Too many kids toys from previous years? Try the following.

Check for children’s homes. Children’s homes (orphanages) will often accept used toys.  Help bring joy to these children in tough times.  The holidays can be especially difficult for them.

Take some toys to a shelter. Many shelters for homeless or abused women are open to accepting used toys.  This can also be a great “eye-opener” for kids to see those who are less fortunate and to give them the ability to help someone.

Local Charities. Although this method of giving may not be as exciting for the child, you can still make it fun by offering a reward of some sort for giving and also by explaining how the toys will help those in need.  A simple reward such as going to get ice cream or stopping at the park will go a long way with a child.  There are of course the additional tax benefits of donating to charities as well.

Donate to a hospital. Children that are fighting illness are always in need of something positive.  Be sure to check with the hospital first to see whether they accept used toys.

These are just some of the ways you can teach your kids the power of getting organized and gift giving all at the same time.  With such a bad economy and so many in need, there is really no excuse for keeping that 60-80% of clutter in your home whether it be your children’s or yours.  Free up space in your life by filling the space in someone’s heart.

WE WISH YOU A SAFE AND  HAPPY HOLIDAY.  

> Lock down and secure for fuel tanks, equipment, and metals storage.  Check your perimeter fencing and gates.

> Ship out shredder fluff and leave an empty bin.

> If eliminating the fluff pile is not an option, wet them down.

> Park mobile equipment  away from potential fire hazards.

> Have nothing stacked against your infeed conveyor.

>Empty out waste oil, and other potential flammable items.

> Run a quick check of the shop and vital areas for potential problems. Make your checks early in the day or week, so corrections can happen before shutdown.

Don’t forget some basic home safety tips that apply to office Christmas decorations as well.

>  Fire Safety. Remember to follow a few simple rules to prevent fires at your home over the holiday’s.

> Do not plug too many things in to one outlet and risk an electrical fire. If you trip a breaker, there is a reason.

> If using a fresh tree, make sure it is kept watered the entire season. Be sure to take it down as soon as possible after the holiday season is over. Many countries have “Boxing Day” the day after Christmas for a reason.

> Make sure you have a small multi use rated fire extinguisher on each level of your home and in the garage.

> Do not use electrical cords which have been damaged.

> Always turn off all tree lights when no one is home or when going to bed.

> Get rid of wrapping paper and any other potential fire hazards as soon as possible.

12,470 V to 480/277  V Dry type transformer

Powers the balance of your shredding equipment outside of the main motor.

Fused load break, part of an 11 switch distribution line up, 600 Amp interrupt & many extras.

Call for details.

Available for immediate installation or purchase as a backup spare.

Call for details.

1. Identify your spare.  If you don’t own a spare electric motor, find one.  They don’t stock them at your local Grainger.  There are a lot of used motors out there.
2. Is the spare stored and ready?  The internal heaters need to be energized, and someone needs to turn it monthly, especially if it’s a wound rotor.
3. Transport and lift.  Many have their motors stored off site.  Get the wheels in motion early with transport to the shredder.  Have the weights and dimensions ready to give to your transportation broker.  How should it be rigged and lifted?  What crane companies and choices are there? What kind of swing radius is available?  Have these details on file so you can line up trucks and cranes in short order instead of making 20 phone calls at the last minute.
4. Mounting:  If it’s a direct replacement, be sure you have the tools to unbolt it.  You’ll want to check the security of the mounting frame to the foundation once the old motor it off.  If you have a loose stud in the foundation, maybe you have time to remove and grout in a replacement.
   If it’s not a direct fit replacement, you may have to adapt the mounting frame.  If possible, you’ve made the new frame early on for the spare.  Have fasteners, wrenches, and shackles, and port-a-powers or know a company that does.  If you change the mounting base, the old base may be grouted in place.  You’ll need to chip out the old grout, clean the foundation, and have new grout in stock or be sure of your source.  Any old grout will not work.  It’s very strong epoxy that will not settle or crack.  Chipping it out isn’t a simple job.  Have the tools to do it or at least a list of them ready when the need arises.  Check with your motor vendor or service rep about shimming in the new motor frame base and avoiding grout.  The decision will be based on the conditions at the time.
5. Electrical connection.  If the spare is not a direct replacement, is the starter, LR tank, and other items compatible?  Do you have sufficient cooling air volume for this motor?  Will the stator & rotor main conductors match the motor connecting locations?  Heavy conductors do not flex well.  If you change styles of motor, you may have a major wiring job ahead of you.  Do the connecting lugs fit in the electrical terminations?  What about the changes for temp RTD’s, RPM monitor, internal heaters?  How about wiring in the power factor correction capacitor bank?  Any pre-planning and prep you can do here can lessen days of OT electrical rates.
6. Cooling air or water.  You may need a new sheet metal exhaust duct or alter the water piping (depending on air or liquid cooling). Be ready to change supply air filters or flush your cooling system if time allows.
7. Coupling connection.  Have the tools and parts ready to disconnect the motor from your drive line.  Check alignment of the new motor to main dimensions required of your installation.  The motor axis and rotor axis should be level and parallel to each other, but not necessarily in line.  Your shredder manufacturer and drive line specialist can advise the offset specs.
8. During the change out, find out what may have caused the motor failure.  For example, a seized drive shaft universal joint may have caused a motor bearing failure.  If you don’t correct that problem, you may have the same motor bearing failure with the replacement motor.

Having the plan in place prior to the problem will help you get back on line sooner.  It may also let you delegate the initial steps to your acting foreman while you try to avoid cutting short a vacation week.  That said, may you never burn up a motor before a vacation week.

Roof Hatch, Exhaust Duct

Motor Lift Out

Root of the problem?

The role of pin protectors:

1. Job one is protecting expensive hammer pins where no hammer exists.
2. They assist in crushing and densifying scrap in the shredder.
3. They help protect the rotor disks, limiting disk wear.
4. They help maintain rotational energy of the rotor.  The weight of many pin protectors on the outer edges of the rotor make up the ‘flywheel’ that is your shredder rotor.

When new, pin protectors should extend about 2-4 inches past the disk.  Disk rotors are more forgiving on balance, but the closer you can match weights of opposing rows of pins and hammers, the better off you will be.  Some operators have favored larger protectors as a way to help gain rotating mass and “store” more rotational energy.  As with everything, there are limits.  Your shredder manufacturer can give you guidance on how much is too much for your mill size, rotor, and drive line.

Bottom line, don’t neglect pin protectors.  They are not just ‘along for the ride.’  With a little tweaking on size and weight, they can help maintain rotational energy and help save wear on your inner disks as well.  Give us a call and let us help you find an edge in improved performance.