Plastic Recycling Crusher | WGD-600–1200 | ~1cm Granules | PLC | Cables

RELIABLE WGD-series plastic recycling crusher — the secondary granulation equipment that turns plastic waste, electrical cables and aluminium-plastic composite panels into uniform granules of approximately 1cm, ready for direct feeding into extruders, granulators or separation lines. Available in four models — WGD-600, WGD-800, WGD-1000 and WGD-1200 — with high-speed alloy steel blades, an adjustable particle-size control grate and a PLC system for automated operation, this plastic recycling crusher produces the 8–15mm particle size required by the extrusion or granulation stage in a single processing pass.

Unlike single- or dual-shaft shredders that produce 50mm pieces as the first size-reduction stage, a WGD-series plastic recycling crusher operates as a secondary stage — processing the output of the primary shredder or small-sized plastic waste directly into the final particle size required by recycling or manufacturing lines. The screen grate with adjustable mesh size at ~1cm precisely determines the output particle size, regardless of variations in the size of the input material. Key Advantages of the RELIABLE Plastic Recycling Crusher

• ~1cm granules with precision screen control — guaranteed uniform particle size: The control screen mounted under the rotor of this plastic recycling crusher retains the material in the crushing chamber until each particle reaches the maximum size of the configured mesh — usually ~1cm (8–15mm depending on the setting). Oversized material is automatically recirculated and re-crushed, ensuring output particle size uniformity without manual sorting and without large particles that would block the extruder or granulator in the next stage.

• High-speed alloy steel blades — maximum efficiency on hard and soft plastic: The moving blades in high-strength alloy steel rotate at high speed in contact with the stationary blades fixed on the housing, generating a shearing force that efficiently crushes both hard plastic (ABS, PE, PP, PC, rigid PVC) and softer materials (film, rubber, cables with PVC insulation). Hard material fractures on initial impact; soft material is sheared progressively — the same mechanism covers the complete range of plastic materials without changing the blades.

• PLC system — complete process automation: The programmable logic controller (PLC) of this plastic recycling crusher automatically manages progressive start-up and shutdown, monitoring of the motor current for overload detection, preventive maintenance cycles and integration into automated recycling lines. The operator defines the parameters, and the PLC maintains optimal processing conditions throughout the shift without continuous supervision.

• Overload protection — preventing damage from hard objects: The overload protection system detects a sudden increase in motor current — a sign that a hard object (metal, stone, unsuitable material) has entered the crushing chamber — and stops the rotor before the blades or bearings are damaged. The reset is done manually after extracting the object, with no cost for repairing a damaged rotor or blades.

• Sound-absorbing hopper — reduced noise level for production halls: The feed hopper with a sound-absorbing design reduces the noise level generated by the impact of hard material with the blades — a distinct feature compared to crushers without acoustic insulation. This allows the crusher to be installed in production halls adjacent to spaces with personnel, in compliance with industrial noise regulations in Romania and the EU without additional investment in acoustic shielding.

• Blades and bearings with exceptional wear resistance: The rotor blades and bearings are manufactured from materials with high resistance to the abrasive wear specific to crushing plastic with mineral impurities. The extended service life of the wear components reduces the frequency and cost of maintenance over the long term compared to crushers with standard carbon steel blades.

• Material versatility: plastic + cables + aluminium-plastic composite panels: The WGD series processes three distinct categories of industrial waste on the same platform: generic plastic from production and collection, electrical cables with PVC or PE insulation and aluminium-plastic composite panels from construction and automotive. This versatility eliminates the need for separate equipment for each material flow.

• Directly integrable into the automated recycling line: The modular design and the PLC interface of this plastic recycling crusher allow direct integration into automated recycling lines — downstream of the primary shredder and upstream of the separator or extruder in the third stage — with centralized control of the entire line from the same control panel.

