High efficiency granulator from SA’s Metric Engineering
METRIC Engineering, a Cape Town machine manufacturer, has introduced its own range of granulators for plastic recycling. The ‘Met-Red’ (Metric Reduction Equipment) machines are designed for rugged performance, on a par with the heavy engineering machinery Metric has been building since the company was formed 60 years ago in 1964.
The G600/100B Met-Red system, designated as per its rotor size of 600mm diameter by 1m length, recently rolled off the production line at the company’s Paardeneiland premises.
The rotor features 10 rotating blades in a staggered formation with eight stationary blades in a proprietary design which allows for self-sharpening. The 180° screen area has 16mm diameter holes; different size screens are available depending on application. Metric also manufactures the blades, using a slightly different design which it believes achieves best results.
The unit’s 90kW motor offers powerful torque and capacity and the beast of a machine weighs in at 6000kgs, so it’s not to be trifled with.
Metric has been manufacturing machines including plastic extruders and dies over the past six decades and the current managing director, Ian van Wyk, who has been with the company for 27 years and took over as boss from his father-in-law in 2005, has continued on the same path. It has recently refocussed increasingly on plastics machinery and after achieving some successes with converting systems, has since 2022 begun developing its own recycling lines.
The G600/100B unit is the largest granulator in the Met-Red range thus far. The machine is V-belt pulley driven with hydraulically operated screen, cutting chamber and hopper (includes complete powerpack). The cutting chamber is lined with 16mm wear plates (wear plates included) and both the chamber and hopper are modular, so different options are available depending on preference.
Metric design engineer Ruan Janse van Rensburg says the system is a ‘plug-and-play’ setup.
