If you want to turn tire chips into clean granules and pull the steel wire out of the rubber, a tire rasper is the key stage between the primary shredder and the granulator. The machine takes chips of around 50x50 mm and reduces them to granules of 10 to 15 mm, while at the same time releasing the steel from the rubber, so the material that moves on is already clean and uniform.
A tire rasper works by tearing the rubber off the steel wire, not by brute cutting, which frees the metal reinforcement without shredding it. The result is an efficient separation: rubber granules on one side, clean steel wire on the other. See the full range of recycling equipment and where each one fits in the line.
Key Advantages of a Rubber Rasper Machine
• Efficient secondary reduction, a tire rasper turns chips of around 50x50 mm into granules of 10 to 15 mm, preparing them for the fine granulator.
• Steel separation from rubber, the machine tears the rubber off the steel wire and frees the metal reinforcement, releasing clean wire and metal-free granules.
• Tearing, not brute cutting, the working principle frees the reinforcement without shredding it, which means cleaner steel and less tool wear.
• Uniform material for granulation, the 10 to 15 mm granules, already steel-free, let the fine granulator work more efficiently and with better yield.
• Adjustable couplings and screens, granule size is set through the screens, depending on the fraction required by the next stage.
• Robust construction, the rotor and tools are sized for heavy, continuous duty with abrasive materials.
• Key stage in the line, a tire rasper is the bridge between coarse shredding and fine granulation, without which steel separation would be incomplete.
• Simple maintenance, the tools are changed quickly, and access to the rotor makes upkeep easy and scheduled downtime short.
Technical Specifications, Tire Rasper
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Machine type | Tire rasper for secondary reduction and steel separation |
| Input material | Rubber chips of approx. 50x50 mm |
| Output material | Rubber granules of 10 to 15 mm |
| Additional function | Separation of steel wire from rubber |
| Working principle | Tearing the rubber off the steel wire |
| Calibration | Interchangeable screens for granule size |
| Position in the line | Between the primary shredder and the granulator |
| Components | CE marked where applicable |
| Capacity | Configurable to the project |
Applications and Industries for Steel Separation from Rubber
A tire rasper is indispensable in any line that wants clean rubber granules and powder, free of any trace of metal. After primary shredding, the rubber still contains a lot of steel wire; the rasper is the stage that frees it and pulls it out. For a recycler, that means the difference between contaminated, low-value granules and clean granules that sell at a premium on demanding markets.
Industrial shredding equipment must meet the safety requirements of the European Union; a tire rasper delivered in Europe complies with the requirements of Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery.
The 10 to 15 mm granules produced by a tire rasper feed the fine granulator, which brings them down to 1 to 4 mm for sports fields, tiles and mats, or further on to rubber powder for modified asphalt. The recovered clean steel is sold to steel mills or as shot for surface treatment. For an operator, the rasper is the machine that raises the quality of both fractions at once, rubber and steel, and opens more demanding markets for the final product.
As demand for clean recycled rubber grows, especially for sports surfaces and molded products, efficient steel separation becomes a real commercial advantage. A well-sized tire rasper delivers exactly this step, turning a contaminated intermediate material into a salable raw material with a better margin, whatever final fraction you choose to produce. The earlier and more completely the steel is removed, the less the fine granulation stages wear and the more stably they run.
Compatible Materials
A tire rasper works with rubber chips coming from the primary shredding of tires, whatever type of tire they come from. The more uniform the input chips, the more efficient the steel separation and granulation. The machine is designed for steel-reinforced rubber, the most difficult material to process in a worn tire.
| Accepted material | Notes |
|---|---|
| Car tire chips | The main source, after primary shredding |
| Truck tire chips | Higher steel content to separate |
| OTR tire chips | After shredding and pre-processing |
| Steel-reinforced rubber | The target material of the rasper |
How It Works
The flow through a tire rasper is continuous and focused on reduction and separation:
1. The chips of around 50x50 mm, coming from primary shredding, are picked up from the belt and fed evenly into the rasper.
2. The tooled rotor tears the rubber off the steel wire, without shredding the metal reinforcement.
3. The rubber is reduced to granules of 10 to 15 mm, and the steel wire is freed and released completely.
4. The screen retains the oversized granules and returns them until they reach the required size.
5. The rubber granules and the steel wire are directed toward separation and distinct collection.
6. The clean 10 to 15 mm granules move on to the fine granulator, while the recovered steel is discharged and collected separately.
Oversized material is recirculated automatically, so the granules stay uniform. A continuously monitored tire rasper keeps a constant fraction quality and quickly brings a new operator to stable results, a real advantage in plants with staff turnover. Easy access to the rotor makes tool changes fast and planned maintenance possible without long production stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does a tire rasper do?
A tire rasper is the secondary reduction stage: it takes chips of around 50x50 mm and turns them into granules of 10 to 15 mm, while at the same time releasing the steel wire from the rubber. Unlike simple shredding, the rasper tears the rubber off the wire, which frees the metal reinforcement cleanly and so prepares a uniform material for the fine granulator.
How clean is the separated steel?
Because the rasper tears the rubber off the steel wire instead of cutting everything together, the resulting wire is largely clean and salable to steel mills. In the same way, the rubber granules stay metal-free, which raises their value. Clean separation at this stage is the key to the quality of both final fractions.
Where does the rasper fit in the line?
Between the primary shredder and the fine granulator. The primary shredder produces large chips, the rasper reduces them to 10 to 15 mm and pulls out the steel, and the granulator brings them down to 1 to 4 mm. Without a tire rasper, steel separation would be incomplete, and the granulator would run on contaminated material and wear out faster.
Is the delivered equipment new?
Yes. We deliver new, unused equipment, made to order, not reconditioned units. The build uses components from established suppliers, CE marked where applicable, and every machine goes through a full inspection before shipping. You receive the technical documentation and operating manuals in your language, for a commissioning without surprises.
What makes URSTAG a premium brand?
European design, top-tier components and experience. Every machine is designed by our engineering teams in Europe and built from components by industry leaders such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli. The result is reliable, energy-efficient and durable equipment, backed by over 15 years of experience and by delivery, installation, training and service included.
How long does installation and commissioning take?
Transport, commissioning and operator training are included and carried out by a local team, in your language. Before shipping, the machine goes through a full inspection, so your unit becomes operational quickly, with no hidden installation costs.
Can I adjust the granule size?
Yes. The output size is set through the interchangeable screens, depending on the fraction required by the fine granulator or the final product. A well-adjusted tire rasper delivers uniform 10 to 15 mm granules, which makes all the following stages work more efficiently and with less wear.
Why URSTAG?
URSTAG is a premium brand of recycling equipment, with over 15 years of experience. You don't just get a machine, you get a solution engineered by specialists, built from top-tier components and backed by a team that supports you from design through commissioning.
• European engineering, every machine and every complete line is designed by our engineering teams in Europe, with a focus on reliability, safety and energy efficiency.
• Premium components, we build on motors and automation from industry leaders: Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli.
• Over 15 years of experience, we know how materials and machines behave in real-world operation, and we configure each solution for your flow and volume.
• New equipment, configured for you, we supply new units, made to order for your application, with complete technical documentation.
• Delivery, installation and training included, we handle transport, commissioning and operator training, with support throughout the equipment's life.
As a premium brand, URSTAG relies on European engineering, top-tier components and experience. You choose a partner that supports your production long term, with equipment built to run reliably in demanding industrial environments.
