Plastic granulators play a critical role in modern plastic recycling processes. They reduce plastic waste into uniform, reusable granules, helping manufacturers lower material costs, improve sustainability, and maintain consistent production quality.
As a leading Plastic Recycling Equipment Supplier in the USA, Zerma America provides advanced plastic granulators, industrial shredders, and complete plastic recycling systems engineered for high-performance industrial use.
This guide explains the types of plastic granulators, how they work, and which applications they are best suited for.
Plastic Granulator Components:
Although granulator designs vary, most plastic granulators include:
- Rotor & Stator Knives – Cut plastic into consistent granules
- Cutting Chamber – Houses material during size reduction
- Screens (if applicable) – Control final granule size
- Drive Motor – Powers cutting performance
- Sound Enclosure – Reduces operational noise
- Discharge System – Transfers granules for reuse or storage
High-quality components directly impact granule quality, throughput, energy efficiency, and machine lifespan.
Types of Plastic Granulators:
1. Central Granulators:
Central granulators are high-capacity machines designed to handle large volumes of plastic scrap from multiple production lines at a single location. They are typically installed in centralized recycling areas within manufacturing plants. These granulators can process thick runners, purging, molded parts, and post-industrial plastic waste efficiently, making them ideal for continuous, large-scale recycling operations.
What they do for you:
- Handle high volumes of plastic waste
- Ideal for centralized recycling systems
- Process runners, purgings, thick parts, and rejects
Best for:
Large manufacturing plants, centralized recycling operations, and industrial recycling facilities.
2. Beside-the-Press Granulators:
Beside-the-press granulators are compact units positioned directly next to injection molding or extrusion machines. They allow manufacturers to granulate scrap immediately after production, reducing material handling and downtime. This setup improves material reuse, minimizes storage requirements, and supports real-time recycling during the manufacturing process.
What they do for you:
- Enable immediate regrinding of scrap
- Reduce material handling and downtime
- Improve material reuse efficiency
Best for:
Injection molding plants and extrusion lines with continuous scrap generation.
3. Shredder Granulators:
Shredder granulators combine shredding and granulating into a single or two-stage system. They are specifically engineered to handle bulky, heavy, or irregular plastic waste that standard granulators cannot process efficiently. These systems are ideal for pipes, profiles, purgings, thick-walled parts, and post-consumer plastics, delivering high throughput and consistent size reduction.
What they do for you:
- Process large, heavy, or irregular plastic waste
- Reduce pre-cutting requirements
- Improve throughput for tough materials
Best for:
Industrial shredders for plastics recycling, pipes, profiles, purgings, and post-consumer plastic waste.
4. Low-Speed Granulators (Screenless Granulators):
Low-speed granulators operate at reduced rotor speeds and typically do not use screens. This design produces uniform regrind with minimal fines and dust while reducing noise and blade wear. These granulators are well-suited for precision environments where material quality, low contamination, and quiet operation are critical.
What they do for you:
- Produce uniform regrind with minimal fines
- Operate quietly with low dust generation
- Reduce wear and maintenance
Best for:
Precision manufacturing, cleanroom environments, and medical or automotive applications.
5. High-Speed Granulators:
High-speed granulators are designed for rapid size reduction of lightweight and thin plastic materials. Operating at higher rotor speeds, they provide high throughput and flexibility through interchangeable screens that control final granule size. These granulators are commonly used for films, sheets, packaging waste, and light molded components.
What they do for you:
- Deliver high throughput
- Efficiently process thin-walled plastics
- Offer flexible screen sizes for output control
Best for:
Packaging waste, films, sheets, and lightweight molded parts.
Applications of Plastic Granulators:
1. Recycling:
Plastic granulators are a core component of plastic recycling systems. They convert plastic waste into reusable granules, helping recyclers reduce landfill waste, recover valuable materials, and support sustainable manufacturing practices.
2. Manufacturing:
In manufacturing facilities, granulators are used to recycle in-house scrap such as runners, rejected parts, and trim waste. Reintroducing regrind into production reduces raw material costs and improves overall process efficiency.
3. Automotive:
The automotive industry uses plastic granulators to process bumpers, dashboards, interior trims, and molded automotive components. Granulation supports material reuse while maintaining the strength and quality required for automotive applications.
4. Medical:
In medical and healthcare manufacturing, plastic granulators—especially low-speed models—are used to process clean and precise plastic components. Their low noise, reduced dust generation, and consistent output make them suitable for sensitive environments.
5. Construction:
Construction and building material manufacturers rely on plastic granulators to process pipes, profiles, sheets, and heavy-duty plastic materials. Granulation enables efficient recycling of construction plastics and supports sustainable building practices.
Conclusion:
Understanding the types of plastic granulators helps businesses select the right equipment for their production and recycling needs. Whether you need centralized systems, beside-the-press solutions, or heavy-duty shredding and granulating equipment, choosing the correct granulator improves efficiency, material recovery, and long-term ROI.
As a trusted Plastic Granulators Supplier in the USA, Zerma America offers heavy-duty granulators, industrial shredders, and complete plastic recycling systems designed for demanding industrial applications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. What are plastic granulators used for?
Plastic granulators reduce plastic waste into uniform granules that can be reused in manufacturing or recycling processes.
2. What are the main types of plastic granulators?
The main types include central granulators, beside-the-press granulators, shredder granulators, low-speed granulators, and high-speed granulators.
3. How do I choose the right plastic granulator?
Selection depends on material type, throughput requirements, scrap size, noise limits, and production setup.
4. What affects plastic granulators price?
Price depends on machine size, capacity, blade configuration, automation level, and application requirements.
5. Are plastic granulators suitable for industrial recycling?
Yes. Heavy-duty granulators and shredder granulators are specifically designed for industrial plastics recycling.
6. Is Zerma America a plastic granulators supplier in the USA?
Yes. Zerma America is a leading Plastic Granulators Supplier and Manufacturer in the USA, offering complete plastic recycling solutions.
