Industrial Plastic Shredder Machine

Designed for High-Throughput Plastic Recycling – Over 500 systems installed in 80 countries

500+ Clients Worldwide

80+ Countries Served

0.3–3.0 Ton/Hr Capacity

60-Day Guaranteed Delivery

Get a Free Quote

Industrial Plastic Shredder and Granulator Machine

What Is a Plastic Shredder and How Does It Work?

Industrial Equipment

A plastic shredder machine is a high-power industrial type of machine used in the facility for the reduction in size of plastic waste. It is a far cry from your home or office type paper shredder or a light duty C&D shredder. An industrial plastic shredder is designed to handle anything from a thin film of PE to a thick wall of HDPE drums as well as a rigid ABS housing and do so in a continous fashion shift after shift. As an essential component of modern waste management infrastructure, this shredding machine converts raw polymer scrap into process-ready material.

Rotor & Blade Mechanics

Its operation is very simple conceptually but a lot of engineering goes into the execution. A relatively low speed, high torque motor is used to turn the rotor fitted with hardened steel knife blades. When the material is fed into the cutting chamber the spinning knives cut against fixed counter knives the gap between the bodies acts as a scalping tool, tearing and chopping the plastic into smaller and smaller pieces. Below the rotor there is a sizing screen with holes drilled in it; material is fed into the chamber until it becomes small enough to pass through the screen openings.

Speed & Control

What makes this suitable for recycling is speed and control. With low RPM’s (roughly 40-80 for shredders, 300-500 for granulators) the machines pack a huge punch of torque without heating up, a colossal advantage given the heat softening, marring or decomposing of thermoplastics. Each shredding process results in fragments varying from 10mm to 80mm (screen size dependant) which are then fed on for the washing, sorting or regranulation stages. The output can be reprocessed into plastic pellets for injection molding, extrusion, or other downstream applications.

Recycling Line Integration

In a standard line the shredder is located at the very beginning. Raw bale or loose plastic waste is introduced into the machine into the cutting chamber- via conveyor, ram, gravity hopper. From the shredder the material then proceeds to washing systems, density separation, drying and pelletizing. Basically the purpose of the shredder is to convert the infeasible bulk wastestream into a uniform and pumpable material that subsequent equipment can handle efficiently. Without effective size reduction at this stage, the entire plastic recycling line stalls.

Commercial Impact

It also makes a difference to you on a commercial level: the more effective your initial size reduction is, the less risk you have of jams, blockages, and quality problems occurring later on in the process. No wonder knowledgeable reclaimers reflect specifically on the importance of rotor drive, shape of the shredder blades, and the layout of the screens – and, of course, selecting the most appropriate shredder for your particular type of plastics waste stream is going to be just about the most important choice you make in terms of equipment.

Types of Plastic Shredders: Single Shaft vs Dual Shaft vs Granulator

Choosing the ideal type of plastic shredder can be narrowed down by the feed stock, target output size requirements and throughput. Every type of shredding machine has a function in the recycling process. Material handling requirements and the nature of the input stream also play a role. Choosing a shredder incorrectly can be a very expensive mistake resulting in a mismatch of throughput and equipment type.

Parameter	Single Shaft Shredder	Dual Shaft Shredder	Granulator
Rotor Speed	60–80 RPM	15–40 RPM	300–500 RPM
Torque	High	Very High	Moderate
Output Size	20–80 mm	30–150 mm	6–12 mm
Best For	Bulky rigid plastics, mixed streams	Heavy-duty primary reduction	Precise final sizing, regrind
Screen Control	Yes — interchangeable	Limited or none	Yes — tight tolerance
Noise Level	Low–Moderate	Low	Moderate–High
Kitech Series	AGS Series	—	AGF Series

Single Shaft Shredder

Single shaft shredder. Single shaft shredders of the Kitech AGS type use a single rotor (Figure 2) with cutting knives. Feed material is sheared against a fixed bed knife. Material is pushed into the cutting zone by a hydraulic ram. This maintains the feed pressure even on difficult objects with shoulders or large irregular shapes or for materials such as pipes. Shredded output size is controlled by the screen underneath the rotor. This type of machine is ideal for solid plastics, lumps, purgings, pipes and mixed waste streams where output size consistency is required for subsequent processing.

