FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What kind of material can be briquetted?

A: Most dry (moisture content less than 15%) particulate to one inch minus size can be briqueted. The exception is plastics. Dry rigid foam plastics such as EPS Styrofoam and PUR can be briquetted.  Most feedstocks do not require binders and the few that do we can recommend binders.

A: The briquetter can successfully compact fines by themselves or with larger particulate mixed in. The briquetter also is self discharging and can by its own action push the briquets through a 3 inch pipeline to a desired holding bin making the unloading a simplified process. A: one yard bucket could hold a 1000 pounds of briquetted paper dust. Compare this to a dust baler / cuber compactor and the savings can be significant.

A: The briquetters are presently installed in several non woven and airlaid sanitary mills collecting and briquetting dust. They are usually flanged to existing cyclone collectors using airlocks. Dust volume reduction is  dramatic and reduces handling/disposal costs. In some cases the paper is reclaimed or burned as a fuel (see heat value table). Larger pieces such as trim and broke can be briquetted using a combo shredder and briquetter. See confidential documents section and video.

A: The best answer to this question is a live example of a solution. We refer to a testimonial letter as well as a video. Here the conventional cyclone was removed and replaced by a briquetter with its own suction fan and filter. This was all accomplished in two days on a weekend. The suction fan was connected to the binders discharge and the dust was briquetted with clean air returned to the plant. Since this system is a sealed process no dust existed in the plant after it was up and running. It also does not use airlocks and tapered sections which plug up conventional systems. It has been in operation for three years and has paid for itself in the first year of operation. See filter system.

A:   The briquetters can collect and densify the dust and shavings. Larger parts such as wood skeletons from routing and cutting operations as well as scrap trim cutoffs can also be briquetted with the combo shredder/briquetter. The density of the briquets is adjustable. This allows for efficient handling and transportation of the wood particulate in compacted form as well as allowing the briquets to be re-opened to a particulate form for use in making particle board and other MDF based value-add products. Other uses for briquets are for fuel purposes. See heat values table, video and brochures.

A:  The dust and beads can be briquetted (see EPS industry). The larger shapes can be briquetted either by themselves or with the bead/dust content using the combo shredder-briquetter. See confidential dcouments industry section. Also see videos.

A: The trim scrap can be shredded and briquetted dramatically reducing handling costs. The briquets could be used as a alternate fuel or otherwise reclaimed. See heat values table.

A: Yes all the forms of the same feedstock can be done together using the combo shredder-briquetter which is featured here in the site. By using the briquetter the full tare weight (45,000 pounds or more) of a truck can be used to transport the EPS briquets. This compares to baled Styrofoam weighing only 3000 pounds per semi truckload. Unlike most compactors fines by themselves can also be properly briquetted to 30 - 60 pounds per cubic foot values.

A:  Holzmag briquetters and shredders are installed in several central banks. Here they grind the paper to ¼ inch (6mm) minus size and briquet the paper particulate. The system is sealed for dust retention purposes. Holzmag automated briquet bagging systems are available to work with the combo shredder-briquetter. Holzmag equipment is also used by the worlds largest manufacturer of currency and document paper.  For further information see video. Also see confidential document industry.

A:  All these types of metals can be briquetted. The briquetting process removes the fluids. The briquets have a density near solid mass thus enhancing scrap value and increasing remelt foundry performance. See metalworking.

A:  Steel belts from car tires have a high nickel content which is valuable. However in loose format it is undesirable by steel mills for  remelt purposes. It gets into their air filtration system bag hoses, sort of like a out-of-control porcupine losing its needles. By briquetting the steel wire it  is densified to a hard briquet for efficient handling and remelt thus increasing value. It may also be possible to briquet the nylon fluff which is a byproduct of the grinding operation. The steel and nylon content represent 50% of the tire. See metalworking.

