ZM 50 | Compact four-shaft shredder from WEIMA

ZM shredders are equipped as standard with two cutting shafts and two clearing shafts. The cutting configuration can be customised depending on the required throughput and target particle size. Both the width and the number of cutting discs are designed to suit the specific application.
For higher throughput requirements, the clearing discs can optionally be replaced by additional cutting discs. Special cutting discs with an increased number of teeth are also available, enabling particularly effective material handling.

Two powerful electric motors, each delivering up to 30 kW, provide reliable drive for the four shafts. For the necessary power transmission, WEIMA relies on robust planetary gearboxes in this series, which ensure high torques even when processing demanding materials.
The ZM series can be optionally equipped with a frequency converter. This allows the speed to be adjusted continuously, reduces peak loads and optimises energy consumption in a targeted manner.

For the shredding of particularly abrasive materials – such as fibrous or heavily contaminated waste – WEIMA offers an optional anti-wear package. This significantly extends service life and provides long-term protection for key components.
In addition to a double-walled machine design, additional wear protection plates are available in the cutting chamber on the fixed bearing and gearbox sides. Cutting shafts and cutting discs can also be optionally manufactured from hardened tool steel to ensure maximum service life even under demanding conditions.

Thanks to the low shaft speed of approx. 25 rpm, noise levels remain very low. The slow speed generates an extremely high torque. This enables high throughput with low power consumption. For light materials (e.g. peat), special motors can also be used to achieve speeds of up to 50 rpm.

The cutting discs’ teeth actively grip the material and shred it reliably. The discharge discs then push the material through the cutting gaps towards the screen. At the same time, they ensure a smooth and continuous flow of material.
Thanks to the effective self-feeding mechanism, no hydraulic pusher system is required. This simplifies the design and significantly reduces maintenance requirements.

The screen located below the cutting and clearing discs determines the desired final particle size. Optionally, a secondary crushing system integrated into the screen can be fitted to prevent long or oversized pieces from passing through the perforated screen and causing problems for downstream units.
Depending on the application, round-hole screens with diameters ranging from 10 to 150 mm are available. In addition, special designs with slotted screens or variants without a screen insert can be provided. This allows the granulate size to be precisely tailored to the specific application.

The generously sized feed hopper can be customised to meet specific customer requirements. For maximum flexibility, feeding can be carried out conveniently via a conveyor belt, forklift, lift-and-tilt device or manually. The low loading edge facilitates handling during daily operation.
A pressure-feeding system is available as an option to provide additional support for material feeding. For highly dusty materials, a closed hopper cover with a safety limit switch is recommended, which serves as protection against dust and splashes.

Its robust yet compact design allows for easy integration into existing plant layouts. The ZM series is suitable, for example, as a pre-shredder upstream of a cutting mill or for processing materials for subsequent briquetting.

WEIMA’s ZM four-shaft shredders are designed for continuous and trouble-free material discharge. Thanks to the coordinated interaction of the cutting and clearing discs, the shredded material is directed precisely towards the screen and discharged evenly. This ensures stable processes and reliable transfer to downstream systems.
Depending on the plant design, material discharge can be flexibly configured – for example, via a suction system, a screw conveyor or a belt conveyor. This allows the ZM shredder to be optimally integrated into existing production and recycling lines and adapted to individual space and process requirements.

The multi-shaft shredders are conveniently operated via a high-quality Siemens PLC control system. A touchscreen display is available as an option, enabling even more intuitive operation.
To minimise the space required, the control cabinet is fitted to the side of the hopper as standard. Alternatively, depending on the plant layout, it can also be supplied as a freestanding unit.

For particularly quick and easy screen changes, we recommend the optional Quick Change Screen. The manually removable screen insert allows the screen to be optimally adapted to your varying material flows.

In the event of overload, the left-hand cutting and clearing discs and the right-hand cutting and clearing discs reverse independently of one another, depending on which pair of shafts is bearing the greater load. This relieves the load from the shafts and repositions the material to be shredded so that it can be shredded optimally.