Dual Shaft Shredder

Dual shaft shredders- Two driven counter rotating shafts are fitted with intermeshing cutters. Material is fed into the machine and is pulled inwards then through shearing action of the oppositely rotating blades is shredded apart. This type of shredder produces the highest highest torque at very low speeds and several different types are readily available on the open market making it very suitable for primary volume reduction of heavy bulky objects from an industry point of view. Such shredders tend to lack any form of screen output control as the output particle size tends to rely on the cutters geometry rather than a recirculating mechanism.

Granulator

Granulators run at far higher speed, utilizing an open rotor with several fly knives cutting rapidly against the stationary bed knives in scissor action. Kitech’s AGF series defines this category – designed specifically for the production of uniform granulates from plastic film, bottles or pre-shredded rigid material. Higher speed gives accurate consistent particle size required for direct extrusion or compounding. Granulators are found predominantly after a shredder in 2-stage reduction systems, the shredder providing the primary breakdown with the granulator giving the final specification.

For most types of plastics in a commercial recycling line, the real concern is not which type of plastics to choose, but whether you need two stages or one. Thin films and bottles can often go straight into a granulator, whereas bulky mixed waste usually needs a shredder first and then a granulator. This upstream-downstream relationship is the key to designing a cost-effective, high performance plastic recycling line. Whether for in-house regrind operations or commercial-scale post-industrial reprocessing, the right shredding systems configuration makes or breaks your operation.

Kitech AGF & AGS Series: Technical Specifications

AGF Film & Bottle Granulator

Hailing as Kitech’s highspeed granulators, the AGF range is engineered to tackle ongoing throughput of plastic film, PET bottles and pre-shredded rigid plastics. The V-cut rotor geometry- an angled arrangement of blades- adds the key engineering principle to the collet design. Rather than paddling the entire width of a flatter blade perpendicular to the crush axis, cutting- in one go-, the AGF’s angled arrangement divides this into gaining ground from the middle blade working outward, from peripheral to middle of the cut. This translates to 20-40% higher throughput loadings for a similar sized straight cut rotor, and saves power consumption while also leading to greater component longevity. The result is a high throughput industrial shredder that delivers high performance even on heavily contaminated post-consumer feedstock.

AGF Specifications

Model	Rotor Diameter	Chamber Width	Motor Power	Throughput
AGF500/700	Ф500 mm	700 mm	37–55 kW	0.3–0.5 T/hr
AGF700/1000	Ф700 mm	1,000 mm	75 kW	0.5–1.0 T/hr
AGF700/1200	Ф700 mm	1,160 mm	90 kW	1.2–1.5 T/hr
AGF800/1200	Ф800 mm	1,160 mm	132 kW	1.5–2.0 T/hr
AGF800/1600	Ф800 mm	1,560 mm	160 kW	2.0–3.0 T/hr

Key AGF Design Features:

V-cut rotor geometry: progressive engagement delivers 20-40% additional throughput compared to straight-cut rotors of equivalent size
Chrome nickel tool steel blades – best performance in the abrasion resistance tests against contaminated, post consumer feedstock.
Wet and dry operation—run the same machine with or without water injection for integrated wash-granulation
External adjustment knives– alter blade/spindle Blade gaps can be set and then fine-tuned without opening the cutting chamber. This has minimized down times from hours to minutes.
Hydraulic screen cradle — complete screen size changes in under 15 minutes without overhead crane, no lifting equipment required

AGS Single Shaft Shredder

The AGS series is designed for applications that can’t be efficiently processed by a granulator: rough purgings, thick-wall bottles, mixed baled plastics, large rejects, pipe bundles. Running constantly at 74 RPM, each AGS has a low speed, high torque drive coupled to a hydraulic ram feeder that can apply consistent pressure to the material—improving throughput whether feeding loose bottles or tightly compacted bales. By eliminating the need to open the hood, rotate shafts, and slide screens, the bolt-in drive shaft increases maintenance speed and reduces downtime.