A:   A: common question asked by our customers.  Depending on the feedstock some are reclaimed, others are used for fuel while others are disposed ( the latter still represents a  significant saving in handling/disposal costs due to volume reduction) For example EPS Styrofoam dust has been briquetted increasing bulk density from 2 to 3 pounds per cubic foot to 30 to 60 pounds per cubic foot This makes effective use of the tare weight of a truckload lot.. Contact us for a list of buyers of EPS briquets. Buyers typically pay 0.05 - 0.10 cents USD per pound for briquetted EPS. In the paper industry paper dust has been recycled back into paper making or other industries - here is a testimonial letter from the printing section. In the metals industry briquetting increases value by removing cutting fluids and enhancing remelt process due to high compaction values ( to 95% of solid mass ) - see metalworking section. Shredding and grinding car tires for crumb rubber is a common operation. The tire belt wire from crumb rubber grinding operations is a nuisance in steel foundarys getting into their air filters. It can be briquetted to a reclaimable form, see automotive and steel sections. Wood dust is briquetted from sanding and milling operations to a fuel format. See heat values table in industry sections. It is also used along with other briquetted materials as a fuel in greenhouses to suppliment high cost conventional fuels ( a 20 acre greenhouse cost one million dollars a year to heat with oil/gas )

A: Several forms and capacities are available to suit requirements. They are available in different voltages and control formats. They come with their own feed hoppers and are PLC controlled with level sensors. They can be flanged to existing airlocks on cyclone collectors or can be conveyor fed. They are also available with their own suction fan and filter section, see filter system, video and pictures throughout this site for examples. The briquetters are modular and can have more briquetters added to increase capacity. See drawings. The briquetter is self discharging and by attaching a 3 inch pipe to its discharge the briquets will be pushed through the pipe by the action of the briquetter to a desired holding bin. No external conveyor is required.  

A: It depends on feedstock. An example is an automotive client that bales a composite headliner trim scrap foam fabric and gets 80 pounds per cubic yard baled. Shredding and briquetting same feedstock increases density to 500 to 1000 pound  per cubic yard. EPS Styrofoam is briquetted to 30 to 60 pounds per cubic foot while paper dust with 2 to 3 pounds per cubic foot values can be densified to 40 to 60 pounds per cubic foot density .Briquetted metal density is in the order of 95% of solid mass using the HSB Briquetters thus assuring proper remelt instead of flashoff in foundary operations.

A:    Yes, complete test facilities are available. We highly recommend that clients feedstock be tested in order to specify appropriate equipment. Typically a 2 to 3 cubic foot sample is required for testing. Pictures and sample results can be made available to interested clients. Your feedstock may not be shown on this website, however we have briquetted many more types of materials. Please contact us for further information at w.winkler@briquettingsystems.com.

A:    Typically 12-16 weeks after the order is placed.

A:    Briquetters are simple slow operational hydraulic equipment with typically low wear. A: maitenance person with basic knowledge of hydraulics and mechanics can service the machinery. The briquetter normally is operated in auto mode but can be switched to manual operation for servicing and checking.

A:    Dust balers use bags that require messy  handling by personnel, the volume reduction is minimal and usually a expensive high ceiling cyclone collector is required with the baler. See printing/bindery. Other compactors may not successfully compact dust resulting in the feedstock falling apart. The briquetter density is adjustable as well as the briquet length. It is automated in operation and normally does not require personnel to operate.

A:     Payback time is typically 12 to 18 months. See testimonial letter.

A:    The Holzmag briquetter is hydraulic in operation. It uses a piston type of pump which is not susceptable to viscosity changes in the oil supply. Other briquetters use vane, mechanical or gear pump designs. With these types a change in viscosity results in higher heat and an increase in cycle times to make briquets thus reducing capacity and performance. As the oil heats up the performance goes down in vane and gear pumps. Different feedstocks will also effect this type of design. The Holzmag equipment auto adjusts for different feedstock. It also has a patented split throat discharge which opens and closes on discharge thus reducing discharge friction and wear, especially important as many feedstocks are highly abrasive. Holzmag briquetters are available with replaceable hardened wear parts in the briquet forming section. They are also auto discharge and do not require external conveyors to transfer briquets to a loading bin. Holzmag briquetters are modular in design and up to four briquet presses can be added to the same feed hopper/silo for increased capacity, each with their own individual controls and feed auger. See brochures and videos.

Home