Vecoplan Christens New Test Lab

Vecoplan, a leader in size reduction technology, recently christened its new test lab. An integral part of Vecoplan’s recent 30,000 square foot building expansion, the lab serves two functions vital to Vecoplan’s long term goals for continued growth. “First it provides a practical hands-on environment to test the feasibility and ensure the quality of our R&D efforts,” said Gary Kolbet, chief of systems engineering at Vecoplan, LLC.

“But just as important, the test lab is set up to provide real world conditions in which customers can view their own waste materials being processed - from feeding, through shredding and discharge/separation,” added Chris Hawn, Vecoplan’s director of business development/waste division.

The new test lab contains a representative selection of five of Vecoplan’s most popular shredders installed on a semi-permanent basis and is configured with an open slot to allow for the temporary installation of specific machines on an as-needed basis. One of the semi-permanent machines is horizontally fed and four are vertically fed via hoppers. The horizontal shredder, a VH18/50 PC, is equipped with a vibration feed conveyor and pneumatic discharge system.

The hopper-feed shredders include an RG42/60 XL, an RG52/100 U, an RG52/150 K FF, and an RG62/150 U XLT. Carefully selected to demonstrate a range of feed opening sizes, horse-power drive options, and material shredding capabilities – including wood, plastics, paper, cardboard, e-scrap, and general waste, specific shredders also feature patented Vecoplan innovations such as the SureCut Film & Fiber shredding system and the energy saving HiTorc electromagnetic drive technology. Auxiliaries complementing these hopper fed shredders include a portable box dumper and inclined feed conveyor system, a multi-station KKF paddle-chain conveyor equipped with a rotary drum magnet for ferrous metals separation, a bypass gate for materials discharge, and a complete dust collection system. Control panels for each machine, like the shredders they operate, represent Vecoplan’s range of control package options.

Other amenities in the lab include customer-viewing stations with built-in windows, located at key processing points on each shredder as well as feed and discharge equipment. Cameras positioned above each shredder’s hopper to provide live video feeds of materials as they are being processed in the cutting chamber. Video can be viewed on the lab’s 37˝ LCD monitor or from any remote location via a secure, password protected, high-speed internet connection. Video can also be provided to the customer on DVDs or CDs.

According to Len Beusse, COO of Vecoplan, LLC, “The decision to invest in a test lab of this caliber was based on customers’ desire for precise size reduction solutions involving direct testing of their exact materials and demonstration of the exact shredder models they are purchasing.”