When considering what equipment your business needs, an industrial can crusher may not be the first thing to cross your mind. Yet, this kind of equipment has proved very useful for businesses in the food and catering, manufacturing, automotive, and medical industries. These industries frequently use canned supplies such as paint, foods and oils in their daily operations.
These cans often contain waste that can be messy, damaging or even hazardous to the working environment so they are best kept in contained areas that don't take up much space. With the use of an industrial can crusher, the waste volume can be reduced by as much as 90% which also significantly decreases waste disposal costs.
Industrial can compactors are typically small in size, easy to install and easy to operate. As such most employees can easily learn how to operate them.
The installation depends on the model but usually, you need to connect it to a compressed air supply if using a pneumatic or an outlet if you are using an electrical one.
Can crushers compact cans using a reinforced metal plate - called a pressing plate - which is driven down by a piston. The force of this flattens cans to about 10% of the original size.
After the installation is complete, it's time to start using your can crusher. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Ensure the person using the machine is trained on how to use it effectively or that a trained person is present to supervise the action.
Cans don't necessarily need to be cleaned before crushing them, but it is advised you rinse the containers in cold water to maximize the can crusher's lifespan.
Place the empty can into the machine in an upright position
Close the door and press the handle down firmly to active the pressing plate
Lift the handle and take out the compacted can
Store the cans in an appropriate container until they are collected.
(For an FAQ guide of can crushers, check out the Can Crusher section on our FAQ page.
As you can see, can crushers are extremely easy to use. Still, there are many questions people have about these machines. Some of the more frequently asked ones are:
All kinds of cans can be used with an industrial can crusher, usually up to around 25 litres in size. Make sure to check the maximum block size capacity to ensure the model fits your needs. Where possible, rinse out the cans before crushing them.
Yes, can crushers can be used both indoors and out, but make sure to protect the equipment by placing it under a roof or covered area so that extreme weather conditions do not influence its performance.
Pneumatic can compactors are very quiet, and most of them just need to be connected to a compressor that acts as its engine.