Suppliers of grinding equipment are important partners to the pallet industry and its related industries, such as sawmills and lumber remanufacturing. Pallet manufacturers and pallet recyclers and related industries generate significant volumes of residual or waste wood material, and these businesses 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 six advertisers that supply grinding equipment to the pallet industry: Bandit, Cresswood Shredding Machinery, Rotochopper, Schutte Buffalo Hammermill, Vecoplan and West Salem Machinery.
The selection of a grinder will depend on a number of factors related to a company’s particular application. One of the foremost questions is: What does the company need to reduce? Is it hardwood or softwood? What species? Slabs, edgings and other residual materials from a sawmill or scraggmill? Trim ends from cants and lumber remanufacturing operations? Scrap material from recycling pallets, such as dismantling pallets to reclaim usable lumber? Whole scrap or junk pallet?
It also will depend on the volume of material that must be reduced. How much material do you need to process? Is the volume likely to change in the future, and by how much?
Still another consideration will be the desired end product and potential markets for wood fiber. Will grindings be supplied to various outlets for further processing or as a finished, value-added product? What type of potential markets does a business have for grindings? Boiler fuel? Wood fiber for quartering livestock, such as dairy cows or horses? Plants that manufacture particleboard or other wood products? Material used as a ground covering for playgrounds? Mulch? Colored mulch? Talk to potential customers and find out what their requirements are.
If a company needs to grind used scrap lumber or scrap pallets from pallet recycling operations, the separation of nails and nail fragments likely will be an important consideration.
Although the cost of the machine certainly will be a factor, so will the operating costs. Because of the tough job they do, grinders 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?
Are you going to need any additional equipment to produce the grinding product you intend, such as a trommel screen, mulch coloring system, or material handling equipment, like a bucket loader?
Consider the following suppliers when you evaluate your options for investing in grinding equipment.
Bandit Beast Makes Mulch in One Pass
Bandit Industries
Remus, Michigan
(800) 952-0178
Bandit Industries grinders can produce a wide range of valuable mulch, from raw material to finished product in a single pass.
Turn waste pallets into revenue with The Beast® horizontal grinder from Bandit Industries. The Beast Model 1680XP or Model 2680XP can significantly lower your cost of grinding while producing high quality mulch from a material that most people would consider garbage.
The Beast horizontal grinders deliver it all – from playground mulch to animal bedding, finished landscape mulch, garden mulch, and a full variety of colored mulch for specialty projects or designs.
The key is how the patented downturn cuttermill inside The Beast processes wood with a cutting action, which is far more efficient than a splitting or grinding action found in most other machines. With dozens of screen and tooth option combinations, you can fine-tune The Beast to produce the perfect end product, meeting the strictest specifications.
And The Beast can do it all in a single pass without the need for costly regrind.
To produce colored mulch, the optional Colorizer can be built into the machine so you can create highly desirable, in-demand, colored mulch that commands top dollar — all from one machine.
For stationary grinding, The Beast can be equipped with a powerful electric motor for an economical solution that is a cost-effective alternative to diesel fuel. The Beast electric horizontal grinders are simple to set up and require no major foundation work. Simply roll it in, set it up and grind!
The Beast electric horizontal grinders feature powerful WEG motors, which have the best reputation in the industry. These motors are designed for crusher-duty applications, making them a great fit for a variety of grinding applications. Bandit Industries welcomes the opportunity to prove what it claims. Contact Bandit to arrange a demonstration.
Cresswood XR-2400 Features New Technology
Cresswood Shredding Machinery
Cortland, Illinois
800-962-7302
Pallet companies have been waiting for the new Creswood XR-2400 pallet grinder. The XR-2400 is in a class of its own since it is the largest grinder that Cresswood has ever manufactured.
This grinder allows pallet companies to increase their output volumes to a new level in low-speed, high torque grinding. Mulch manufacturers, pellet producers and biofuel businesses benefit from the high throughput capabilities of this machine and its ability to be nested indoors due to less noise and dust. Another key feature is the XR-2400’s lower energy cost when compared to other technologies.
Cresswood is dedicated to ever-new technology, committed to continuous improvement through expert engineering and precision manufacturing.
XR-2400 Ever-New Technology:
· Hydraulic drop down screen carriages provide safe, easy access to the cutterhead
· Oversized ram to more effectively present material to the cutterhead
· Extreme oversized gearbox built for the toughest conditions
· Replaceable anvils and anvil support plates
· Replaceable wear seals on the cutterhead
· Replaceable bed plate
Other features include: single source and American-made manufacturing, all key wear items are replaceable, 30,000 pound shipping weight and one inch steel plate frame.
These features, along with precision manufacturing, expert engineering, and dedication to customers, ensure that the XR2400 will thrive in one of the toughest grinding environments: the pallet industry.
Contact Cresswood for more information as you get started on your next grinder project.
