Plastic Bottle Crushing Machine in Vietnam

Addressing a Bottleneck in Hanoi's Recycling Landscape

Our client operates a thriving plastic recycling facility on the outskirts of Hanoi. Their business model involves collecting post-consumer plastic bottles from a network of scrap dealers, landfills, and informal collection points across Northern Vietnam.

The material arriving at their yard was inconsistent—a mix of whole bottles, crushed bundles, and bales contaminated with labels, caps, and residual liquid. Their old crusher, a single-shaft model, was underpowered and frequently jammed.

It struggled with the irregular shapes of flattened bales, required constant manual intervention, and produced an inconsistent shred size that hampered the washing and flaking stages downstream. The decision to purchase a standalone plastic bottle shredder was a calculated move to eliminate this primary bottleneck.

They needed a machine that could be slotted directly into their existing line, offering immediate and reliable performance without the downtime and expense of a full system overhaul. This single-machine investment was all about enhancing the efficiency of their current operation.

The Raw Material: A Typical Vietnamese Waste Stream

The primary feedstock for this plastic bottle crusher is a familiar sight in Vietnam: a mix of transparent and colored PET bottles that once contained water, soft drinks, and various household products. Sourced predominantly from urban areas in and around Hanoi, this material stream is characterized by:

• High Volume and Low Bulk Density: Flattened bottles take up less space but are tricky to feed consistently.
• Contaminants: Paper labels, PVC labels, HDPE caps, and often a small amount of organic residue.
• Irregular Shape: The bales are dense and tangled, presenting a significant challenge for initial size reduction.

The client's requirement was to process this material into clean, uniform flakes ideally sized for their hot wash line and subsequent extrusion into recycled PET pellets. The target output size was set at approximately 3cm, a specification that ensures optimal cleaning and drying while preventing the creation of excessive fines.

The Selected Workhorse: RICHI SSJ800 Twin-Shaft Shredder

After a detailed analysis of the client's daily throughput and material characteristics, the RICHI SSJ800 model was recommended. It was the perfect fit for a medium-scale operation in Vietnam's growing market—powerful enough to handle the demand without being oversized and inefficient for their needs. The larger SSJ1000 or SSJ1200 would have been overkill, while the smaller SSJ600 might have been overwhelmed during peak intake periods.

The customization of the cutter disk number and tooth configuration was specifically tailored for tearing apart plastic bottles and bales, ensuring a smooth pull-in and a clean cut that minimizes energy consumption and dust.

Transforming Waste into Raw Material: The Shredder's Role

The installation of this plastic bottle recycling machine fundamentally improved the client's workflow. The SSJ800 crusher machine acts as the primary size reduction unit. Its powerful, slow-speed, high-torque rotors grab the irregular bales, shearing and tearing them into predictable 3cm flakes.

This output is then conveyed to the next stage: a float-sink tank and friction washer where the labels and caps are effectively separated. The clean, 3cm flakes are a premium feedstock for their pelletizing line, where they are melted and formed into high-quality rPET pellets.

These pellets are then sold to local and international manufacturers for producing polyester staple fiber (for clothing and textiles), strapping tape, and new food-grade containers. The consistency of the flake size is critical; it directly impacts the purity of the final pellet and the efficiency of the entire production line.

Seamless Delivery to the Heart of Southeast Asia

The RICHI SSJ800 was shipped from our manufacturing base via a reliable sea freight service. For imports into Northern Vietnam, the most direct and efficient port of entry is Hai Phong Port. The machine was safely containerized and delivered to Hai Phong, from where it was transported by road to the client's facility in Hanoi.

Technical Superiority: Why RICHI Was the Clear Choice

The client chose RICHI over other suppliers for a combination of robust engineering and intelligent features that are essential for a demanding recycling environment.

The machine's foundation is its heavy-duty, thickened steel shell. Constructed using CO2 protected welding and subjected to a full annealing process, this design eliminates internal stresses, guaranteeing the frame's integrity over years of punishing use. This means the machine won't warp or crack, a common failure point in lesser equipment.

Further enhancing its durability is the cutter system. The hexagonal shaft design is a standout feature, allowing for individual cutter disks to be easily removed and replaced when necessary, drastically reducing future maintenance downtime. The disks themselves are forged from 55CrSi alloy steel and machined with high precision, resulting in exceptional toughness and abrasion resistance.

For operational peace of mind, the automatic overload protection system is a game-changer. When encountering hidden metal contaminants or overly dense plastic nests, the machine automatically reverses the rotors to dislodge the obstruction and resumes operation, saving hours of downtime and preventing potential damage.

The sealed bearing housings protect core rotating components in humid and dusty environments, ensuring smooth operation and minimal maintenance.

Beyond Plastic Bottles: A Versatile Asset

While this project focused on a plastic bottle crushing machine in Vietnam, the SSJ800 is versatile. The client can process other waste streams in the future, such as:

• HDPE containers and jerrycans
• Thin films and woven bags
• Small electronic waste housings
• Lightweight aluminum and steel cans

Partnership and Support: More Than Just a Machine

RICHI Machinery provided on-site installation guidance, operational training, and ensured a local stock of critical wear parts for minimal downtime. This proactive after-sales support is a cornerstone of our service.

Voices from the Ground: Client Testimonial

"Honestly, we were skeptical at first. We'd had so many problems with the old crusher. But this RICHI machine is built differently. You can feel the strength when it's running. It just eats through those tangled bales without complaining.

The automatic reverse function has already saved us a few times—it detected a piece of metal we missed and cleared itself before we even knew there was a problem. The biggest difference is the flake size.

It's so consistent now, around that 3cm mark, which has made our washing line much more effective. We're processing more material per day with less hassle. For anyone in Vietnam looking at a plastic bottle crushing machine, I'd tell them to look seriously at RICHI. It's a solid piece of kit, and their team knows what they're doing."

Conclusion

The successful integration of the RICHI SSJ800 Plastic Bottle Crushing Machine in Vietnam stands as a testament to the power of a well-considered equipment investment. For our client in Hanoi, it was the key that unlocked greater capacity, improved product quality, and enhanced operational reliability.

This project highlights how a single, robust machine from a trusted manufacturer like RICHI can catalyze growth and profitability in the dynamic and critical recycling sector. It demonstrates that you don't always need a completely new line—sometimes, you just need the right heart for the one you have.

Is your recycling operation ready for a similar transformation? Contact RICHI Machinery today to discuss how our range of durable and efficient plastic bottle crushing machines can be tailored to your specific challenges and goals. Let's build your success story together.