability*
- XR-2400 Series: The largest, most rugged and capable pallet grinder that Cresswood has ever manufactured. 8,000-12,000 lbs./hr. output capability*
(*depending on screen size choice)
These industry-leading, dependable grinders allow pallet companies to increase their output volumes to a new level in low-speed, high-torque grinding while providing much lower energy consumption and cost of ownership than high-rpm equipment. Low-rpm grinding is a quieter technology and produces substantially less dust than other size reduction solutions, so are designed to be nested within production spaces for added labor savings.
Mulch manufacturers, pellet producers, and biofuel businesses can all benefit from the dependability and high throughput capabilities of these machines. Cresswood is dedicated to ever-new technology and committed to continuous improvement through expert engineering and precision manufacturing.
CW Mill Equipment Provides Strong Service & Support
CW Mill Equipment Co.
Sabetha, Kansas
(800) 743-3491
Over 45 years ago CW Mill Equipment Co. saw the grinding industry’s need for higher quality industrial grinders, and it has been responding to the wants and needs of the industry ever since.
When it came to industrial wood grinding, CW Mill Equipment Co. started from the ground up with a specific goal to take on the toughest applications. Its goal would drive the company to manufacture the most reliable, highest capacity grinders, and the result was the creation of the HogZilla grinder.
From stumps and logs to railroad ties and tires, the HogZilla line of equipment can handle the toughest jobs and provide the highest production rates. In addition to the relentless operation of these machines, customers appreciate the knowledgeable and committed service provided by CW Mill Equipment Co. staff. Customers can always rely on the company for support.
CW Mill Equipment Co. currently manufactures 20 standard HogZilla grinder models, including self-propelled, track driven, self-loading, and electric units. Most grinder configurations include tub grinders and horizontal feed units for wood and other waste recycling. Optional thrown object restraint and tire processing packages are available for most portable and stationary tub grinders.
HogZilla grinders are built to meet and exceed a customer’s needs. They are built to be reliable, for production, and heavy. CW Mill Equipment Co. manufactures the highest quality industrial grinders and believes in service after the sale. HogZilla customer support and parts availability has been top-rated in the grinder industry.
Each product that CW Mill Equipment Co. has developed, manufactured, and offered for 50 years has been in large part customer driven. That approach is backed with experienced staff, advanced manufacturing equipment, and the will to continue to do what CW Mill Equipment Co. has done for over 50 years – innovate and adapt.
Recycling Equipment Offers ‘Dump and Run’ Grinding
Recycling Equipment
Newton, North Carolina
(888) 734-3783
Recycling Equipment Inc. has been an industry leader since 1994, providing customers with cutting-edge technology to meet their waste and recycling challenges and helping them turn their commercial waste into revenue. It produces & sells equipment that drives a measurable difference in safety, economics, the environment, and energy consumption while continuing to offer superior performance and durability.
Recycling Equipment Inc., with locations in North Carolina and Texas, offers design, installation, and equipment service. Its equipment and systems are operating throughout the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe and Africa.
The company offers shredders and grinders for reducing wood and other material and also balers, roll cutters, sorting systems, conveyors and tippers, and air conveyor and dust collection systems.
Recycling Equipment Inc. engineers, designs, manufactures and supports a series of industrial shredders and grinders for the most demanding material size reduction applications, including scrap wood material and wood pallets. These machines enable customers to dump scrap and walk away.
Recycling Equipment Inc. offers turn-key solutions with top-notch design, state-of-the-art controls, high-efficiency motors, easy maintenance, and a preventive maintenance program that is backed by an in-house service team.
Rotochopper Delivers Complete Solutions with a Wide Lineup of Equipment
Rotochopper
St. Martin, Minnesota
(320) 548-3586
Rotochopper designs, builds, and supports a complete lineup of horizontal grinders, wood chip processors, asphalt shingle grinders, mobile bagging systems, and a variety of supporting equipment, including shredders, screening equipment and conveyors.
