Design Benefits


Advanced Cutter Locking System Advanced Cutter Locking System

Normally, with simple nut and bolt tightening, the shredder cutters and spacers gradually loosen during operation. This traditional locking method requires frequent and tedious maintenance to prevent loosening and the damage and poor performance that results.

SSI has solved this problem with patented ACLS technology that locks the cutters and spacers onto the shaft so they won't loosen during operation. ACLS has been shown to apply 850% more force than simple nut and bolt locking and dramatically extends the life of cutters and drive train.



Bearing & Seal Protection

Since each shredding solution is unique, the protection technique is designed to accommodate the shredder itself, what is being shred, the infeed method, and the shredding environment.

Depending on the application, we use different techniques in order to keep what is being shredded inside the cutter table where it belongs. These include a variety of splash plate assembly and end cutter configurations, as well as specialized seal designs.

This attention to an apparently small detail like bearing and seal protection is another reason SSI shredders have a reputation for long life and online reliability.



Direct Drive Direct Drive

All SSI shredders, whether electric or hydraulic, come with direct drives. Direct drives deliver more power than indirect. Planetary gear boxes are splined directly into the drive shaft, amplifying torque and allowing greater flexibility of applications. The simpler, in-line power assembly is easier to maintain and far more robust in operation.





Cardboard Shredder Low-Speed, High-Torque Advantages

Low-speed offers some significant advantages:

  • Less material preparation. Unlike high-speed grinders, low speed shredders don't require uncontaminated material.
  • Almost anything can be thrown into a low speed shredder. They are much harder to damage than high-speed machines.
  • Very low vibration means no special foundations are required.
  • Lower dust and noise means a safer work environment.
  • Lower risk of projectiles ejected from the cutting chamber.
  • Lower maintenance and operating costs than high-speed.
  • Longer life to the cutters and entire equipment.
  • Higher online reliability, less down time than high-speed grinders.
  • Lower power requirements.


Patented Ram Assist Patented Ram Assist

Often bulky and light materials can "bridge" or float on top of the cutting table of shredders. SSI's Patented Ram Assist pushes the material into the shredder, allowing the cutter hooks to get a better grab on the material.

Smart Ram

The SSI Ram Assist is not just a brute plunger like you would find on other manufacturers' shredders. Our Ram Assist is integrated with the shredder controls so it senses when it is needed and by how much, applying just the right amount and duration of force to help the shredder grab it's material effectively.

SSI provides ram configurations for a wide variety of both vertical and horizontal feeding systems for its shredders





Quad Screen Screens

SSI's unique screen design on its shredders, not only efficiently control particle size, they actually aid in the shredding action.

Our shredder screens are concentrically aligned with the rotating cutter shafts, so as the cutters interact with the screen face, they are able to tear and pull cut material apart.

For example, in tire shredding, this screen/cutter interaction allows an SSI shredder to liberate embedded metal bead and sidewall wire in preparation for crumbing.

Easy Installation and Maintenance

SSI shredder screens are easy to install, adjust, and remove for cleaning. You simply take off the end plate of the shredder, slide in the screen, adjust its height and put the cover plate back on.

Since the screens are concentrically designed to fit with SSI cutter shafts, the tolerance between the screen and the cutters can be adjusted for optimum shredding.



Cleaning Fingers Segmented Cleaning Fingers

Some material in a shredder has a tendency to wrap around the shaft as it is processed. SSI's solution to prevent this is Segmented Cleaning Fingers. Protruding between each cutter and fitting closely around each spacer, the fingers keep shredded material from clogging the cutting table.

The individual, segmented design of the fingers allow for much easier maintenance than the traditional, unibody, "comb" arrangement used by other manufactuers. These other designs usually require removal of the bottom of the shredder to change the cleaning fingers. SSI cleaning fingers can be accessed directly and more safely from the top.



Hex Shaft Shaft Design

Hex Shafts

Hex Shafts are still considered by many to be stronger than round/keyed shafts. If it weren't for the wear and maintenance problems caused by loose cutters slipping across the hex face, they would still be preferred by many users.

SSI solved the loose cutter problem with the ACLS (Advanced Cutter Locking System), which keeps cutters and spacers tight on the shaft, eliminating wobble. Now both round/keyed and hex shafts are available on SSI shredders.





Keyed Shaft

Round/Keyed Shafts

Traditionally shredders were mounted with hex-shaped shafts, which were preferred for high torque applications. However, both hex shafts and cutters tend to wear down as the cutters become loose, and eventually the entire shaft and cutters would need to be replaced.

SSI's solution to this is the Round/Keyed Shaft. This type of shaft actually locks the cutters onto it and performs very well under high loads. A tremendous economic and maintenance advantage of the round/keyed shaft is that when it becomes worn, you only need to replace the key and not the entire shaft and its cutters.



SmartDrive®

SmartDrive® is a unique, optional feature on SSI electric drive shredders, allowing them to simulate the performance of hydraulic machines in a more cost-effective way.

Electric shredders using SmartDrive can now use "Auto-Chop", make rapid reversals and recoveries, and attain up to 20% greater speeds than standard electric drives. All this while retaining the energy efficiency and initial low cost of an electric system.

  • Overspeed - Maximum speed can be set up to 20% higher than standard electric drive.
  • Selective Speed Control - Preset maximum shaft speeds to optimize throughput.
  • Overload Reversing - Simulates hydraulic drive by providing rapid reversal and recovery from overload conditions. SSP™ (Severe Shock Protection) prevents increased torque from being transmitted directly to the shredder drive train. This protects the system from potential damage.
  • "Auto-Chop" - User can set timed reversal sequences to enhance the regulation of particle size.
  • Reduced Voltage Starting - A "soft start" at full torque. Reduces power demands and extends the life of the motor.
  • "Sleep" Mode - Automatically reduces shredder speed when not processing.
  • Lower Maintenance than Hydraulic - SmartDrive has all the advantages of hydraulic drives with less maintenance— no oil, fluids, filters or hoses.
  • Load Sensing Speed Control (optional) - System senses load and automatically changes speeds to minimize reversals.


    • Cleaning Fingers Severe Shock Protection

    Most shredders offer auto-reversal as a standard feature, however, not all offer true shockload protection for electric drives. SSI electric drive shredders come with this vital technology as a standard feature.

    In a shockload situation, such as a non-shreddable item, SSP prevents the increased torque from being transmitted directly to the shredder drive train. This protects the system from potential damage.

    As a result, the life of cutters, shaft and drive train are extended. SSP increases online reliability.



    Hardened Faced Cutters Hardened Faced Cutters

    Cutter Hardfacing - For most shredder applications SSI's standard cutter hardness is suitable. However, when certain applications require a harder, sharper edge, the cutters are hardfaced. This is done by welding alloys to the cutter edges.

    SSI uses proprietary alloys to hardface their cutters. The alloys are rated up to a hardness level of HRC 58-66, with 61 being average. The advantage of hardfacing is that the cutter keeps its edge longer. And it is ideal for making clean cuts of ductile but abrasive materials such as tires, carpet, and nylon.





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