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The Difference Between a Shredder and a Crusher

Roberta Willson • December 15, 2022

Unless you are in the business, you might not even know what a Shredder or a Crusher does, let alone the difference between the two. They both are important to a salvage yard and serve completely different purposes for the business.


What is a Shredder?


Vehicles are the number one most recycled item in the United States and having a scrap metal shredder is one way we can do our part for the environment. Shredded scrap can be sorted into ferrous and non-ferrous piles and used to create new metal products. 


In addition, a shredder plays a key role in protecting any vehicle from identity theft which has been on the rise over the last 5-10 years. 

What is a Crusher?


A crusher is more or less what it sounds like; it is a piece of machinery used to compress the metal remains of a junked car after it has been stripped of all useful parts. When you crush the vehicle, it will allow you to transport more crushed vehicles to a recycling facility. 


How do they work?


Although both a shredder and a crusher are part of a salvage yard to help condense and recycle vehicles; that is about all they have in common.


A shredder breaks down large pieces of metal into smaller pieces with the use of large heavy-duty hammers that break the metal down. In addition, a shredder has built-in magnets that can separate ferrous and non-ferrous materials for recycling. Generally, vehicles do not come through a shredder until they have gone through a crusher.


A crusher is used to compress the remaining junked vehicle in order to send it through the shredder and be shipped out to a recycling facility. Crushers can be portable but older ones tend to be stationary.

Summary


R. H. Willson has a crusher onsite and sends vehicles out for a shredder in order to maintain the highest level of service and quality. R. H. Willson has been a part of the Automotive Recyclers of Massachusetts association for years. We have been recycling since 1954 and will continue to do our part to help our community and environment. Please call or stop by the yard with any questions. 

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