Introduced last year, the Sarlac™ Shredder is designed for efficient size reduction with a compact footprint, low noise levels, and reduced airborne dust, making it ideal for pallet recyclers. Sarlac caters specifically to the needs of small pallet manufacturers and recyclers, providing an alternative solution when larger Rotochopper equipment might not be the best fit. Customizable to your specific needs, Sarlac offers versatility with different electric motor size options and conveyor configurations, ensuring a perfect fit for your operational demands.
Rotochopper diesel grinders are perfect for operators who need mobility or the ability to tackle custom grinding jobs, while electric models suit stationary operations with access to three-phase power. Whether diesel or electric is right for your operation, Rotochopper grinders will deliver superior size consistency and efficiency. Rotochopper diesel and electric horizontal grinders produce the required particle size, texture, and even color. Rotochopper offers several models of diesel and electric grinders ranging from 275 to 1,200 hp with a variety of options to suit various applications. Its latest model, the B-66LII, is equipped with a single pivot power feed, weld-on mount rotors, and higher ground clearance for increased efficiency and performance.
With maximum output and full mobility, Rotochopper’s DK series shredders offer both efficiency and effectiveness. The twin-rotor cutting system minimizes the cost of converting abrasive materials and those with metal contaminants into valuable commodities. Rotochopper has been manufacturing equipment to produce high-quality commodities like landscape mulch, boiler fuel, and animal bedding for more than 35 years. Contact Rotochopper to see how its wide range of solutions can fit a variety of needs or ask about a custom solution.
Vecoplan Offers Range of Grinders and Chippers
Vecoplan USA
Greensboro, North Carolina
(336) 743-1399
With over 50 years of experience and installations in more than 120 countries, Vecoplan is a trusted leader in wood processing equipment. Vecoplan’s comprehensive range includes high-performance grinders, chippers, and material handling solutions, all backed by expert engineering and installation services—whether you need a single machine or a complete processing system.
Vecoplan wood waste grinders are designed for versatility, efficiently processing wood for boiler fuel, animal bedding, mulch, and composite materials like particleboard. They also play a key role in composting and preparing biomass for alternative fuels, such as pellets, cellulosic ethanol and other second-generation biofuels.
For pallet recycling, Vecoplan grinders are built with durability and reliability in mind. Designed for “dump and run” operation, they make the process effortless—simply load material into the hopper or conveyor, press a button, and walk away.
These grinders feature a rugged frame, oversized drive trains, heavy outboard spherical roller bearings and robust hydraulics. Built-in tramp metal protection and heavy-duty construction ensure long-lasting performance. Their low-speed, high-torque design, combined with high-output “Torsion Point” cutting rotors, maximizes productivity.
Ease of use is a priority. With user-friendly PLC controls, accessible wear components, four-way indexable cutting inserts, and quick-change screens, maintenance is simple and efficient. Vecoplan grinders are engineered for reliability, performance and minimal downtime.
West Salem Brings All-Electric Machinery to the Industry
West Salem Machinery
Salem, Oregon
(503) 364-2213
West Salem Machinery (WSM) has been building all-electric, rugged and reliable machinery for the toughest applications in the world since 1947. WSM systems deliver superior processing performance while minimizing maintenance and horsepower requirements. Its fully-integrated systems can include grinding, pre and post-screening, conveyors, access platforms, structures, and controls to deliver superior performance. Decades of experience in worldwide installations make WSM solutions a wise choice for converting feedstock into marketable products.
One of the biggest shifts in the industry is the move toward electrified equipment—and for good reason. Electric motors are known for their higher energy efficiency compared to combustion engines, resulting in significantly reduced operating and maintenance costs over time. Not only is it easier for the operator to manage electric equipment, it’s safer. Compared to diesel-powered systems, WSM’s electric grinders and screening solutions deliver:
- Lower operating costs – Reduce fuel expenses and maintenance downtime.
- Higher efficiency – Consistent power for steady, high-volume processing
- Quieter, cleaner operation – Minimize emissions and noise for a more sustainable facility.
If you are considering an electric alternative or we could help you with a different application – let’s connect.
