Shredding
W5.18
Low-maintenance all-rounders with a 500 mm rotor diameter

WEIMA W5.18 industrial shredder for plastic, wood, paper and more

  • Reliable crushing in continuous operation
  • Automated control system with sensors
  • High system availability
  • Robust construction for industrial use
  • Designed for medium-sized batches

The WEIMA W5.18 is an industrial shredder designed for the shredding of plastic waste in in-house and post-consumer recycling, and is also capable of processing paper and cardboard. Within the W5 series, it combines compact dimensions with an increased material capacity and offers flexible application options in recycling.

The wider rotor width compared to the W5.14 enables the efficient processing of wider and bulkier plastic parts as well as mixed material streams, such as those encountered in both production waste and recycling operations. A modern machine control system with integrated sensors supports consistent throughput and ensures high process reliability during continuous operation. This makes the W5.18 suitable for plastics processors and recyclers who need to respond flexibly to changing material requirements without compromising on automated processes.

The technical equipment options and integration possibilities within existing recycling lines are described below.

W5.18
Product features

Maximum throughput with a solid V-rotor

The W5 series V-rotor, measuring 500 mm in diameter and up to 2,200 mm in length, has been designed to meet ambitious throughput targets whilst offering high flexibility. Thanks to its innovative design, even large start-up lumps, hollow bodies and very bulky parts are no problem.

Reliable shredding of fibres and films using the F-rotor

The F-Rotor is specifically designed for the shredding of fibrous materials and films, ensuring reliable feed and controlled material guidance. The optimised cutting geometry prevents material from wrapping around the blades, produces uniform particle sizes and stabilises the shredding process in downstream industrial applications.

Rotormesser PowerLine

Consistent cutting quality with externally adjustable counter blades

Externally adjustable and reversible counter blades ensure a constant cutting gap throughout their long service life. The simple adjustment reduces downtime and maintains shredding performance even when material requirements change.

Efficient maintenance thanks to a large hydraulic inspection hatch

The hydraulically operated inspection hatch provides quick and safe access to the cutting chamber at working height. Maintenance and cleaning tasks can be carried out efficiently, thereby minimising unplanned downtime.

WKS shredder interior view with rotor and swing gate

Continuous material feed via a vibrating feeder

The hydraulically controlled swing gate feeds the material evenly to the rotor and prevents bridging. The material slides towards the rotor under its own weight and is then pressed against it continuously or intermittently by the hydraulically movable swing gate. Optional pressure-feeding systems increase the feed rate and stabilise the throughput when processing challenging materials.

Adaptable drive technology for different load profiles

Depending on the application, we offer two drive concepts: The high-torque drive, featuring a high-torque, multi-pole synchronous motor, is manufactured by Baumüller in Germany and is characterised by its resistance to foreign objects. With no gearbox, the drive withstands shocks and vibrations, ensuring a particularly long service life. The hydraulic drive from Hägglunds / Bosch Rexroth is highly responsive – even at low power consumption. Stopping, starting and reversing are possible even under full load. Speed and torque can be continuously adjusted without a frequency converter.

Robust frame construction designed for continuous operation

The solid steel structure, fitted with vibration-damping mounts, reduces mechanical stress and wear. This increases machine uptime and reduces maintenance costs over the entire lifecycle.

Reliable process control with a PLC touch panel

WEIMA’s latest generation of shredders also features state-of-the-art technology in a compact control cabinet. The Siemens PLC control system allows not only the shredder but also the peripheral equipment – including conveyor belts, separation technology and secondary shredders – to be controlled centrally. This enables material flows to be processed in an energy-efficient manner. For even greater flexibility, including during maintenance, WEIMA offers an optional, handy remote control for machine operation.

WEIMA WKS 1800 shredder recycling mixed post-consumer plastic waste

Time savings during loading and unloading thanks to the large feed opening and wide conveyor belt opening

The large feed opening with a low loading sill allows for direct loading using a forklift or wheel loader, thereby reducing handling times during operation. The wide conveyor belt opening is designed to handle high discharge volumes and enables the rapid, clean removal of the shredded material. This increases the plant’s throughput and minimises downtime caused by material jams.

