Articles and case studies

Cardboard crates carrying the logo of a manufacturer or trading partner may not always be suitable for recycling in their original form. In this application, we were asked to provide a solution for processing approximately 400 kg of branded cardboard crates per week, ensuring that the packaging would be reliably destroyed while also preparing the material for further recovery. The proposed solution consists of a 15 kW PICUS single-shaft shredder, which shreds the cardboard to a particle size of approximately 10 mm or less, followed by pneumatic conveying and a cyclone. The resulting shredded cardboard can then be sent directly for recycling or further compacted by briquetting.

The manufacture of wooden pallets generates offcuts, defective components and other wood waste. At higher production volumes, simply collecting and transporting this material off site may no longer be sufficient. One solution is to shred the waste directly at the production facility, reducing the wood to a defined output size suitable for further material recovery or energy use. For one such application, we supplied the ARIES 240/900 four-shaft shredder with an installed power of 74 kW to process wood waste generated during pallet production.

A modern passenger car can contain up to 300 kilograms of plastic. Recycling these materials, however, is not easy. Different types of plastics are often combined with metal components and may need to be transported over considerable distances for further processing. This is why shredding plays an important role in reducing logistics costs and improving recycling efficiency. In a CASTULIK application trial, the DX160 twin-shaft shredder successfully processed one of the more challenging plastic components found in a vehicle – a plastic fuel tank.

Kia Slovakia's engine plant in Žilina is an example of highly automated and precise production, where an effective solution for processing technological waste becomes a key element of operational stability. The article shows how centralized crushing of steel chips in both continuous and single-shift operation contributes to higher safety, lower costs, better logistics and sustainable resource management within the Hyundai Motor Group.

Mechanical pre-processing of automotive production waste can significantly simplify downstream metal separation and plastic recycling. In this technical case study, we analyse the processing of a mixed waste stream containing polyamide components, steel inserts and springs. We evaluate how the individual components behave during shredding and demonstrate the conditions under which the material can be effectively prepared for magnetic separation.