Staying in place

Prior to a 2010 startup, carpet manufacturer Shaw Industries Group, Dalton, Ga., and its Director of Operations Support Jay Henry, did considerable research into the size reduction and classification system it would need for its Reclaim to Energy (Re2E) residuals-to-energy plant.

The Re2E system, installed at one of Shaw’s north Georgia manufacturing plants, shreds and prepares as fuel process scrap as well as discarded carpet collected around the country.

Henry says the company, which ultimately purchased several shredders including three supplied by Vecoplan LLC, High Point, N.C., prioritized buying equipment with suitable throughput that could produce the correct particle size. As well, it sought out shredding units that were reliable and durable.

“Projected lifespan was one of many criterion used in determining what size reduction technologies we would pursue,” says Henry. “Our experience with multiple shredding technologies was utilized in estimating machine life, wearable parts and overall reliability, but we are heavily reliant on equipment manufacturers’ expectations and specifications,” he adds.

As a manufacturer with 22,000 employees and $5 billion in annual revenue, Shaw Industries is always mindful of making sound capital equipment decisions, says Henry. “Equipment reliability and expected lifespan is absolutely critical in any capital purchases we make, so there is always opportunity to improve those attributes,” he comments.

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