What is the difference between shredder and crusher

In the realm of plastic recycling, shredders and crushers are essential machines that help reduce plastic waste into manageable sizes for further processing. While they might appear similar at first glance, these machines serve distinct purposes and operate differently. Understanding their differences can help you choose the right equipment for your needs.

What is a Shredder?

A shredder is an industrial machine designed to reduce the size of various plastic materials through tearing, cutting, and shredding. Shredders are commonly used in recycling operations to process materials like plastic bottles, films, pipes, and other plastic products. They come in various types including single-shaft, double-shaft, four-shaft, horizontal, and sheet shredders.

Key Features of Shredders:

• Low-Speed Operation: Shredders typically operate at low speeds with high torque.

• Versatility: Capable of handling a wide range of plastic materials.

• Output Size: Produces larger pieces ranging from 20mm to 200mm or more.

• Applications: Ideal for waste recycling stations where materials need to be pre-processed before further refinement.

What is a Crusher?

A crusher is a machine designed to break down large pieces of plastic into smaller particles. Crushers are widely used in recycling operations to crush plastics into granules or flakes that can be reused in manufacturing processes.

Key Features of Crushers:

• High-Speed Operation: Crushers operate at high speeds with lower torque compared to shredders.

• Specificity: Typically designed for specific types of plastics (e.g., hard plastics vs. soft plastics).

• Output Size: Produces finer particles suitable for further processing or direct use.

• Applications: Commonly used in plastic recycling facilities where precise size reduction is required.

How Do They Work?

Shredder Working Principle:

Shredders utilize low-speed rotating knife rollers that tear apart materials through shear force. The process involves:

1. Feeding material into the shredder's hopper.

2. Rotating blades cut and tear the material into smaller pieces.

3. Output material is collected for further processing or disposal.

Rotor diameter	mm	560	560	560
Number of rotor knives	pcs	105/112+29	136/148+38	180/192+49
Number of stator knives	pcs	2*3	2*4/2*3	2*5
Hydraulic feeding ram	kw	5.5	5.5	7.5
Feed opening	mm	1200*1850	1570*2025	1960*1570
Standard screen	mm	40-100	40-100	40-100
Chamber size	mm	800*1000	800*1290	800*1860
Motor	Kw	90	110	75*2
Machine weight	kg	9000	11000	13000
Machine Size	mm	2245*2570*2390	2245*2960*2390	2245*3300*2390

Crusher Working Principle:

Crushers employ high-speed rotating blades or hammers that crush materials through impact force. The process includes:

Feeding material into the crusher's chamber.

High-speed blades/hammers strike the material repeatedly until it breaks down.

Crushed material exits through designated openings for collection.

Machine dimension（mm)	2250*1900*2950	2815*2060*2950	2815*2360*3770	2900x2500x3500
Chamber size(mm)	690*690	985*800	1150*815
Power(kw)	55	90	110	132
Rotoary blades quantity	7*2/5*2	7*2/9*2	7*2/9*2	7*2/9*2
Stator blades quantity	2/3	2/3	2/3	2/3
Rotor diameter	700	700	700	700
Rotor width	700	1000	1200	1400

The Difference Between Shredder and Crusher

While both machines aim to reduce plastic material size, their operational principles and applications differ significantly:

Speed & Torque:

Shredders operate at low speeds with high torque.

Crushers function at high speeds with lower torque.

Material Handling:

Shredders handle a broader range of plastic materials including bottles, films, pipes, etc.

Crushers are more specialized; often used for crushing specific types of plastics into granules or flakes.

Output Size:

Shredders produce larger chunks (20mm–200mm+).

Crushers generate finer particles suitable for immediate use or further processing (<20mm).

Applications:

Shredders are ideal for initial size reduction in recycling processes where large volumes of mixed plastics need to be processed.

Crushers are perfect for producing uniform granules or flakes from pre-shredded plastics.

Operational Noise & Maintenance:

Shredding tends to be quieter with less manual intervention required.

Crushing can be noisier and may require more frequent maintenance due to higher operational stress on components.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between shredders and crushers can significantly impact your choice of machinery based on your specific needs—whether it's reducing large volumes of mixed plastic waste or producing uniform granules from pre-shredded plastics. By selecting the appropriate equipment tailored to your requirements, you can enhance efficiency while optimizing resource utilization in your operations.