Industrial Plastic Shredder Machines

A plastic shredder machine is industrial size reduction equipment that uses rotating cutting shafts to break down plastic materials into smaller, more manageable pieces. Franklin Miller TASKMASTER plastic shredders use low speed, high torque counter rotating shafts with interlocking cutters. The plastic material is drawn between the shafts and sheared into pieces. Twin shaft models produce a coarse shred, while quad shaft models add a sizing screen that retains material until it reaches the desired output size, similar to a plastic granulator. This approach is more effective than high speed plastic grinders for processing bulky, mixed, or contaminated plastic waste.

Franklin Miller industrial plastic shredders process virtually all thermoplastic and thermoset materials. Common materials include HDPE containers and drums, PET bottles and packaging, PVC pipe and profiles, PP automotive parts and strapping, ABS electronic housings, LDPE film and bags, polycarbonate sheet, nylon, and fiber reinforced plastics. Our heavy duty TASKMASTER shredders also handle contaminated plastics with metal fasteners, labels, and other non plastic components still attached. Contact us with your specific material for a free application evaluation.

A plastic shredder and a plastic granulator both perform size reduction, but they work differently. Plastic shredders like the TASKMASTER TM Series use low speed, high torque shafts to shear material into coarse pieces, typically 1 to 4 inches. They excel at primary size reduction of bulky or mixed plastic waste. Plastic granulators use high speed open rotors to cut material against fixed bed knives, producing smaller, more uniform granules or flake. Franklin Miller's quad shaft TASKMASTER QS Series combines both functions: the dual shredding stages break down the material while an integrated sizing screen controls the output size, effectively replacing a separate shredder and granulator with one machine.

Output size depends on the shredder model and cutter configuration. Franklin Miller twin shaft plastic shredders (TM1600, TM2300) produce a nominal output of 1 to 4 inches, suitable for volume reduction, landfill preparation, or feeding a downstream granulator. Quad shaft models (QS2400, QS3200) include interchangeable sizing screens that control output from approximately 3/8 inch to 2 inches, producing material ready for wash lines, pelletizing, or direct reuse in manufacturing. Our engineering team can recommend the optimal cutter and screen configuration for your target particle size.

Yes. Plastic film shredding is a core strength of the TASKMASTER twin shaft design. The counter rotating shafts grip and pull flexible materials like LDPE stretch wrap, agricultural film, plastic bags, and multi layer packaging, then shear them between the interlocking cutters. This is a significant advantage over single shaft shredders and plastic grinders, which often struggle with film because lightweight flexible plastics ride over the rotor instead of being cut. The TM1600 and TM2300 are both proven in high volume plastic film shredding applications.

For PET bottle shredding, we most commonly recommend the TASKMASTER TM1600 twin shaft shredder or the QS2400 quad shaft shredder. The TM1600 provides high throughput primary shredding of baled or loose PET bottles and is often paired with a downstream wash and granulation line. The QS2400 is ideal when you need a controlled output size in a single pass, as its integrated sizing screen produces uniform PET flake without a separate granulator. Both models feature our CUTTER CARTRIDGE design for fast cutter changes, which is important in PET recycling where cutter wear rates are higher due to label adhesives and contaminants.

Franklin Miller TASKMASTER plastic shredders are designed for minimal maintenance. Routine maintenance includes periodic inspection and replacement of cutting elements, gearbox oil changes, and seal inspections. Our patented CUTTER CARTRIDGE system allows individual cutters to be replaced in minutes without removing the shafts from the machine, significantly reducing downtime compared to conventional plastic shredder designs. Franklin Miller also offers preventive maintenance programs, on site service, and complete machine rebuilds for customers who want to maximize equipment uptime and extend service life.