AGS Specifications

Model	Chamber Size	Rotor Diameter	Motor Power	Knives
AGS850	840 × 1,570 mm	Ф457 mm	37–55 kW	60
AGS1200	1,120 × 1,570 mm	Ф457 mm	55 kW	81
AGS1500	1,400 × 1,570 mm	Ф457 mm	75 kW	102
AGS1600	1,600 × 1,570 mm	Ф590 mm	110 kW	76
AGS2000	1,960 × 1,570 mm	Ф457 mm	2×55 / 2×75 kW	144

Key AGS Design Features:

74 RPM fixed speed—optimized speed-to-torque ratio for consistent shredding without thermal degradation
Concave-ground, 4-way rotating knives—advanced rotated knife blades provide 4-use edges; rotate to a fresh edge before resharpening—quadruples effective knife life
Hydraulic ram feed system—programmable feed via direct drive to automatically supply feed stock
Bolt-in drive shafts—full shaft replacement without disturbing bearing housings, dramatically reducing service time
Oil cooling system—active lubrication cooling significantly increases gearbox and bearing operational life during sustained high-load operation

Plastic Shredder Applications by Industry

Different types of plastics require different waste processing techniques depending on thickness and density. Downstream processing needs also influence equipment choices. Whether your goal is to reuse recycled material in injection molding, produce plastic pellets for extrusion, or simply divert packaging materials from landfill, the right industrial plastic shredders make it possible.

PET Bottle Recycling

Food-grade PET bottle processing from collection points or MRFs. Kitech’s AGF series handles both baled bottles with caps and labels still attached—the V-cut rotor avoids jamming in contaminated material. Output is sent directly to hot wash and flake sorting systems.

PE/PP Film Processing

Agricultural and industrial film, stretch wrap, and packaging films — especially LDPE and PP multi-layer structures that tend to stretch-around the rotor. An open rotor and tangential throughput ports are designed to prevent wrap-around while wet operation allows a single-pass wash granulate operation using polypropylene and polyethylene films. On-site pelletizing of the output turns waste film into reusable plastic pellets.

Rigid Plastic (HDPE/PP/ABS)

Injection-moulded rejects, crates, drums, automotive components, and thick-walled HDPE bottles. Hydraulic ram fed amorphous shapes are delivered to the cutting chamber with minimal impact and large wall thicknesses (>15mm) are not an issue for the heavy-duty rotor or gearbox.

PVC Pipe & Profile

End-of-life PVC pipe, window frames, and cable trunking, as well as offcuts—TV casing screens, trims, and other semi-rigid architectural profiles or profiles. With PVC requiring careful thermal management to avoid HCl release, the AGS series’ low RPM always delivers a steady shred size without risking thermo-oxidative degradation.

E-Waste & WEEE

Mixed plastic waste from electronic waste recycling—machine housings, computer cases, plastics mixed with other materials. Our AGS pre-breakdown grinder features a durable chassis that copes easily with the metal contamination (brackets, fasteners, connectors) commonly found in electronic waste streams. Shredded output then feeds into density separation and electrostatic sorting machinery.

Automotive Plastics

Bumpers (PP, TPO), dashboards, interior trim, and scrap composed of mixed plastics sources from automotive industry. Also, glass fibers, fillers, and multilayered plastics can be found. Industrial application. The AGS2000 with dual-motor drive handles the torque for processing reinforced engineering plastics on a continuous basis.

