At UNTHA UK, there’s no such thing as a standard, ‘one size fits all’ solution. Every customer, site composition, input material and output specification is different, which is why we take care to consider even the finest details, when recommending the best-fit machine configuration. 

Some waste handlers come to us knowing exactly what they’re looking for, of course. But when they don’t, one of the questions we’re most commonly asked is, how do I choose between a mobile shredder and a stationary shredder?

So here are some initial questions to think about:

• What materials are you shredding and where are they stored?

The UNTHA XR stationery and mobil-e models, for example, can both handle the same input materials, thanks to the engineering capabilities within the machine.

But some customers have different bays within their site, especially organised to store different materials, for example. Therefore, it is sometimes more convenient to move the shredder, on tracks, from one location to another, than it is to move the materials. Occasionally the machine may need to leave the site to go to a second, or third location, in which case a mobile shredder is essential.

If the shredder can remain in one place – with a wheeled loader or equivalent bringing materials to it – then a static model is perfect. It is also important to mention from the outset, that a mobile shredder can cost around £30,000 more than a stationery equivalent, so if mobile technology is not essential, it probably isn’t worth it financially.

• How much space do you have for a shredder and where will it be positioned?

Some customers know exactly where they want their shredder to be positioned within their facility. If a static machine will fit into this footprint, and doesn’t need to move, then a stationery shredder is an obvious choice.

If space is constrained, on a particularly busy site, for instance, a mobile shredder may provide beneficial flexibility. 

If weight is important, on the other hand, then static machines are much lighter – with the stationary XR weighing around 24 tonnes, as opposed to 39 tonnes, with the XR mobil-e. However, there are planning considerations with a static.

• Will the shredder be used in an existing waste processing line?

Linked to the two points above, if the shredder will have multiple jobs to do – perhaps if it acts as a busy pre-shredder or post-shredder on different existing processing lines – again, it may benefit from being mobile, for flexibility reasons.

However, if you’re designing a waste handling line from the very beginning, a static shredder is usually the recommended option.  It is possible to integrate additional separation equipment including conveyors, trommels and more, with ease, for optimal recovery rates and therefore revenue. A particular favourite of some UNTHA customers, is a steel rotating table positioned underneath a static machine, to cool material that has just been shredded, before it goes onto the discharge conveyor.

• Do you need wider machine configurability?

Every shredder is configured as much as possible, to meet a customer’s own, specific requirements. However, there are arguably even more ways to configure a static machine. For example, it is easier to lengthen vertical and horizontal conveyors, adjust the position of overband magnets, install larger hoppers and integrate closed chute systems to prevent the loss of lightweight material, for instance.

• Do you have wider wellbeing considerations?

All UNTHA shredders are engineered with ease of ergonomic maintenance in mind, not just for ongoing servicing and uptime benefits, but to protect the wellbeing of operators too. With a static machine, an integrated or adjacent platform can be installed, for an even better maintenance position.

Likewise, all UNTHA shredders have been designed to produce low dust levels, which has obvious health and safety benefits. But with static machines, the cooling system can be placed in an external container for better cooling and even less dust.

• Are there insurance stipulations?

The waste industry is policed differently, from country to country, but in some instances, there may be insurance benefits associated with a shredder’s position in a particular on-site location, either when operational or powered down.

In truth, these are just some of the questions to consider. We don’t expect you to have all the answers – that’s why we’re here. So, to discuss all of this, and more, why not continue the conversation? Please call us on 0330 056 4455 or email sales@untha.co.uk.