Our bestsellers for plastic applications
These shredders are currently particularly popular.
In-house Recycling and Post Consumer Plastics Shredding
Plastic is a versatile material. Its properties range from tough polymer structures to highly rigid high-tech products. Efficient shredding requires a great deal of experience and know-how.
With many thousands of plastic shredders delivered, there are hardly any applications that we have not already implemented. These include classic items such as start-up lumps, crates, pallets, pipes, containers, moulded parts and post-consumer waste such as PET bottles or packaging. But also particularly tear-resistant materials such as rubber, fibers and films, aramid, Kevlar or carbon.
In-house Recycling and Post Consumer Plastics Shredding In-house Recycling and Post Consumer Plastics Shredding In-house Recycling and Post Consumer Plastics Shredding
Learn more about plastics and plastic recycling
When waste becomes raw material
The Circular Economy starts with us
WEIMA plastic shredders are extremely flexible and offer different rotor types, rotor geometries and cutting tools, whereby they can shred a wide range of thermoplastics such as PE, PP, PVC, PS, PU and PET, as well as various thermosets and elastomers.
Even large-volume hollow bodies, long pipes and profiles, massive start-up lumps and other production waste, as well as PET bottles, textile fibers, foils, insulating materials, floor coverings, crates and containers master industrial WEIMA shredders effortlessly thanks to 40 years of experience in the plastics industry.
"With the high volumes of plastic waste in the world, sustainable disposal concepts are particularly needed. And shredding is the basis for this."
Gunter Schippers
Business Development | Plastics at WEIMA
PE lumps shredding with a WEIMA S7.20 shredder @Remondis Staffanstorp, Sweden
A WEIMA S7.20 single-shaft shredder shreds large and heavy PE lumps at a recycling plant of Remondis in Staffanstorp, Sweden.
Customer applications and examples
From the plastic industry
In-house recycling and post industrial plastics processing
as part of the Circular Economy
Direct return to the production line
Plastic waste generated during production is becoming increasingly valuable. As a secondary raw material, it can be returned directly to the production cycle. The first step in this process is the shredding of production waste such as start-up lumps or reject parts. WEIMA works closely with customers in order to find a suitable solution for the most diverse plastics. This way we ensure that even materials that are difficult to process are shredded into high-quality regrind.
Inquire about a plastics shredder today
Request a quote
In-house recycling saves money and protects the environment
With the right technologies, production waste can be reprocessed into new raw material. Thus you save high raw material costs, reduce long delivery times, avoid expensive disposal in external recycling plants and avoid the use of primary resources in the long term.
In-house recycling of plastic fibers
Shredding of PP flowerpots and post-consumer waste using 4 WEIMA Shredders at Aufderhaar Recycling
Take a behind-the-scenes look at Aufderhaar Kunststof Recycling from the Netherlands and their plastic recycling. Explore their upgraded production lines, featuring 4 powerful WEIMA shredders, that enable them to shred and recycle post-consumer waste and PP flowerpots.
Did you know?
Approximately 40% of the end consumer plastic waste is recycled in Germany.
Source: PlasticsEurope Germany
Post-Consumer Plastic Recycling
Post-consumer waste means plastic waste from private use. This includes packaging such as yoghurt pots, PET bottles, bags, films, containers, tubes as well as toys, labels, fibers and textiles. Due to the increase in global consumption, the amount of plastic waste is also increasing. Instead of disposing of it in our oceans or landfills, WEIMA shredders contribute to the promotion of alternative solutions. Together with our partners we develop single or multi-stage processing concepts in order to optimize the plastic lifecycle in the long term.
Shredding dirty agricultural stretch film (LLDPE) with a WEIMA PreCut 3000 shredder
A WEIMA PreCut 3000 single-shaft shredder with hydraulic drive shreds post-agricultural stretch film (LLDPE) for further recycling processing.
Why we recommend a shredder in front of a granulator
Large granulators with high drive powers have traditionally been utilized for the single-stage reduction of large pipes or voluminous plastic products, resulting in significant drawbacks such as high investment costs, noise emissions, frequent blade replacements, and elevated energy and labor expenses. In contrast, WEIMA’s two-stage system, comprising a universal shredder and secondary granulator, offers an economical solution for processing start-up lumps, sprues, scrap parts, foils, cables, pipes, and various other materials in plastics processing plants. This versatile two-stage shredding system caters to a wide range of applications within the industry while addressing the challenges associated with traditional single-stage granulation methods.
