GRANULATORS | TECHNOLOGY


feature,” says Drinkwaard. This makes it easier to handle large and lightweight residues. In addition, CVB management opted to equip


the granulator with Getecha’s EnergySave motor controller. This makes sure that the motor uses only the voltage required at any particular time, without loss of torque. Getecha says this results in “substan- tial” energy savings.


Getecha was also able to apply its conveying competence to the project. The RS 6015 – as well as an existing RS 6009 that had originally been leased but was subsequently acquired – needed to be linked logistically with the existing shredding machines; plus, the RS 6015 needed to be fed from two directions. So a 1,100 mm conveyor belt runs up to the hopper from the front and feeds it with material residues loaded at irregular intervals by forklift trucks, while a second conveyor belt located to the side loads the granulator hopper continu- ously with some material coming from a shredder. The rest of the material from the shredder is transported to an existing CVB granulator via an existing conveyor belt. An important factor for the system integration was the load-dependent control of the RS 6015 via automatic control of all conveyor belts as well as the shredder output. This provides continuous material flow and prevents overloading of the granulators. The entire plant is run via a central


control system from Getecha into which the control of all existing systems was also integrated. Getecha also installed equipment for extraction


and exhaust air dedusting as well as for filling the regenerate into Big Bags. Herbold Meckesheim has been “sprinkling the magic dust” over its SB series of granulators, and an example of the result will be on its stand at K 2022 in Düsseldorf in October. The SML 60/100 SB 2 is suitable for wet operation with horizontal forced feeding by means of screw conveyors. This makes space-saving installations and easy feeding of the material possible, says the company. Another cited advantage is the high throughput


capacity, thanks to a one-metre-wide inlet from the hopper and 50 cm feeding screws that transport the material to be ground to the rotor. Seven rotor knives – and now also an optional third stator knife – allow up to 21 cuts per revolution. The result is that the unit can process PP at a rate of up to 2 tonnes per hour, or well over 1 tonne of film. SB mills are also often used for grinding PET bottles and in washing plants. Energy consumption once again has been the subject of attention in the new generation of Herbold Meckesheim granulators: the company does not provide numbers at this time, but says units are characterised by uniform load absorption and low energy consumption.


� Upgrading granulators: points to consider


A good granulator can keep on performing for decades. But at Conair, Size Reduction General Manager Dave Miller wants to remind processors about possible performance and safety concerns posed by older size reduction equipment. “If a granulator has served you well – and it’s paid for – it can be easy to overlook rising energy and maintenance costs due to accumulated wear and tear on the motor and drivetrain,” he says. But the lack of modern safety features on a granulator can be of greater concern, particularly as older experienced workers give way to new personnel. Miller recently led a three-year industry review of equipment safety standards used by US size-reduction equipment makers. This has resulted in a new standard from ANSI, the American Standards National Institute,


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ANSI/Plastics B151.11 Safety Require- ments for Granulators, Strand Pelletis- ers and Dicers Used for Size Reduction of Plastics, published in April 2021. The standard sets out a mix of


required and optional safety improve- ments. “So, for example, if your personnel are used to removing and sharpening rotor knives on older equipment by wedging in blocks of wood, you’ll be relieved to know that the new standard requires newer granulators to offer interlocks that prevent access to cutting chamber and screen to prevent access when equipment is on or when blades are moving – a job typically done with the help of use of time-delay safety switch- es or zero-speed sensors,” says Miller. The new standard also mandates feed-hopper designs of a size to receive the largest part being granu-


lated without the need for pre-cutting, with internal dimensions that prevent operators from reaching an armour hand into the cutting chamber area. It also recommends new procedural safeguards, including guidance for adopting lock-out, tag-out rules to ensure proper shut-off during maintenance and repairs.


Miller goes on: “Safety conscious


processors may also benefit from sound-dampening and sound-enclo- sure recommendations, as well as recommendations/requirements for the use of dust collection equipment. If your personnel are operating granulators that lack modern safety features, it may be a wise time to consider a change, along with training and preventative maintenance to ensure the safety of your size-reduc- tion operations for years to come.”


September 2022 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 47


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