Lindner introduces latest shredder at K 2019 plastics industry event

At K 2019, the world's largest trade event for plastics and rubber, which ran from October 16 to the 23rd in Germany, Lindner presented the next generation of their Micromat shredder, along with an additional model and a new and improved universal cutting system. According to Lindner, the company's Micromat is a top seller in the plastics shredding market. In terms of processes, the mechanical recycling of plastic waste always starts with shredding, which is precisely why Lindner says they demonstrated their new Micromat 1500 shredder at this year's K 2019. The new model is available globally.

Based on Lindner's tried-and-tested technology, the Micromat series has been further optimised to meet current market demands in the plastics industry. And with the 1500 size - meaning a rotor length of 1500 mm - a new entry-level model from the Micromat series has been created. 

The most innovative feature, however, according to Lindner, is the Micromat's new Multiplex cutting system. Thanks to the three-dimensional arrangement of the rotor knives, this exceptional system can shred almost any plastic. 

As a result of the knives actively pulling in the material, output can realistically be increased by some 40 percent on average compared to previous technologies.

Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth, Head of Product Management at Lindner, explains: "During development, we tested a wide range of materials together with our clients and optimised this cutting system's geometry to cover as many types of plastic as possible. The long-term test finally revealed that the new Multiplex rotor not only increases the throughput enormously, but in some cases even multiplies it."

In addition to mechanical improvements, the machine's software and controls were redeveloped from scratch. With the new Lindner Mobile HMI (Human Machine Interface), the manufacturer is reacting to the growing shortage of skilled workers and focusing on extremely simple, self-explanatory menu navigation. The mobile control panel can be placed at the front or rear of the shredder depending on the task at hand, for example a screen exchange. Moreover, the touchscreen only displays the relevant functions.

With the new control software, the shredder is also able to communicate with downstream equipment in the process chain and, for example, function as a dosing unit for the facility or pass on data about the materials' quality to the extruder. 

A special machine version for shredding film
With the Micromat HP series, Lindner says they are launching a shredder that is specially designed for shredding post-consumer and industrial film. Equipped with a direct belt drive that enables rotor speeds of over 300 rpm, these new machines can produce up to 2.5 times more output than the basic version in this area of application.

Furthermore, the company says the new cutting system is able to precisely cut plastics into flakes for cleaning, sorting and subsequent extrusion in just a single step. The advantage of this feature is that additional fine granulation is unnecessary, meaning that energy and maintenance expenditure is significantly reduced while simultaneously lowering investment costs.