MINI AUTOMOBILE-SHREDDING PLANT FOR WESTERN MICHIGAN

THE OPERATION'S OF A SMALL AUTOMOBILE SHREDDER PLANT, THE LOUIS PADNOS IRON AND METAL COMPANY, HOLLAND, MICHIGAN, ARE DESCRIBED. BASICALLY THIS PLANT TAKES WHOLE AUTOMOBILES AND GRINDS THEM INTO SMALL STEEL FLAKES FOR REUSE BY IRON AND STEEL MAKERS. TO FACILITATE CHEAP TRANSPORT TO THE LOUIS PADNOS PLANT, CARS ARE TAKEN FROM WRECKERS AND AUTO COLLECTION SITES-CURRENTLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THESE SITES ARE BEING NEGOTIATED WITH THE STATE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS-THEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE SOLD, THE TIRES AND THE GASOLINE TANK DISCARDED, THE RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE REMOVED IF PRICES FOR COPPER ARE RIGHT, AND THE BODY FLATTENED. THE PROCEDURE FOR THE PROCESSING OF CAR HULKS: (1) A CRANE IS USED TO FEED THE HULKS INTO THE PRESHREDDER-THIS IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE KEY ELEMENT OF SUCCESS FOR THE PADNOS PLANT SINCE IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR COPPER REMOVAL AND SAVES ON ELECTRIC POWER FOR THE MAIN SHREDDER, (2) AN OSCILLATING PAN CONVEYOR MOVES THE MATERIAL TO THE MAIN SHREDDER; (3) A PAN CONVEYOR MOVES THE MATERIAL TO A MAGNETIC SEPARATOR; (4) FERROUS MATERIALS DROP ONTO A 30FT DYNAMIC PAN CONVEYOR WHERE THEY ARE SINGED IN A GAS FURNACE TO REMOVE COMBUSTIBLE IMPURITIES AND TO FURTHER REFINE THE SCRAP MATERIAL; AND (5) A SMOKE SCRUBBER REMOVES PARTICLES FROM OVEN AIR BEFORE DISCHARGE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. THE PLANT IS MONITORED AND CONTROLLED FROM AN ELEVATED CONTROL HOUSE. THERE, LIGHTS ON A PANEL BOARD SHOW THE OPERATING CONDITION OF EACH COMPONENT AND SIGNAL BREAKDOWNS OR DELAYS. EQUIPMENT CAN BE STARTED, STOPPED, SLOWED DOWN OR SPEEDED UP.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/10480594
• Authors:
  • Haltenhoff, C E
• Publication Date: 1971-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 55-7
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0885-7024
  • Serial URL: http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/newce/html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Copper; Iron and steel industry; Junkyards; Scrap; Waste disposal
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile shredder
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00205197
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 7 1972 12:00AM