Purchasing a waste shredder can be quite daunting. There are various technologies and manufacturers and all claim to provide the best solution. With commodity prices and government legislation constantly changing, it is important that your capital invested is not misplaced. We’d like to bring up some aspects we think are worth considering before settling on which shredder to go for.
Five different categories to consider before taking your final decision;
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- Reason(s) behind purchase
- Technical specifications
- Operational considerations
- Budget
- Due diligence
Why are you buying a shredder?
Some factors influencing your decision to purchase a shredder may include statutory legislation, economic factors, technological advances, efficiency of waste solutions and corporate social responsibility. Whatever your reason(s) for buying a shredder, here are a few simple questions to start with:
- What do you want to shred?
- How contaminated might the waste be?
- Define the end product i.e. particle size.
- What will happen to the resulting fractions?
Technical Specification
This is a key aspect of the decision making process as the technical specification of a shredder is unique to you and the needs of your business. Some key factors to consider when building your specification:
- Cutting system & screen.
- Pre shredding required?
- Power supply.
- Machine dimensions & site space.
- Capacity & throughput.
Operational Considerations
Outside of the technical specification there are other operational factors to consider in this process:
- CE Certification is an absolute must.
- Low noise levels to protect operator hearing.
- Foreign object protection.
- Control panel logistics.
- Fire suppression & explosion protection.
- Are you buying from an accredited supplier?
Budget
Obviously, the budget is another significant part of the process. Some important budget considerations include: Capital expenditure – What is the initial outlay and how that will impact the business. Operational running costs & factors – Power consumption/tonne, spares & repairs, up-time stats and ease of maintenance. It is also important to consider the power consumption – savings here alone could help towards your purchase repayments. Purchase Vs. Lease – What option is more suitable to your business? Define a return on investment for your business.
Due Diligence
Like any sales process, due diligence is required to ensure you are getting the best value for your money. Some useful ideas:
- See the shredder in action.
- Request a trial using your own material.
- Speak to existing customers.
- Investigate the service/backup infrastructure.
To ensure that you match up the correct shredder to your application needs, FOCUS enviro offer a consultation service to ensure that your business selects the perfect solution to meet your unique needs. For more information, please call us on +61 (02)4365 4247 or email info@focusenviro.com.au.