Not sure which configuration works for your waste stream? Our applications engineers have their experience working with packaging materials, post-consumer streams, post-industrial manufacturing off-cuts, polystyrene, thermoplastic compounds and multi-material streams from every corner of the world. We will tell you the right machine — or combination — to do the job based upon your physical sample not generalized beliefs.

Plastic Shredder Diagram

Turnkey Plastic Recycling Solutions: From Shredding to Pelletizing

A granulator for itself is a size reduction machine. A plastic recycling process is an integrated process, where each stage- raw waste receiving, washing, dewatering, air drying, pelletizing etc. – are designed to integrate as a single process. This is critically important in practical, because even the fastest shredder in the world still produces nothing if the downstream washing, drying or pelletizing system cannot match its speed.

Shredding

→

Washing

→

Drying

→

Granulation

→

Pelletizing

→

Pellets

Integrated Design & Assembly

Kitech creates, assembles and proves entire turnkey recycling lines across this entire range of recycling processes. We manufacture the conveyor belts, friction washers, float-sink separation tanks, centrifugal dryers, compacting pelletizers and laser melt filters — under a single roof and an integrated design to ensure its throughput matches any bottleneck of previous stage.

Single-Supplier Responsibility

Our advantage of single-supplier sourcing is not ease – it is responsibility. When one company supplies every part, the quality of output is solely on your shoulders. If a wash system is not performing, we can’t blame third-party parts supplier. If pellets are inconsistent we are responsible for every variable in the process. That completed control is what enables our customers to have higher yields than plants put together from different equipment suppliers.

Achieving the Circular Economy

Converting post-consumer and post-industrial plastics to high value pellets on the value and performance of virgin resin is the circular economy goal — helping manufacturers reuse material and reduce disposal costs. That requires process integration at every stage, as the shredder product must be precisely sized for the washer feed; the dryer must provide the moisture content the pelletizer demands; and the filtering system must efficiently reduce the contaminant range to the pore size specified by your end market. We design that all as one system.

Comprehensive Recycling Range

Our recycling range include PET bottle-to-bottle lines, PE/PP film washing and pelletizing lines, rigid plastic recycling plants and mixed-plastic sorting and recovery plants. Every system is configured to your actual waste stream makeup, desired end-product grade and throughput -cause a recycling plant good at handling clean post-industrial regrind is quite different from one catering for contaminated post-consumer bales.

Case Studies: Plastic Shredder Machine

Southeast Asia: PET Bottle Processing Plant

48 T/day Sustained Output

Equipment

A collection of equipment: AGF800/1600 granulator used as the principal size reduction unit in a full PET (polyethyleneterephthalate) bottle-to-flake washing line.

Challenges

Upgrading to new equipment. This operator required a new line to a) handle heavily contaminated post-consumer PET bottles (soil, organic residue, a high percentage of mixed caps/labelling contamination and be able to sell the separate rPET bales into the next stage of the regional supply chain.

Results

Wet granulation capabilities of the AGF800/1600 enabled integrated wash-shredding in a single step; significantly reducing line length and capital costs. Output ran at 48 TPD persisted throughputs on 20hr shifts to produce food-contact grade rPET flake. Payback was achieved in 14 months, driven by the spread between purchased waste PET prices and finished flake sales prices available within the regional markets.

PET Bottle Processing Plant Shredder Equipment

Northern Europe: PE Film Recycling Facility

30% Energy Reduction

Equipment

2 stage size reduction line for a mixed rigid plastics grinder, combining the AGS1500 shredder and the AGF700/1200 granulator and a complete PE film wash pelletising line.

Challenges

Replacing aging European aggregate-grades of plant and machinery that were becoming costly to run with unreliable energy hungry equipment. New equipment had to achieve or surpass previous throughput and close to halve operating costs to enable endurance against declining recycled PE prices.

