Uneven particle sizes lead to incomplete pyrolysis, residual impurities poison catalysts, and low throughput limits scalability. These challenges have long plagued the solid waste and plastics recycling industry—until Harden Machinery Ltd. stepped in with precision shredding solutions that deliver consistent, high-quality feedstock.

The Pretreatment Bottleneck in Chemical Recycling

Chemical recycling's strength lies in its ability to handle diverse, contaminated feeds that mechanical recycling rejects. However, this inclusivity creates preprocessing hurdles:

· Inconsistent sizing reduces reaction efficiency—large pieces carbonize while small ones over-react, cutting efficiency by half.

· Low throughput prevents economies of scale, as traditional equipment is often either "precise but slow" or "fast but rough".

· High operational costs arise when equipment fails to handle complex, mixed waste streams.

As one recycling plant manager noted, "A small shortfall in shredding translates to major losses downstream."

Harden's Precision Shredding: Four Core Technologies for Industrial-Scale Success

Harden Machinery has deployed proven solutions in multiple 10,000-tonne chemical recycling projects across China, achieving industrial-grade standards: output below 30mm with over 95% compliance.

1. Adjustable Screening System 

Precision sieves allow customizable output sizes from 20-40mm, perfectly matched to downstream pyrolysis (25mm) or cracking (35mm) needs. In one Guangdong project, Harden delivered 96% compliance for sub-30mm particles, boosting downstream pyrolysis yield from 72% to 93%.

2. Four-Edge Rotary Knives 

Each blade features four cutting edges that can be rotated for extended life—30% longer than conventional knives. Combined with an intelligent lubrication system, this reduces per-tonne blade consumption costs by 18%, saving one facility over $275,000 annually.

3. Variable Torque Drive System 

The system automatically adapts to soft, entangled films or rigid containers, preventing jams and enabling continuous operation. Even mixed municipal waste plastics are processed at rates up to 10 tonnes/hour, with daily capacities reaching 200 tonnes.

4. Intelligent Control System 

We enable full automation from feed to discharge. The system allows real-time monitoring of particle distribution, gap adjustment, and predictive maintenance. Operators can achieve 24/7 unmanned runs with simple one-touch controls.

Turning Waste into Resources—and Carbon Savings

Every tonne of waste plastic precisely shredded and recycled through Harden-equipped lines avoids 1.5 tonnes of crude oil consumption and reduces CO₂ emissions by 3.6 tonnes. Applications span:

· Household waste plastics → Pyrolysis oil → New packaging

· Industrial scraps → Chemical feedstock → Automotive parts

· Landfill-mined plastics → Carbon materials → Battery electrodes

The Future of Plastic Recycling Starts with Better Shredding

True closed-loop recycling isn't only about sophisticated reactors—it's about reliable, high-performance pretreatment. Harden Machinery's industrial shredders prove that mastering the "small" details of shredding unlocks massive potential for the entire plastics recycling value chain.

With millimeter precision and tonne-scale reliability, Harden is helping build waste-free cities, one perfectly sized particle at a time.