Industrial compactors, waste and garbage compactors, can crushers and other compaction equipment are used to process wastes, textiles, rubber, fibers and other low-density materials into a finished compact shape. Compacted material is smaller, easier to handle, and less expensive to transport than loose material. Industrial compactors consist of a large metal chamber, safety features, and a hydraulic or pneumatic press. There are many different types of products. Vertical balers and horizontal balers are used to compact, crush, or flatten retail, commercial and industrial waste. Specialized products are used for fluid extraction and recovery. Waste and garbage compactors are suitable for marine, residential, commercial, and light industrial applications. Can crushers, drum crushers, and flatteners are also used to reduce the size of waste materials. Unlike balers, however, flatteners and crushers may not constrain the material.
Selecting industrial compactors requires an analysis of product specifications and features. Most devices are powered by an electric motor that uses three-phase power and operates at 208, 230, or 460 VAC. Operating force is the maximum press load, force, ram thrust or platen force required to reach a desired density or volume reduction. Equipment specifications include capacity, bore size, cycle time, system pressure, and control voltage. Some industrial compactors are designed to process dry, solid waste. Others are suitable for moist materials such as food products or food wastes. Industrial compactors that provide automatic typing or wrapping and integral fluffing, shearing, or palletizing are also available. Fluffers reduce the density of waste materials to improve bale quality. Cutters or shearers also reduce the size of baled materials, but can be used either before or after compacting. Palletizers load and attach bales onto pallets. Portable industrial compactors are mounted on wheels or made of lightweight materials.
Industrial compactors are designed for a variety of applications and industries. They are used to crush, flatten, or compress cans, bottles, drums, barrels, fibrous materials, textiles, food products, metals, paper, corrugated materials, plastics, rubber, tires, and wood chips. Automobile crushes are used to flatten cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Deliquefying equipment squeezes oil from used filters, or removes coolants from metal chips. The extraction process produces a solid material that is easier to transport. In some cases, the oils or coolants can be reused. Typically, industrial compactors are used in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, schools, medical centers, retail stores, junk yards, landfills, reclamation centers, smelters, hotels, hospitals, ships, airports, and restaurants.