Specifications and Models — RELIABLE WGD Plastic Recycling Crusher

Applications — What the WGD Plastic Recycling Crusher Processes

A WGD-series plastic recycling crusher is the granulation equipment in the recycling lines for post-consumer plastic and production waste. Recycling factories that take in PET packaging waste, HDPE containers, PVC profiles and automotive components in PP and ABS use the WGD as the second stage after the primary shredder: the 50mm flakes produced by the shredder enter the crusher and are reduced to ~1cm granules directly compatible with the plastic granulator in the third stage. A single operator supervises the automatic process controlled by the PLC, without manual intervention between stages.

Electrical cable recycling operators use this plastic recycling crusher to crush the PVC and PE insulation from cables after separating the copper conductors — the resulting plastic granules are recovered as secondary raw material for manufacturing profiles or technical films. Aluminium-plastic composite panels from construction and the automotive industry (bonnets, front bumpers, interior panels) are crushed into ~1cm granules prepared for separating the aluminium from the plastic via the electrostatic or gravity separators in the recycling line. Explore the complete range of Uzinex industrial equipment for integrated solutions in recycling plastics, metals and electronic waste.

Industrial manufacturers that generate waste from burrs, rejected parts and plastic injection sprues use WGD-type plastic recycling crusher systems for direct internal recycling — the ~1cm granules are introduced directly into the compounding extruder or the production granulator without an additional cleaning or sorting step, in accordance with international standards for processing and recycling plastic materials. Position in the Recycling Line — Crusher or Shredder?

The crusher and the shredder are complementary pieces of equipment with distinct roles in the same recycling line — the choice depends on the size of the input material and the particle size required at the output:

• Primary shredder (Single Shaft or Double Shaft) → 50mm output: The first stage for large materials — whole bottles, containers, electronics, metal blocks. Reduces the size to 50mm, but does not produce the fine particle size required by extruders or granulators.

• WGD crusher → ~1cm output: The second stage for 50mm material or directly for small waste. Produces the 8–15mm particle size compatible with the extruder or granulator in the third stage. It cannot efficiently process large blocks or materials of high mechanical strength (heavy metals, tyres) — for these, the primary shredder is mandatory.

• Direct use without a primary shredder: For small-sized production waste (injection burrs, film offcuts, rejected granules) that fits directly into the crusher's feed opening, the primary shredder can be omitted — the WGD crusher processes directly to the final particle size.

How It Works — The Crushing Process with the WGD

• Feeding through the sound-absorbing hopper: The plastic material is fed manually or by conveyor belt into the crusher's feed hopper. The sound-absorbing design of the hopper reduces the noise from the impact of hard material with the rotor — an operating level compliant with industrial noise regulations without additional shielding.

• High-speed shearing through moving and stationary blades: The rotor with alloy steel blades rotates at high speed, cutting the plastic material in contact with the stationary blades fixed on the chamber housing. The shearing geometry — moving blades pass by the fixed blades with a clearance of a few tenths of a mm — produces controlled fracturing of the plastic regardless of the degree of hardness or brittleness of the processed polymer.

• Particle size control through the discharge screen: The crushed material falls by gravity through the discharge screen only when it reaches the maximum size of the configured mesh (~1cm). Oversized particles remain in the crushing chamber and are re-crushed on the next cycle — uniform output particle size guaranteed by the screen geometry, not by the feed rate or the type of material.

• PLC monitoring and automatic protection: The PLC controller continuously monitors the motor current. When overload is detected — a sign of a hard object in the crushing chamber — the PLC stops the rotor and alerts the operator. The electrical interlock system prevents accidental restart without manual confirmation after intervention.

• Discharge of the granules and transport to the third stage: The ~1cm granules fall through the screen into the discharge conveyor or directly into the extruder, granulator or separator. The continuous and uniform flow of granules keeps the feed rate constant in the third stage, eliminating the flow variations that affect the quality of the final product from extrusion or granulation.

Frequently Asked Questions about the RELIABLE WGD Plastic Recycling Crusher

What is the difference between a crusher and a plastic shredder?

