PET bottles and aluminium cans continue to be the containers of choice for the beverage industry and their use is still on the increase. Whilst the material can be easily recycled, the cost of
collection, transportation and storage, ready for re-utilisation, needs to be contained for the true benefit of the recycling process to be realised. If the bottles and cans are left in their
usual, empty state, 80 to 90% of the volume is air. This means that the cost of storing and returning them for reprocessing can be very high. The solution is to crush and transport as much material
and hence as little air as possible.
As many of the bottles are left with their caps on, crushing and compressing them is difficult. For this reason, the systems that HSM produce specifically for PET bottles have an integrated
perforator. Metal spikes pierce the bottles before they are crushed, so significantly reducing the volume, prior to baling where appropriate.
HSM offers a range of different machines dependant upon the application. For local collection, including use at sports stadiums, events and other locations where a high volume of PET bottles and
beverage cans are collected, small units such as the HSM 1049 make good sense. Those disposing of the bottles and cans even operate the machine themselves, possible thanks to the crushers
stringent safety features.
On the HSM 1049 crusher, the action of the bottle being thrown into the machine activates its operation. Bottles and cans are perforated and crushed before being dropped into a container at
the bottom of the machine. This can then be emptied and replaced when it becomes full. Other features include a container full warning light and a membrane keypad.
At the top end of the range, HSM offers large conveyor delivered systems that not only crush the bottles but also pack them into bales strapped with wire.
Crushing and compressing PET bottles and aluminium cans to reduce 80 to 90% of the volume.