When a PVC recycler needed help with the "daily grind," a vertical rotary waste grinder from Recycling Technologies solved the problem.
With 28 employees, Catawba Recycling Inc, Chester, SC, grinds and pulverizes an average of 100,000 pounds of waste a day, reducing PVC purges and plastic scrap to a pulverized 10-35 mesh for return to the production process. Operations are housed in over 50,000 sq ft of processing area and often operate 24/7 to keep up with demand. Equipment includes grinders, screen systems, pulverizers, shredders, and mixing systems.
When Ken Kaelin, Catawba's president and owner, decided he needed a second vertical rotary waste grinder, he undertook an intensive search for a quality, efficient unit backed by service, requiring minimum maintenance and downtime. When he had narrowed the field to four manufacturers, including Recycling Technologies, Inc (RTI) in Hickory, NC, Kaelin visited all four to see demonstrations of their grinders processing PVC. Kaelin selected the Model RT 42 vertical grinder from RTI.
"I was previously unaware of Recycling Technologies, its product range and benefits," Kaelin said. "Their quality product features and the integrity and commitment of their staff were very impressive. I felt they would stand behind their product and provide us the type of service we needed."
RTI's recessed knife holders and thicker plate steel construction also drew Kaelin's attention.
"One recurring problem with some models seems to be the knives located on top of the rotor shafts that would pop off and have to be rewelded to the key," Kaelin said. "I found that the RTI design would eliminate this problem."
Features of the RT 42
The Model RT 42 vertical rotary grinder purchased by Catawba Recycling has a 3-4,000 lb/hr throughput, a 60 hp single drive motor, and a heavy-duty steel hopper with a 42 x 48 ft feed opening and a 5 sq yd capacity. Made in the USA, the grinder comes with a 2-year warranty. The unit also has a low 120 revolution per minute operation, 80-85 dB low noise level, and a high 30,000 lb-ft/in. torque
Both rotor shaft and knives are CNC-precision tooled at RTI to assure quality and strength. Knives are made from A2 tool steel to 60 Rockwell hardness. The rotor and the disc come with a limited lifetime warranty. Flange bearing adjustments set the knife to 1 1/8 in. clearance from the counter knives, which are scalloped to accept the flight of the rotor knives and heat-treated for strength. The counter knives are also indexable.
RTI grinders are engineered with a solid, one-piece forged steel shaft, a heavy-duty ram constructed of 5/8 in. thick top plate with nylon glides and position adjustments that eliminate metal-to-metal contact, and solid-state PLC controls that monitor and control all functions.
The frame is supported and balanced with ¾ in. sidewalls and a 5 deg, 1 in. thick floor, sloped for handling large quantities of waste. A banded belt transfers power to a Class II speed-reducing gearbox mounted with shock-absorbing bevel washers.
A standard hydraulic fluid coupling protects against startup and shock and protects the rotor and shaft from damage when tramp material or metal enters the hopper.
"Service from RTI has been excellent," Kaelin said. "They really do back up their product. I haven't had any trouble with the unit or the knives. The unit has been operating nonstop for a little over a year and only now are we changing the blades."
Kaelin acknowledged that he is so pleased with the RTI grinder that he plans on purchasing a second unit as his business continues to grow. "With a year of operating experience behind me, I am a strong believer in the durability, quality, and productivity features of the RTI grinders," he concluded.
