Process Challenging Waste With The VS420 Shredder From Edge Innovate

Mar 10, 2025 - 6 months ago

Using an EDGE VS420 low-speed shredder in combination with a high-speed grinder results in major benefits.

In today’s waste processing industry, companies are constantly looking for ways to maximize efficiency, protect equipment, and reduce operational costs. One effective approach to achieve these goals is by integrating a low-speed, high-torque shredder like the ever-popular EDGE VS420 as a processing step before feeding material into a high-speed grinder.

We saw this combination in operation when we recently travelled to California to meet the bosses of one of the largest family-owned companies on the West coast who operate a number of EDGE Innovate machines, including an EDGE VS420 shredder and multiple EDGE TRT622 trommels, all supplied by Greenrock Equipment, exclusive distributors for EDGE Innovate products in California and Hawaii.

For any company investing in an EDGE shredder like the VS420 (now available in Electric Hybrid), it will prove to be money well spent, as the shredder provides substantial long-term operational savings.

The major benefit witnessed at this operation was the ability of the VS420 to process feedstocks that contain tough contaminants, such as metal, rocks, or other hard objects. These high torque, low speed shredders excel at breaking down or removing those hurtful contaminants and metals before reaching the grinder. This added layer of protection has transformed the operation making their grinding process much more reliable and repeatable with a significate reduction in forced downtime.

Another major advantage of the low-speed shredder is its ability to break down large, bulky items into smaller, more manageable pieces. This preliminary size reduction creates a consistent material flow that high-speed grinders can handle with greater ease and efficiency. By avoiding clogs and jams, this setup not only increases throughput but also maximizes the quality of the grinder’s output, and it significantly reduces wear and tear on the grinder, extending its lifespan and reducing the need for costly repairs, replacements, and downtime.

By reducing the load on the high-speed grinder, the shredder enables it to operate at a steady pace, increasing the volume of material processed per hour while consuming less energy. This energy-efficient workflow is essential in today’s industry, where minimizing costs and maximizing throughput are top priorities. For example, the EDGE VS420 has an average fuel consumption of just 25 litres/hr (6.6USG/HR).

Operational Flexibility With A Low Speed Shredder
All of EDGE Innovate’s range of shredders can handle a wide variety of materials that might have been turned away in the past – from highly contaminated organic feedstocks, industrial waste and construction debris to tires and mixed municipal waste.

Tap Into New Revenue Streams
The EDGE waste shredder here brings operational flexibility to the forefront making it possible for the business to confidently say “Yes” to a wider range of materials, diversify their offerings and allow them to enter new market segments, such as composting, recycling, and biomass fuel production. With the added flexibility to take on new applications and serve a wider client base, companies can tap into new revenue streams and improve their competitive standing. An additional key benefit of EDGE Innovate’s low-speed shredders is their ability to reduce dust. The shredders’ lower operating speeds and controlled shredding action significantly minimize the formation of fine particles, which has multiple advantages. Reduced dust production enhances health and safety by improving air quality, lowering the need for costly dust control .

Additionally, less dust accumulation on equipment and workspaces means lower maintenance and clean-up costs but the major benefit from this is a much cleaner, in spec final product, which is especially beneficial for applications like biomass fuel and mulch.

Edge Innovate: A Trusted Brand
As a trusted manufacturer in the field, EDGE Innovate is committed to helping waste processing companies enhance efficiency, protect their equipment, and broaden their service capabilities with their advanced low-speed shredders. All EDGE Innovate shredders encompass a highly robust and durable design and being engineered to run at a lower rotor RPM but with high torque enables the shredders to process the most difficult of materials. In addition, all the waste shredders utilize EDGE’s Intelligent Self-Protecting control system with tramp metal cycles to prevents against asset damage and downtime, while multiple chamber configurations, screen options and cutting tools allow operators to customize their EDGE shredders to provide the right tonnage at the desired piece size.

“Integrating one of our shredders allows businesses to confidently accept a wider array of materials and applications, equipping them to enter new markets and meet evolving customer demands. While every operation has unique requirements, we believe that companies processing varied, bulky, or potentially contaminated waste streams will see clear benefits from our low-speed shredders, including increased throughput, operational flexibility, and superior product quality,” commented Greenrock Equipment’s John Connolly.

Operational Savings
Although slow-speed shredders represent an initial large investment, EDGE Innovate’s shredders provide substantial long-term operational savings. Reduced wear on grinders, lower energy consumption, minimized dust control needs, and decreased maintenance costs all contribute to significant cost efficiencies. In addition to expanding the range of materials a company can process, a low-speed shredder offers a pathway to greater revenue, helping to offset equipment costs.

Ultimately, a low-speed shredder transforms a waste processing company into a more versatile and resilient operation that is prepared to meet the demands of modern waste management. With an EDGE Innovate slow-speed shredder paired with a high-speed grinder, your waste processing system becomes a powerful, efficient, and robust solution, primed for growth and adaptability in a dynamic market.

The Edge VS420 Shredder: Now Available With Electric Hybrid
The new VS420E Hybrid from EDGE Innovate is a breakthrough in eco-friendly shredding technology, delivering top-tier performance with a significantly reduced environmental impact. By dramatically lowering CO2 emissions, this hybrid model not only cuts your carbon footprint but also reduces operating costs and maintenance requirements. It combines the mobility of a diesel-driven unit with the environmental and operational advantages of a stationary electric shredder—all in one innovative, self-contained package. Experience minimal environmental impact without compromising on power.

Source: EDGE Innovate