EQUIPMENT SPOTLIGHT | JANUARY 2024 Grinders

by MARY M. THORNTON

The global wood processing market size is expected to exceed the $302 million mark by 2026, according to Stratview Research. Growth will mainly be due to the demand for ground wood used for paper products, fuel and thermoplastics. Wood grinders are used to further process material that has already broken up – trees, forestry residue, pallets, shingles and more. Grinders can also be used to make chips, mulch, playground surfaces and fine-texture fiber. No matter the application, these manufacturers are eager to assist their clients in acquiring the equipment best suited for the task at hand.

“The Beast” horizontal grinder line “contains the most versatile units available on the market today. Manufactured by Bandit, these grinders are the most efficient way to process wood waste, turning it into a valuable and sellable end product. The heart of each Beast grinder is a unique cuttermill. When processing wood waste, this style of grinding saves time and money,” Jason Morey, marketing manager, noted.

 Bandit Industries

Each cuttermill features cutterbodies that are attached to heavy-duty support arms. The cutterbody utilizes a raker positioned ahead of the tooth regulating the cutting depth. This process correctly sizes material on the initial cut and allows material to immediately pass through the screen and exit the grinding chamber. By grinding this way, each machine relies less on the screen and gate to size material, reducing overall wear.

A wide variety of cutting teeth are available to effectively process a diverse range of material. These teeth are either 1” or 2” wide, depending on the mill configuration. “Fan” style teeth are available on select models and assist with pushing material through the screen, increasing production while reducing wear on the cutterbody. Screens and gates are utilized to assist with achieving a desired end product size. Available size ranges include 5/8” to 7” hole sizes and are available in modified diamond, round or square configurations. A hydraulic gate is available on most models and can be opened by the standard remote control, allowing a contaminant to quickly exit the grinding chamber and reducing damage to the mill components.

For processing concrete, tires or light metal, Bandit also offers a line of dual shaft slow speed shredders. These shredders are available as electric, stationary or track and will effectively reduce material into a manageable size. The dual shafts are easily maintained by a cassette style mounting system.

 CW Mill Equipment Co., Inc.

“Being customer-driven is the basis for all that CW Mill does and has been for over 50 years. That approach is backed with experienced staff, advanced manufacturing equipment, and we will continue to provide products for years to come. After enduring a pandemic, we have adapted to those challenges and now carry a larger inventory to support our customers,” said Brian Bergman, operations manager for CW Mill.

CW Mill’s products include large, industrial, HogZilla® brand grinding machines along with high performance hammer mill cutting and grinding tools. The grinding machine and parts division serves many industries, including the municipal, commercial, agricultural, and industrial material processing industries, through providing whole machines and sub-components to process most organic and some non-organic materials. Special uses within these industries include recycled material processing, organic composting, forestry product grinding, mulch production, forestry derived fuel production, land clearing, scrap tire grinding, tire derived fuel production, waste volume reduction, utility right of way maintenance, disaster recovery and animal food processing.

In the 1970s, CW began manufacturing a PTO driven, tub grinder along with an electric powered grinder that could be used to grind alfalfa, hay, grain, paper, wood products, and other low-density materials. By the 1980s, a machine built exclusively for grinding wood waste was on the product roster, and that machine was the HogZilla Grinder. The timing was purposeful and opportune as the farm sector was sluggish. Burning had long been the predominant method for wood waste removal in agricultural and land clearing operations, so air pollution and wildfire concerns prompted legislation to curtail the process.

“CW continues to grow and evolve along with advancements in technology. We stay abreast of the changes within the forestry and agriculture industries, focusing on recycling and downsizing material and our innovation continues. Each product that CW Mill has developed, manufactured, and offered for over 50 years has been in large part, customer driven,” Bergman concluded.

Precision Husky Corporation is best known for wood waste and round wood chippers. The company offers six different models of ProGrind Tub Grinders and all are available as trailer mounted, track mounted, or stationary. All also offer the option of a hydraulically operated, thrown object cover. The machines are powered by diesel engines, or can be powered by electric motors, which are becoming more common due to emission regulations.

 Precision Husky Corporation

Models offered include the ProGrind 900 with a 200 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine, the ProGrind 1000 with a 250 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine, the ProGrind 1500 with a 375 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine, the ProGrind 2000 with a 400 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine, the ProGrind 4000 with a 600 to 700 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine, and the ProGrind 5200 with a 875 – 1200 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine. The ProGrind 4000 and ProGrind 5200 ae available as a standard unit, which can be loaded with an excavator or rubber tired front loader or tracked front loader. These standard units also include a radio remote control. The ProGrind 4000 and the ProGrind 5200 are also available with a Husky XL 120 Knuckle Boom loader attached. Electric motors for these machines would be a 150 horsepower electric motor for the 900, a 175 horsepower electric motor for the 1000, a 325 horsepower electric motor for the 2000, a 500 horsepower electric motor for the 4000, and the 5200 with a 900 or 1000 horsepower electric motor.

Precision Husky ProGrind also offers three sizes of horizontal style wood waste grinders. The H4060 machine uses an 875 horsepower to 1050 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine. The H3060 machine uses either a 600 horsepower or 755 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine. The H3045 machine uses a 500 horsepower Tier 4 diesel engine. The horizontal grinders are available as trailer mounted, track mounted, or stationary mount, either with diesel engines or electric motors.

“As we move forward with emission controls and regulations by federal, state, and local governments, it is becoming more difficult for new processing facilities to gain permits for operation. Precision Husky ProGrind machines are portable and so provide contractors more opportunity to secure profitable projects, especially for local governmental entities,” explained Steve Briscoe, Progrind sales manager. The ProGrind 5200 requires wide load and overweight permits but all other models do not carry travel permit restrictions. “Another option the ProGrind product offers for permitted sites with a static location is our electric motor units. These machines can be set up as stationary units or can remain portable and so can be moved to power sources. This option can also be helpful in areas where air quality permits are required. Contact your state environmental and energy departments for information about grants and loans offered by the Federal Agriculture and Energy Departments,” added Briscoe.

West Salem Machinery (WSM), a leading supplier of stationary electric screening and grinding machinery and systems, offers the ability to deliver complete recycling solutions for organics, green waste, food waste, urban wood waste and other types of biomass materials.

“WSM’s range of machines allows for customized solutions that provide superior processing benefits compared to diesel portable machines, including more up-time, reduced handling and maintenance costs, superior performance, and lower energy costs. This provides a more sustainable way to recover and convert feedstock materials into products such as compost, RNG, SAF, boiler fuel, or landscape/soil products,” stated Mark Lyman, president.

 West Salem Machinery

“One machine that stands out and is popular in organics recycling operations is WSM’s vertical feed grinding/crushing machine for converting pre-shredded material into a finished size. These vertical feed machines are low cost and simple to operate and with WSM’s standard infeed and discharge gear allows for controlled material feed. When combined with screening and cleaning equipment, clients can produce a high-quality, sized and cleaned material – a superior product with less handling and lower cost. This is a great ‘win-win’ for our customers and the environment. WSM vertical feed grinders are available in ten different model sizes that can handle from 150 – 1500 HP. With hundreds of machines in service and fully manufactured, sold, and serviced in the USA, WSM delivers on its company motto of ‘tough, reliable, and built to last,” Lyman said.