Results

A 2 stage KItech system curtailed energy requirements by 30% per tonne of material processed over the previous set-up – made possible by the AGF’s V-cut rotor and the AGS’s energy optimized hydraulic drive package. This manufacturer specializes in agricultural stretch film and pack, and pelletizes product to specification for blown film manufacture.

PE Film Recycling Facility Shredder Line

South America: Mixed Rigid Plastic Recycling

60+ T/day Mixed Plastic Output

Equipment

2 stage size reduction series combining the AGS2000 dual-motor shredder and the AGF700/1200 granulator for clean, efficient mixed rigid plastic recycling.

Challenges

Processing unsorted post-consumer rigid plastics – HDPE bottles, PP crates, ABS casing and other mixed loads. Material heading in is baled up in loaders and has some metal contamination in the form of staples, wire and bottle caps. Size distribution ranges from small containers through to industrial drums.

Results

Torque reserve supplied by the dual-motor configuration on the AGS2000 (275 kw) prevented motor stalls and trips during processing of baled mixed rigid plastics. Its 144 cutting knife rotor combined with the hydraulic ram feeder to maintain a feed rate processing these materials at a rate of 60+ TPD daily. Extended time to change knives (over 2,000 hours) ensures good profits even with world market level small profit margins for the product.

Why Choose Kitech Plastic Crusher Machine

International Certifications

In addition to CE mark (Europe), our equipment has been designed and tested to UL and CSA requirements for North American markets. Initial ISO 9001 end product obtained certified manufacturing process including full traceability on all critical components.

Guarantee of Delivery in 60 Days

All standard AGF and AGS models are dispatched within 60 days of receipt of order. We keep strategic stock of long-lead items like motors, gearboxes and hydraulic cylinders so this is always achievable.

European-Standard Engineering

The fundamental design guidelines and quality standards based on long proven engineering values from European recyclers incorporating manufacturing economy in order to achieve very competitive price points while maintaining exceptional build quality.

24/7 Technical Assistance

Remote diagnostic, video based troubleshooting and PLC program support 24 hours by day. Years of experience with design and manufacturing with our service engineers speak your language: in words, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or Arabic; in meanings, waste recycling machines not drawings.

Spare Parts

Essential wear parts (blades, screens, bearings, seals, etc) kept ready for immediate transportation. Standard parts will normally be shipped within 48 hours; we recognize that a shredder standing waiting for a screen or blade set is costing you money by the hour.

Plastic Shredder Tools

Model Selector

Compare machine specifications side-by-side to find the exact match for your throughput.

→

Decision Guide

Answer 5 quick questions to let our wizard recommend the optimal shredder configuration.

→

Frequently Asked Questions-Industrial Plastic Shredder

What types of plastic can be shredded?

An industrial plastic shredder can be used to process nearly all thermoplastic polymer types and many thermoset and composite materials. Typical feedstocks include PET bottles, LDPE and PP films, HDPE and PP containers, ABS housings, PVC pipes and profile, polystyrene packaging, nylon and polycarbonate, acetal and engineering plastics. Optional blade configuration and motor power allow systems to handle rubber and EPE and EPS foams, fiberglass reinforced plastics, and composite materials typically encountered in electronic waste, appliances, and automotive scrap. The important point is to choose the shredding machine specification to suit the given material properties — including wall thickness, abrasiveness, and contamination level — to divert waste from landfill and into productive reuse.

What is the difference between a shredder and a granulator?

A shredder and a granulator are both size reduction machines, but they serve different purposes in plastic shredding. Shredders are set at low speeds (40 – 80 RPM), with large torque capability, ripping raw plastic material down to coarse fragments of 20 – 80mm. Granulators are high-speed (300 – 500 RPM) with very rapid scissor cutting action between blades to produce particles of 6 – 12mm. Shredders are the machines to handle the chunky stuff- huge sizes, irregular shapes and high wall thickness. Granulators are the job for producing uniform “spec” flakes for downstream extrusion processing. Many recycling systems incorporate both- the shredder for the primary reduction and the granulator for final sizing. Kitech’s AGS medium duty line as well as the heavy duty AGS2000 are designed for the shredder role. Choosing the right combination depends on your target particle size, material type, and whether you need coarse pre-reduction or a finished granulate ready for extrusion or pelletizing.