A plastic recycling crusher produces fine granules of 8–15mm through high-speed shearing with screen control — it is the secondary stage that produces the particle size compatible with the extruder. A shredder produces pieces of 30–100mm through rupture-shearing at lower speed — it is the primary stage for reducing the size of large materials. In complete recycling lines, the shredder precedes the crusher: the shredder reduces a 2-litre bottle to 50mm fragments, the crusher reduces the 50mm fragments to ~1cm granules for extrusion. What discharge screen size is standard and can it be changed?

The standard screen size is ~1cm (10mm), producing 8–12mm granules compatible with most plastic extruders and granulators. The screen can be changed for different sizes — usually 6–20mm depending on the requirements of the next process. The screen change takes 15–20 minutes with standard tools and is done without dismantling the rotor or the motor. The UZINEX team configures the screen suited to your specific process at delivery. Can the WGD process electrical cables with copper conductor?

Yes — electrical cables are explicitly listed in the applications of the WGD series. The crusher cuts the PVC or PE insulation together with the copper conductor, producing a mixture of plastic granules and copper fragments at the output. The separation of copper from plastic is done in the next stage with a magnetic or electrostatic separator. If the objective is the recovery of clean copper, this plastic recycling crusher integrates optimally with the copper granulators and separators in the RELIABLE range distributed by UZINEX. Does the PLC system require specialized programming or is it preconfigured?

The PLC is delivered preconfigured with the standard parameters of the WGD series — progressive start-up, current monitoring, overload thresholds and maintenance cycles. The operator does not need programming knowledge to use the standard functions. The parameters can be adjusted by the UZINEX technician at commissioning for the specific requirements of the recycling line. Program modifications require access to the PLC software and are carried out by the UZINEX technical support team. How often are blade changes needed compared to a single-shaft shredder?

A crusher's blades wear faster than those of a primary shredder, due to the higher rotation speed and more frequent contact with the material. The exact frequency depends on the type of plastic processed (rigid PVC wears more than soft PE), the presence of mineral impurities and the daily volume. The alloy steel blades of the WGD series have extended resistance compared to standard carbon steel. The UZINEX team provides the change-frequency recommendation and maintains a stock of blades for rapid delivery within the 60-month warranty. Why Buy the RELIABLE Plastic Recycling Crusher from UZINEX?

• Free consultancy for model and discharge screen selection: The UZINEX team analyzes the type of materials processed, the daily volume, the required output particle size and the third-stage process and configures this plastic recycling crusher with the right WGD model and screen size for your specific application.

• Delivery, commissioning and PLC configuration included: Every WGD plastic recycling crusher delivered through UZINEX includes complete installation, PLC configuration for the recycling line parameters and operator training for correct use, monitoring of the PLC signals and screen replacement when changing the particle size.

• Extended 60-month warranty and technical support under 36 hours: The 60-month warranty and the guaranteed response time under 36 hours ensure the continuity of the recycling line — with priority delivery of blades, replacement screens and components from UZINEX's own stock.

• Integrated into the complete RELIABLE ecosystem from UZINEX: The WGD integrates natively with the Single Shaft and Double Shaft shredders and with the separators in the RELIABLE range distributed by UZINEX, allowing the design and delivery of the complete plastic recycling line — from raw waste to the ~1cm granule ready to be reintroduced into manufacturing — with single-source support for the entire investment.

• A globally proven solution in industrial recycling installations: The RELIABLE series is installed in recycling facilities in Europe, Southeast Asia and South America, including the installation in Thailand where the crusher processed waste from the refrigerator recycling line. References are available on request for evaluating performance before the purchase decision.

RELIABLE plastic recycling crusher WGD-600–1200 — high-speed alloy steel blades, ~1cm granules with precision control through an adjustable screen, fully automated PLC control, overload protection and a sound-absorbing hopper, for recycling lines handling plastic, electrical cables and aluminium-plastic panels that need the fine secondary-stage particle size directly compatible with the production extruder or granulator.