Turning waste into energy with the BHS universal shredder in Romania

March 2022

The reference at a glance

Project

Universal shredder at the waste disposal company Pacos in Rumania.

Technology

Universal-Shredder of type NGU 0518

Operating site

Băicoi, Romania

Industry

Recycling

Application

Production of RDF-fractions for cement production for infrastructure projects.

Solution

Efficient shredding technology ensures consistent throughput for a variety of feeding materials.

Sustainable use of residual materials has become economically and ecologically indispensable for many industrial processes. In Romania, German-based concrete producer Heidelberg Cement therefore looked for fuels derived from household waste. The company turned to local waste recycler Pacos, where a universal shredder (type NGU) from BHS-Sonthofen has recently been installed to produce RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel)- fractions. The implementation was quick and straightforward – due to the full-service support of BHS-Sonthofen and its local partner CTE Solution.

The production of cement involves a high energy input. Suitable substitutes or alternative fuels can replace the need for natural resources and fossil fuels – resulting in less energy consumption and climate-relevant CO₂ emissions. Household waste such as paper, plastics, cardboards, and textiles play an important role in the search for sustainable energy solutions. When shredded and subsequently pressed into pellets or other forms, they provide heat that can be used in industrial manufacturing. What’s more, residual materials that would otherwise remain unused in landfills can be returned to a value-adding cycle.

The waste disposal company Pacos, located near the town of Băicoi, about one hour's drive from Bucharest in Romania, collects, sorts, and recycles these waste materials. The output serves as a sustainable energy source for the local industry – mainly suppliers for infrastructure projects. However, as the input material comes in all sizes, shapes and thicknesses, the company looked for a shredder capable of shredding a vast variety of non-organic household wastes.

Diverse feeding material requires a powerful shredder

After the previous machines failed to deliver the expected shredding quality, the company turned to the recycling professionals at BHS-Sonthofen through its local reseller, CTE Solutions. The universal shredder of type NGU 0518, a high-speed single-shaft crusher suitable for pre- and post-shredding of all materials, proved to be the right machine to produce the requested RDF-fractions. With a rotor size of 495 x 1,795 mm and an adjustable drive power of 90 - 160 kW, it is designed for pre- and post-shredding of all materials that can be cut. “The BHS universal shredder is the benchmark for recycling of all soft feeding materials”, says Milan Kyselák, BHS Area Sales Manager Eastern Europe,” it was perfectly suited for the variety of waste at the client’s plant.” The NGU can produce the desired preset particle size from any of the given material, which is then transported to Heidelberg Cement for further processing steps.

Full-service support ensures uncomplicated implementation

After initial tests with the feeding material on site, the BHS universal shredder started operating at the beginning of February 2022. BHS-Sonthofen handled the testing, installation, and commissioning of the machine in cooperation with CTE Solution. With no customer-specific adjustments necessary, the implementation ran without complications. The plant now produces a throughput of 4-6 tons per hour.

As the demand from the surrounding infrastructure industry for sustainable energy solutions continues to grow, Pacos plans to significantly expand its recycling business in the future. After the successful implementation, the company will likely be turning to BHS for support again.