Gearboxes in recycling

When dust, impacts and continuous loads become a challenge

Anyone who has ever stood in a recycling plant knows that things don't run smoothly here. Conveyor belts run continuously, crushers shred tonnes of material, presses compact it in seconds – and right in the middle of it all, our gearboxes do their job. Often invisible, always crucial.

Because without robust, precisely designed gearboxes, the plant would come to a standstill.

Paper, glass and metal recycling – each line has its own requirements

In recycling, no two materials are alike.

• Paper recycling places particular demands on the endurance qualities of a gearbox.
  Dust, moisture and constant stress require perfect sealing and reliable lubrication.
  Robust worm gearboxes and helical gearboxes are used here, especially in conveyor belts, shredders and baling presses.
• Glass recycling, on the other hand, is a battle against shock loads and abrasion – shards and impact pulses act directly on tooth flanks and bearings.
  In crushers or sorting plants, bevel gearboxes or planetary gearboxes that can withstand extreme load changes are therefore usually required.
• Metal and electronic scrap recycling involves even higher torques and shock loads – here, industrial gearboxes often operate at their limits.
  Precise gearbox design is crucial to avoid failures and downtime.

The following applies to each of these lines:
Only those who understand the material and the process can design the gearbox correctly.
And this is precisely where the experience of a specialist comes into play: a gearbox for recycling plants is not an off-the-shelf product, but a unique technical component that must be perfectly suited to the application.

Design meets practice

A good industrial gearbox can be recognised not only by its design, but also by its service life.
In practice, this means:

• The housing and bearings must absorb impact forces.

• Seals and lubrication systems must function reliably even under dusty conditions.

• Heat dissipation determines service life – especially in 24/7 paper recycling plants.

That is why we at KACHELMANN GETRIEBE focus on tailor-made gearbox solutions that are precisely tailored to the requirements of the respective plant.

Retrofit instead of downtime

Many recycling plants use gearboxes that have been running reliably for decades – but will eventually reach their limits.
In such cases, retrofitting is often a better solution than completely rebuilding the system.

We modernise existing industrial gearboxes, replace worn components, optimise efficiency and extend service life – often by many years.
This keeps the plant efficient without the operator having to invest in new drive technology.

Service is key

Downtime costs money.
That's why we offer gearbox repair and maintenance with a fast response time – even for other manufacturers' products.
Our 24-hour emergency service ensures that systems are up and running again quickly.

Whether planetary gearboxes, worm gearboxes, bevel gearboxes or special gearboxes – we know the requirements of the recycling industry in detail.

Conclusion: Every gearbox tells its own recycling story

Paper, glass, metal, plastic or electronic waste – each material stream has different requirements.
But one thing remains the same: without the right gearbox, recycling comes to a standstill.

At KACHELMANN GETRIEBE, we develop and refurbish industrial gearboxes for recycling plants that run reliably day after day under the toughest conditions – helping to return valuable raw materials to the cycle.