Rotochopper Has Developed Reputation for Efficient, Powerful Grinding
Rotochopper Inc.
St. Martin, Minnesota
(320) 548-3586
Rotochopper Inc. designs, builds and supports a complete line-up of horizontal grinders, wood chip processors, asphalt shingle grinders and mobile bagging systems.
The company’s approach began with the idea that waste processing equipment should do more than simply reduce the volume of waste heading to landfill or generate low grade finished products. It was a philosophy that grinding equipment should deliver practical, profitable solutions. It has been manufacturing equipment to produce high quality commodities like landscape mulch, boiler fuel and animal bedding for more than 20 years.
Rotochopper’s commitment to ‘Perfect In One Pass’ — finished product quality in one pass through the grinder — has led to several innovations, including several industry firsts. Among them was the first machine capable of simultaneously grinding wood material and coloring the grindings to produce colored landscape mulch in one pass through the machine.
Rotochopper grinding equipment transforms raw materials like pallet scrap, sawmill residuals, sorted construction and demolition debris, and forestry slash into premium wood fiber products such as color enhanced landscape mulch, animal bedding, biomass fuel and compost. Rotochopper electric and diesel horizontal grinders deliver the required particle size, texture, and even color.
Rotochopper has developed solutions for specialized recycling applications, including purpose-built grinders for asphalt shingle waste and wood chip processors for tree care waste.
The company also offers portable systems that can be towed by a pickup truck, fine grinding systems, and mobile bagging equipment.
Rotochopper offers three models of electric horizontal grinders. The B-66 E, powered by a 500-700 hp electric motor, delivers high volumes of engineered fiber commodities such as colored mulch, animal bedding, and even grinding asphalt shingle waste into asphalt cement supplement.
The Rotochopper EC-366 has been popular with pallet companies, sawmills, transfer stations, and other facilities that require consistent uptime and precision grinding in a mid-size machine. It is powered by an electric motor ranging from 150-500 hp.
The Rotochopper SB-24-E, powered by a 100-250 hp electric motor, is designed specifically to grind slabs in-line with a sawmill.
Rotochopper offers four models of diesel grinders ranging from 275 to 950 hp.
Vecoplan Offers Complete Line of Wood Grinders
Vecoplan Midwest
New Albany, Indiana
812-923-4992
Vecoplan Midwest offers a comprehensive line of pallet scrap grinders and complete wood pelletizing systems.
Vecoplan grinders are truly proven in the field. Customers include leading pallet manufacturers in the world. Vecoplan machines have been turning waste wood into mulch, animal bedding and boiler fuel since 1969.
Now, Vecoplan turnkey wood pellet manufacturing systems can turn your scrap wood into an even more valuable commodity.
Vecoplan provides the right grinder to meet your needs. From a few hundred pounds of wood waste per day to several tons per hour, there’s a Vecoplan machine that fits your requirements and budget.
Available in both vertical and horizontal feed configurations, Vecoplan wood grinders fit your plant’s layout. The company designs, engineers, manufactures, installs, and provides ongoing parts and service for its grinders and also the infeed and outfeed equipment required to deliver a turnkey solution.
Vecoplan also builds wood pellet plants. From processing the raw material to bagging the finished pellets, Vecoplan designs, builds, and installs complete pellet production systems. Equipment in a typical line includes size reduction, conveyance, metering, pelletizing, cooling, screening, packaging, and customized system controls.
The heart of every system is a Vecoplan pellet mill that features belt-driven dual drives for increased performance and lower maintenance costs. The brains of every system are Vecoplan controls designed and manufactured to maximize ease of use and optimize system performance.
For more information, contact Vecoplan Midwest.
West Salem Supplies Machines and Systems
West Salem Machinery
Salem, Oregon
(800) 722-3530
West Salem Machinery, which has been in business more than 60 years, offers a wide range of grinding equipment for various industries and applications, including the pallet industry. The company can supply individual machines or complete systems. West Salem Machinery’s staff provides complete engineering, manufacturing and support services.
The company’s approach to product development and testing starts with the customer’s end product in mind – the finished product that meets the customer’s needs. This is achieved by designing the best machine or process solution that converts feedstock into the finished product in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
West Salem Machinery manufactures hammermills and shredders, hopper-fed low RPM grinders, horizontal low RPM grinders, horizontal grinders and vertical feed grinders.
For the pallet industry, the company recommends either a hopper-fed grinder, horizontal grinder, or vertical grinder to produce such products as animal bedding, boiler fuel, mulch and particleboard furnish. For lower volume applications West Salem Machinery recommends a hopper-fed low RPM grinders, specifically designed for pallet recycling applications; these grinders operate on low horsepower and generate low noise and are known for ease of installation and low maintenance. Larger capacity applications use high speed horizontal grinders capable of processing 400 pallets per hour.
West Salem Machinery also offers screens and conveyors.