Why we recommend a shredder in front of a plastic recycling extruder
In the realm of plastic recycling, both single-stage and two-stage size reduction systems are standard procedures before material enters an extruder. This approach offers multifaceted benefits beyond enhancing the overall capacity of the recycling line. By incorporating a shredder, wear and power consumption of the extruder are minimized, while operators gain increased flexibility in handling input materials. This flexibility enables smooth transitions between processing lumps, plastic films, or fibers, thereby optimizing the recycling process.
Fishing nets (ghost nets) shredding with a WEIMA WLK 1500 at Yangil Enpla, Korea
At Yangil Enpla in Incheon, Korea, a WEIMA WLK 1500 single-shaft shredder is used to shred fishing nets and other fibers for recycling and the production of regranulate.
Recycling or upcycling? It' s in your hand
Both concepts have the same goal: to extend the plastic life cycle. In recycling, plastic waste is usually shredded and transformed into regranulate by extrusion, e.g. to produce new PET bottles from old PET bottles. In upcycling, on the other hand, one tries to give supposedly useless plastics a new, higher-quality sense, either alone or in combination with others, e.g. bags made of packaging strings.
Plastic recycling
Shredding plastic purge with a WEIMA S5.18 lift-up @ Plastic Recycling Inc. South Carolina
A WEIMA S5.18 lift-up single-shaft shredder shreds plastic purge at Plastic Recycling Inc. in South Carolina.
What is Design for Recycling?
In order to ensure the recyclability of plastic products, disposal or recycling must be considered even before production begins. The term Design for Recycling (D4R), or recycling-friendly design, refers to the holistic conception and design of products that can be optimally returned to the recycling loop after their use. In this context, plastics in products should be combined in such a way that a clear separation of the different types is possible at the end of their life. This is the only way to keep waste streams pure and ensure their recyclability and thus their reuse as secondary raw materials.
For example, a German cleaning product manufacturer fills detergents in environmentally friendly refill bags. These are made of 100 percent polyethylene (PE) and contain neither adhesives nor bonding agents. The printed band can be separated from the packaging, making the bag 100 percent recyclable. Another feature is that the packaging is made entirely from recycled plastic.
See for yourself
The WEIMA show room is equipped with shredding and briquetting machines of all sizes and technologies. This enables us to simulate your application as realistically as possible. You have the possibility to send us your material or visit us directly in Ilsfeld. From our gallery you have the best view directly into the cutting chamber. So you can observe the shredding process live.
Request an appointment now
Alternatively you can send us material for testing.
Click here for the form.
Shredder in the WEIMA showroom
HDPE Pipe shredding with a WEIMA PowerLine 2500 @ Remondis Röstånga, Sweden
A WEIMA PowerLine 2500 single-shaft shredder shreds different types of HDPE pipes at a recycling plant of Remondis in Röstånga, Sweden.
Success stories
What our customers think
Shredding and dewatering – Strong WEIMA duo for post-consumer plastic recycling at Stiphout Plastics
Stiphout Plastics uses a S7.20 lift-up shredder and a C.200 drainage press from WEIMA to recycle post-consumer plastics in the Netherlands.
Read more
LDPE film recycling with WEIMA shredder at RKW in Belgium
RKW produces a wide range of polyethylene films (LDPE films). At the Hoogstraten site in Belgium, the company has recently started using a WEIMA W5.18 single-shaft shredder and primarily shreds LDPE film waste from production as well as externally purchased film.
Read more
Plastic Recycling, Inc. Transforms Plastic Purge with WEIMA Shredder
From the southeastern U.S. to the heartland of Indiana, Plastic Recycling, Inc. remains committed to their mission of recycling plastics and transforming them into something new and valuable. With the WEIMA shredder as their trusted partner, they’re writing a story of progress, resilience, and a better world for generations to come.
Read more
Shredder quartet for Aufderhaar Kunststof Recycling in the Netherlands
For the processing of post-consumer waste (PE) and flower pots (PP), four large WEIMA shredders are used for secondary shredding at the Veolia Nederland subsidiary Aufderhaar Kunststof Recycling in Vroomshoop. The regranulate produced in this way is then reused for the production of packaging materials.
Read more
doTERRA Utilizes WEIMA Shredder to Reduce Waste and Increase Profit
Utah-based essential oils and wellness company, doTERRA, is utilizing a WEIMA WL 6 single-shaft shredder to shred plastic barrels for further recycling! These sustainability efforts align with the company’s goals and increase profitability.
Read more
Plastic Scrap Reimagined at EcoFib
EcoFib is a plastic recycler located in Drummondville, Canada. The company processes a variety of plastic scrap including post-industrial film waste, transforming it into plastic pellets that can be made into new products.
