Size Reduction Service Tips

• Ensure all users and maintenance personnel are adequately trained on how to safely use and service each piece of equipment.
• Dull knives in your granulator cause excessive wear and tear on critical components leading to very costly downtime. A sharp set of knives set to the proper gap always works to your advantage.
• Dull knives, worn screens or non-optimal knife gaps can lead to excessive vibration and amp draw. This can also reduce the amount of reusable regrind back into the process, ultimately costing the plant money.
• Amp draw can be monitored as an indicator of dulling knives for more predictable maintenance.
• Vibration can be monitored as an indicator of dulling knives or imbalance.
• Do not resharpen knives beyond their minimum height. Always replace knives when they reach the minimum height.
• Periodically check the setting of your bed knife shields. Approximately 1/32” of the bed knives should be uncovered by the knife shield for film, and 1/16” for other materials.
• Shredders can be periodically checked for dulling cutters. Most cutters can be rotated for a sharper cutting surface before having to replace.
• Periodically inspect all safety devices for functionality
• With any rotating machinery, it is always a good idea to periodically check for loosened bolts before startup.
• If a jam is encountered, be sure the jam is cleared and the machine is cleaned out before attempting to restart.
• Proper air flow is required to evacuate the regrind. If material is building up under the screen(s) check the setting of the damper, it may not be sufficiently open.
• Proper drive belt tension is important for many reasons. Check the drive belt tension monthly and adjust according to the instructions in your operators manual.
• Follow local lock-out/tag-out procedures as required.
• When in doubt, call the professionals for help!