There are several different types of depackaging and separation machines. They can range from large to small, and they can be used for a variety of different applications.
However, there are some that are a little more specialised to use and that is very much the case for all types of depackaging and separation machines.
These are usually called specialized organic waste processing (pretreatment before landfill) machines.
If you have a large project to complete, you may want to consider looking into a few of these machines. This will ensure that you can finish your waste management processing and pretreatment project with a little more ease.
Food depackaging and separation machines are essential pieces of equipment for many food processing plants. From separating and shredding food materials to extracting food from packets, pots and pouches, depackaging and separation machines are designed to make the process of food preparation faster and easier.
In this article, we will explore the different types of depackaging and separation machines, including those that use a shredder, a rotating drum or trommel, a hammermill, or rotating paddles to squeeze out the food from packets, pots and pouches.
List of the Common Types of Depackaging and Separation Machines
1. Shredder
A shredder is a type of depackaging and separation machine that uses a rotating drum with cutting blades to shred food materials. The blades are designed to cut through food materials, separating and shredding them into smaller pieces. Shredders are commonly used for materials such as cheese, bread, and vegetables. Shredders are not sustainable to use for any plastic material due to the huge rate of production of microplastic they cause.
2. Rotating Drum or Trommel
A rotating drum or trommel is another type of depackaging and separation machine. This machine uses a rotating drum with holes around the perimeter to separate light and bulky items and heavier materials, including grit and sand among the food and other organic waste materials. The paddles are designed to catch the food materials and separate them from each other, without causing any damage to the food.
3. Hammermill
A hammermill is a type of depackaging and separation machine that uses a rotating hammer to crush and shred food materials to reduce the size for ease of later processing. The hammer is designed to smash up the food materials, mashing and shredding them into smaller pieces. Hammermills are commonly used for materials such as the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. They are now frowned upon due to the tiny plastic they make.
4. Rotating Paddles
Rotating paddles are a type of depackaging and separation machine that uses a rotating paddle to squeeze out the food from packets, pots and pouches. The paddle is designed to press down on the food materials, forcing out the food from the packaging. Rotating paddles are commonly used for materials such as cheese, bread, and vegetables.
Depackaging and separation machines are essential pieces of equipment for food processing plants. Whether it’s using a shredder, a rotating drum or trommel, a hammermill, or rotating paddles, these machines make the process of food preparation faster and easier.
List of Top Depackaging and Separation Machine Manufacturers and Suppliers
Mavitec
Mavitec depackaging and separation machines are ideal for processing food waste and animal by-products. These machines produce clean organic output that is ready for recycling.
The company's products range from a small unit that can process five tons of supermarket waste per hour to a large unit that can handle 40 cubic yards of waste per hour. All of the models in the company's line of separation equipment are made to be leak-free and to provide clean organic output.
As a part of the Mavitec Group, it is well known for its engineering skills and quality solutions for the rendering and gasification of animal by-products. It has a worldwide presence with sales offices and a network of distributors.
Tiger Depack
If you are in the food industry, Tiger Depackage and separation machines may be just what you need to cut costs and reduce waste. These machines are perfect for restaurants, supermarkets, and other food service operators. They help remove packaging and content for composting, anaerobic digestion, and other processing applications.
Tiger Depack machines are able to treat five to forty tons of material per hour. The technology is simple to use and can easily be integrated into your production process.
A specialized software program will control the various functions of the machine. This software allows you to adjust the power, load rate, and other key parameters. It will also monitor the motor strain.
Mk10 Super Separator
Mk10 Super Separator depackaging and separation machine is designed to make reuse of waste packaging possible. It combines the best of mechanical separation with a vortex process.
This piece of equipment is made by Waste Food Solutions Ltd. It can handle a wide variety of waste and packaging including plastic bags, Tetrapak packs, cardboard boxes, food waste, and biodegradables.
The company also sells recycling machines. These include their own line of depackaging and separation systems. Some of the company's products are used in the United Kingdom by livestock farmers to produce high quality animal feed.
The "Super Separator" has been in production for twelve years. It has several features that distinguish it from its predecessors. In particular, it has a larger hopper, extraction system, and crumb trap.
Smicon
A depackaging and separation machine is designed to break down packaging into a slurry that can be used to recycle. It also separates liquid from solids. This type of machine is ideal for recycling and composting.
Smicon has developed a series of depackaging machines to break down plastic and metallic food packaging into organic material. These devices are used in several industries. They have been installed in over 40 countries.
The Smicon BS260 Belt Separator is an ideal option for depackaging smaller quantities of food waste. This system has an infeed trough, a screen mesh size of 8 mm to 50 mm, and a motor that ranges from 11 kW to 110 kW.
BioSeparator
The BioSeparator is one of the most popular depackaging and separation machines available today. With a wide range of applications, it has been engineered to tackle the most challenging waste streams. Among its many benefits, the unit is compact and maintenance free. It enables municipal governments to recoup their investment in a single go.
There are several models to choose from. Scott Equipment's depackaging and separation machine lineup is made in the USA. They are all rated to process food waste. Their high efficiency models boast capacity of more than 300 cubic feet per hour. And their models are small enough to fit on a worksite or in a trailer.
Twister
A new food waste depackaging and separation machine called Twister has been designed for the hospitality industry and restaurants, but it is equally at home when used for municipal solid waste processing as well.
It is designed to be used in a wet or dry process, and to separate inorganic material from organics.
The system uses a combination of centrifugal and physical separation techniques. It also features an innovative anti-bridging design to ensure that the food waste, OFMSW, etc does not get help-up in the feed hopper.
The TWISTER De-packager & Separator is the first to use the 3rd generation concept in the food waste sector. It separates the organics from the packaging without also cerating microplastic (which most competitors do), and allows for separation of source segregated organics (SSO).
It produces a reject stream with a plastic output suitable for plstic recycling to resin for reuse, after further separation.
This unique concept can break open plastic bags and large packages. Unlike traditional depackagers, it does not shred or chopper the material.
Summarising:
The purpose of each of these machines was, until 10 years or so ago, to remove the food from its packaging, thereby making it possible to both recycle the food for its beneficial use (usually for energy extraction via anaerobic digestion) and also to produce refuse derived fuel (RDF & SRF).
But more recently that has changed. The aim now is to recycle the plastic and other materials, including the organic content. The RDF and SRF markets, for combustion as fuel, will remain small for sustainability reasons, as required for compliance with the "Waste Hierarchy".
But few of the depackaging machines on the market can create a sufficiently clean and (large size item - not shredded) plastic stream to enable this.
So, look out for the new 3rd generation, low-impact machines which are the only depack machines which can reliably recycle plastic to resin for reuse.
Conclusion About the Types of Depackaging and Separation Machines
In conclusion, depackaging and separation machines offer a method of recovering food from its packaging that is both effective and efficient.
Depackaging and separation machines are crucial pieces of machinery that can be found in a variety of food processing plants and facilities that deal with waste management.
Depackaging and separation machines are designed to make the process of food waste pretreatment, energy extraction by biogas production, and the preparation of plastics recycling faster and easier.
These machines can separate and shred food materials as well as extract food from packets, pots, and pouches.