How much does an industrial plastic shredder cost?

Industrial plastic shredder prices fall broadly in the ranges of $25,000 to $250,000 or more, often depending on tonnage throughput, motor power, size of cutting chamber, type of blades, level of automation, and other special features. Entry-level single-shaft models suitable for modest throughput (0.3 – 0.5 T/hr) typically start around $30,000-$60,000. Entry-level twin-shafts popular in mid-range commercial recycling operations (0.5- 1.5 T/hr) tend to price out between $60,000 and $120,000. Higher-capacity twin-motor twin-shafts such as the AGS2000 for large continuous industrial throughput may cost well over $200,000. Buyers always base decision on the true operating cost, considering power, maintenance, blades, and downtime on the job rather than the purchase price alone.

Why are plastic shredders so expensive?

Cost is a reflection of the tremendous engineering that goes into a continuous high-torque size reduction system. Blades are machined from hardened chrome nickel tool steel which can stay sharp despite thousands of hours of contact with dirty plastic. Each rotor is machined from solid steel ingots and balanced. Cutting chambers require heavy-walled construction to resist the forces of shredding. All gearboxes, hydraulic power units, and bearing assemblies are all industrial grade. Single specifications of blade material can amount to 15-20% of the cost of a machine with high knife count. Factor in international certifications (CE, UL), testing, engineering drawings, and we think you will see why large, long-lasting industrial shredders cost what they do. The alternative is cheaply-made machines with second-rate metallurgy that are lucky to make it 24 months.

What shredder capacity do I need?

Decide your daily volume target and divide by scheduled number of operating hours. For example: 20 T on a 10 hour day requires a machine capable of 2.0 T/hr. To this estimate, add 20-30% buffer for feed variability, screen changes, blade turning, scheduled maintenance, and future waste stream increases. Material attributes alone can devastate a sizing-screen-design decision: films and foams are very low density and require many more square feet of cutting chamber (wider chambers, even at lower pound rates) while rigid, thick walled plastics have higher densities but need considerably more motor power per ton to process. Send us samples of your typical waste stream for examination on benchmark reference machines; we will supply product data on your specific waste stream — not your catalog number.

How do I maintain a plastic shredder for maximum lifespan?

What is the lead time for Kitech shredders?

What international certifications do Kitech shredders carry?

All Kitech recycling machinery is CE certified for European Union compliance now on machinery safety (EN ISO 12100), electrical safety, and electromagnetic compatibility standards. Machines to North American standards are designed for UL and CSA Certification. Our factory is carrying ISO 9001 quality management certification with all critical components having traceability on material used. Electrical panels are International standard components (Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric) and can be configured for any country of application voltage, frequency, and wiring code. We provide all full compliance documentation packages according to the destination country import and installation norms.

Can Kitech provide a complete recycling line?

Yes – and for most commercial recycling operations a complete line from one supplier is the most economical and technically efficient approach. Kitech supplies full turnkey recycling systems for grinding, washing ( friction washers, hot wash tanks, float-sink separation), drying (centrifugal and thermal), granulating, pelletizing (compact bulk extruders with degassing), and extrusion melt filters (including laser continuous separation technology). One supplier ensures mechanical and process compatibility at each stage, less complicated installation, and one hold-to-account for performance: one sale, one invoice. We supply complete lines to produce PET bottle flake, PE/PP film pellet, rigid plastics, and mixed waste streams.

Ready to Upgrade Your Plastic Recycling Machine Capacity?

Send us samples of material streams or your waste stream details. We will estimate your best machine configuration, deliver a detailed quote with ROI projections, and guarantee 60 days delivery.

Get a Free Quote