Read more
The future needs experts – plastics recycling in Romania
The Romanian recycling business Expert Recycling uses a W5.18 single-shaft shredder from WEIMA for processing PET, PP, PS, PE, DHPE and PELD material streams. With its help, the company produces high-quality regranulates, films, and waste bags.
Read more
Polymers Processors boost Australia’s plastic recycling capacities
With the help of a flagship WEIMA PowerLine single-shaft shredder, Polymer Processors in Melbourne has successfully commissioned stage one of their plant upgrade. This adds thousands of tons of plastic recycling capacity to Australia.
Read more
Doubling Down on Plastics Recycling
Butler-MacDonald, Inc. is an American plastics recycling specialist which takes great pride in processing hard-to-handle plastic scrap from various sources, including post-industrial and post-consumer waste streams.
Read more
Pool Covers Without Waste
Closed Loop Production at Plastipack: A WEIMA four-shaft shredder and a granulator recycle inhouse plastic pool cover production scrap in England. Find out why it is surprisingly quiet in Plastipack’s shop.
Read more
More autonomy through clothes hanger recycling: Plásticos Ojara in Colombia
More autonomy thanks to a WEIMA WLK 4 shredder: In the manufacturing of clothes hangers, the Colombian company Plásticos Ojara benefits from the advantages of internal recycling: Reduced purchase of raw materials, lower costs for intralogistics, lower disposal costs, cleaner store floor.
Read more
Ghost(net)buster in the Netherlands
Marcel Alberts has declared war on so-called Ghost Nets – left-over, floating fishing nets and ropes that pollute the world’s oceans. Using state-of-the-art technology for plastics recycling, the aim of his Dutch company Healix is to turn this linear waste into a product on site and create a circular economy. At the forefront of the process chain is a WEIMA W5.22 single-shaft shredder.
Read more
Sustainable Composite Decking with Fiberon
Repurposing plastic waste where it’s created can provide a new income stream for businesses while eliminating the need to ship waste materials across the ocean. Fiberon has embraced this process, proving that being attentive to the environment does not always have to be a financial burden.
Read more
Plastic Boxes – Round 2
The duo of a WEIMA W5.14 shredder and New Herbold granulator get defective plastic boxes ready for the next job.
Read more
Super recycling in Romania – annual turnover doubled despite pandemic
Romanian recycling company SuperBon uses a primary shredder and two secondary shredders for its production of plastic recyclates before selling the raw material worldwide.
Read more
Recycling is for the bin
This is where the cycle begins. At the Swedish company Veolia Recycling Plastics Sweden AB, waste bins, HDPE pipes and other contaminated hard plastic waste are turned into new raw material with the help of a WEIMA PowerLine 2500 shredder and downstream wash line.
Read more
Kayaks on the recycling wave
In Exeter, UK, Devon Contract Waste recycles a wide variety of hard plastics. This includes not-so-everyday items such as fuel tanks, kayaks and road cones. The central component of the recycling plant is a WEIMA WLK 1500 single-shaft shredder.
Read more
A Second Life For Lifesavers
Not all plastics are the same. Some materials pose greater challenges for recycling companies. WEIMA, the shredding specialist from Ilsfeld, has the perfect solutions for this. With two WEIMA WLK 15 Jumbo single-shaft shredders, Inoplast Kunststoff GmbH will in future be able to shred even the most technically demanding source material for the recycling process.
Read more
New for old – the film cycle
For a year now, the company is capable of producing its own PE granulate from film scrap by using the…
Read more
Shredding at sea
The 368 m long and 40 m wide ship has been in operation since 1998. A striking characteristic of the…
Read more
PE-Recycling at its very best
Since the beginning of this year, production waste that accumulates has been shredded and recycled with a powerful 160 kW…
Read more
WEIMA and Gamma Meccanica join forces in Plastics Recycling
One of those manufacturers is Gamma Meccanica. WEIMA and Gamma Meccanica have more than 50 years of combined innovation, experience,…
Read more
Plastics Recycler Increases Capacity with WEIMA Shredder
A WEIMA WL(K) 15 shredder was installed at the front of the recycling line from the beginning. It wasn’t until…
Read more
IBC container shredding in Manchester
Industrial Bulk Containers (IBCs) are used mainly in the chemical, food and pharmaceutics industries. Recon Packaging with over 35 years…
Read more
From very big to very small
Graf Plastics GmbH, at its Teningen plant (fig. 1) manufactures its large-volume Carat underground tanks (fig. 2) for rainwater utilization.
Read more
Energy from old carpets
The medium-sized family business in southern England can look back on 35 years of company history. It has always concentrated…
Read moreWhat are you looking for?
Explore all WEIMA solutions
Special offer
Arrange a free material trial today.
Free material trial