W5.18Product features
Rotormesser PowerLine
WKS shredder interior view with rotor and swing gate
WEIMA WKS 1800 shredder recycling mixed post-consumer plastic waste
WEIMA rotor with vautid coating
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Compare our models

Measurements & Comparison
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  • Rotor diameter (in/mm)
    More info
  • Rotor length (mm)
  • Rotor speed (rpm)
  • Power (hp)
  • Rotor Knives
    More info
  • Available knife sizes (mm)
  • Fraction size (mm)
  • Infeed (mm)
  • Length (mm)
    More info
  • Width (mm)
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  • Height (mm)
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  • Weight (approx. kg)
    More info
  • Wall thickness (mm)
W5.18
  • 500
  • 1.800
  • 100
  • 110 - 160
  • 188
  • 40 | 60 | 80
  • 20 - 100
  • 1.800 x 2.000
  • 2.470
  • 3.390
  • 3.000
  • 11.500
  • 40
w5.22 single-shaft shredder with hydraulic drive from weima
  • 500
  • 2.200
  • 100
  • 110 - 160
  • 218
  • 40 | 60 | 80
  • 20 - 100
  • 2.200 x 2.000
  • 2.470
  • 3.740
  • 3.000
  • 12.500
  • 40

The W5 Shredder in practical use – shredding in real-world applications

Application videos demonstrating the efficient shredding of various materials
An orange WEIMA W5.18 single-shaft shredder shreds LDPE film at RKW in Hoogstraten, Belgium
Recycling LDPE film using a WEIMA shredder and NGR extruder at RKW in Hoogstraten, Belgium
A WEIMA W5.18 single-shaft shredder is shredding LDPE film at RKW in Hoogstraten. After shredding, the material is processed into granules using an F:Gran extruder from NGR.
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The WEIMA machine in a hall, with a conveyor belt and industrial plastic waste in front of it
Plastic recycling using two WEIMA W5.14 shredders
The Spanish WURSI Group processes 1,500 tonnes of recycled plastic every month, giving polypropylene and polyethylene waste a new lease of life. With two WEIMA W5.14 shredders, the company ensures efficient and reliable recycling.
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A man and a woman wearing yellow high-visibility vests stand in front of a blue and white shredder that shreds IBCs.
Shredding of IBC containers using a W5.18 shredder at Dansk Emballage in Vamdrup, Denmark
A WEIMA W5.18 single-shaft shredder is shredding IBC containers for further recycling at our customer Dansk Emballage in Vamdrup, Denmark.
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Recycling fishing nets and ropes using the WEIMA W5.22 plastic shredder
Using state-of-the-art plastics recycling technology, this linear waste is to be converted into a product on site, thereby establishing a circular economy. At the start of the process chain is a WEIMA W5.22 single-shaft shredder with hydraulic drive.
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An orange shredder in a warehouse with an attached screw conveyor
Shredding & recycling of post-industrial plastic waste | WEIMA W5.18 | High-torque drive
At Kesrec Recycling in Leppälänkylä, Finland, post-industrial plastic waste is transformed into valuable new products. Using the high-performance WEIMA W5.18 shredder and its high-torque drive, the material is efficiently shredded on site. The shredded material is then processed into high-quality regranulate using an extruder and directly converted into irrigation pipes and dimpled membranes – a fully closed recycling loop.
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Shredding of non-woven fabric and film using a WEIMA W5.22 and WLK 1500 shredder with roller feed
A WEIMA W5.22 and WLK 1500 shredder shred non-woven fabrics and film, which are fed into the machine via a roller feed.
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Post-industrial film shredding using a WEIMA W5.22 shredder
A WEIMA W5.22 single-shaft shredder is shredding post-industrial film at EcoFib in Canada.
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Success stories

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A WEIMA Shredder W5.18 in a hall on the Dansk Emballage company premises

Large Containers, Small Footprint: IBC Container Recycling at Dansk Emballage in Denmark

The Danish company Dansk Emballage, Vamdrup, specializes in the collection and reprocessing of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC). The containers are sorted, washed, and recycled on-site. A significant role in this process is played by a W5.18 single-shaft shredder.

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an orange WEIMA shredder W5.18 at a plastics recycler in the Netherlands

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.

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Shredding as a key process: WURSI relies on WEIMA W5.14 shredders

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The future needs experts – plastics recycling in Romania

The Romanian recycling business, Expert Recycling, uses a WKS 1800 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.

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