Double Shaft Shredder Machine for Metal, Plastic, Tire & MSW

What Is a Double Shaft Shredder?

A double shaft shredder is a low-speed, high-torque industrial shredder that uses two counter-rotating shafts to pre-shred bulky, mixed or difficult waste before further recycling.

For recycling plants, the double shaft shredder is usually a pre-shredder. It opens bulky or mixed waste before the material enters a crusher, magnetic separator, eddy current separator, baler, granulator, RDF line or other downstream equipment. This makes it suitable for irregular materials such as paint buckets, plastic drums, whole tires, wood pallets, light metal scrap, e-waste and municipal solid waste.

Compared with a single shaft shredder, a double shaft shredder normally does not use a screen as the main sizing element. The output is rougher, but the machine can accept larger, tougher and more mixed materials. For buyers who need stable feeding into a complete recycling line, this rough shredding stage is often more important than producing a very uniform particle size in one step.

For buyers comparing a double shaft shredder for sale, the key point is not only motor power. A practical selection should also consider material density, feeding size, blade thickness, discharge size, maintenance access and whether the machine will work alone or as part of a complete recycling line.

Common names used by buyers

Double shaft shredder machine
Two shaft shredder
Twin shaft shredder
Dual shaft shredder

How Does a Double Shaft Shredder Work?

A double shaft shredder works by pulling material into two counter-rotating cutter shafts, then shearing and tearing it into smaller pieces for discharge or downstream processing.

Video: double shaft shredder cutting chamber and machine operation.

Working principle of double shaft shredder with counter rotating shafts

1. Feed

Material is fed by conveyor, loader, grab or manual feeding. Large hoppers are useful for bulky waste, while controlled feeding is better for metal or heavy mixed materials.

2. Grip

Two shafts rotate toward each other. The cutter hooks bite into the material and pull it downward into the cutting chamber.

3. Shear

The material is cut and torn between cutter discs, spacers and counter blades. This is a torque-based cutting action, not a high-speed hammering action.

4. Protect

When overload or jamming occurs, the PLC system can stop and reverse the shafts automatically to release material and reduce manual cleaning.

5. Discharge

Shredded material falls to a discharge conveyor or directly into the next machine. Output size depends on blade thickness, tooth design and material behavior.

6. Connect

The shredder can work as a standalone machine or as the first step in metal recycling, tire recycling, plastic recycling, MSW treatment or RDF preparation.

Applications of Double Shaft Shredder Machine

A double shaft shredder is mainly used for bulky waste, plastic drums, tires, light metal scrap, e-waste, paper, textiles, wood pallets, MSW and other materials that need rough pre-shredding.

Double shaft shredder applications for metal plastic tire and bulky waste

Application	Typical materials	Selection focus	Possible downstream equipment
Double shaft metal shredder / double shaft aluminum shredder	Paint buckets, cans, light metals, aluminum profiles, iron sheets, thin drums	High torque, thick blades, strong shaft, anti-impact protection	Magnetic separator, eddy current separator, metal crusher, baler
Double shaft plastic shredder	Plastic bottles, HDPE drums, buckets, baskets, crates, pipes, plastic lumps	Blade hook angle, anti-winding design, stable feeding	Crusher, washing line, granulator, pelletizing line
Double shaft tire shredder	Passenger tires, truck tires, rubber blocks, rubber sheets	Strong bite force, wear-resistant blades, controlled feeding	Rasper, steel wire separator, rubber granule line
Double shaft e-waste shredder	Hard disks, PCB boards, keyboards, mice, mobile phones, small appliances	Low-speed shearing, safer opening of mixed components	Screening, air separation, electrostatic separation
Two shaft shredder for MSW / double shaft shredder for bulky waste	Furniture, packaging waste, mixed industrial waste, household waste	Large hopper, auto reverse, continuous operation, maintenance access	Conveyor, screening, RDF preparation, baler
Double shaft wood pallet shredder	Wood pallets, furniture boards, packaging wood, construction offcuts	Large hopper, strong bite force, anti-impact cutter layout	Conveyor, magnetic separator, secondary crusher, biomass preparation
Paper, textile and leather waste	Cartons, cardboard, newspapers, books, clothes, carpet waste, leather scraps	Anti-winding cutter layout and suitable discharge design	Baler, RDF line, fiber recovery process

In complete recycling projects, double shaft shredders are often connected with downstream systems such as metal recycling lines , tire recycling systems and material separation equipment depending on the final application.

For mixed facilities, the same machine may be configured as a double shaft shredder for industrial waste or a double shaft shredder for recycling line projects. The difference is usually in the hopper, cutter thickness, conveyor layout and downstream separation equipment.

Double Shaft Shredder Models and Technical Specifications

YUXI double shaft shredder models cover small to heavy-duty recycling projects, with power, chamber size, capacity and machine weight selected according to the material and target output.

The double shaft shredder price is normally affected by model size, motor power, blade material, cutter thickness, gearbox configuration, control system and optional equipment such as conveyors or magnetic separators.

Model	Power	Capacity	Product size	Hopper size	Weight	Dimension
YXS-600	15×2 kW	2-3 T/H	3-10 cm	0.82×0.9 m	2.5 T	2.6×2×1.9 m
YXS-800	22×2 kW	3-5 T/H	3-10 cm	0.9×1.0 m	3.6 T	2.8×2×1.9 m
YXS-1000	37×2 kW	5-8 T/H	3-10 cm	1.2×1.0 m	5.7 T	3×2×1.9 m
YXS-1200	45×2 kW	6-10 T/H	3-10 cm	1.4×1.0 m	9.5 T	3.2×2×1.9 m
YXS-1400	55×2 kW	8-12 T/H	3-10 cm	2.0×2.0 m	18 T	4.3×2×2.4 m
YXS-1600	75×2 kW	12-18 T/H	3-10 cm	2.3×2.0 m	24 T	5×3×2.4 m
YXS-2000	90×2 kW	16-22 T/H	3-10 cm	2.3×2.0 m	35 T	6×3.5×2.4 m
YXS-2200	132×2 kW	20-26 T/H	3-10 cm	2.5×1.8 m	62 T	7×4×4.5 m
YXS-2600	160×2 kW	25-60 T/H	3-10 cm	3.2×2.0 m	85 T	8.2×4×4.3 m

Main Components and Engineering Details

The main components of a double shaft shredder include cutter blades, counter blades, main shafts, gearbox drive, cutting chamber and PLC control system.

Rotor blade counter blade main shaft and electrical control of double shaft shredder

Double shaft shredder blade and main shaft design

Cutter blades

Blade thickness and tooth profile should be matched to the waste stream. Plastic drums and cartons need different bite behavior from tires, metal buckets or mixed MSW.

Main shaft

A 42CrMo alloy steel shaft helps the machine resist shock load and torsional stress during heavy waste shredding.

Gearbox and drive

Dual motors with heavy-duty reducers or planetary gearboxes provide the stable torque needed for low-speed shredding.

PLC control

One-touch start/stop, current monitoring, auto reverse and overload protection reduce downtime when processing irregular waste.

For a custom double shaft shredder, blade tooth shape and thickness should be selected from the waste stream first, not from the machine size alone. Plastic drums, tires, aluminum scrap and MSW may all use different cutter layouts even when the shredder chamber width looks similar.

Double Shaft Shredder vs Single Shaft Shredder vs Four Shaft Shredder

A double shaft shredder is usually the better choice for rough pre-shredding of bulky or mixed waste, while single shaft and four shaft shredders are selected when output control or finer reduction is more important.

For most recycling projects, the right machine is not decided by the machine name alone. It depends on the waste type, feeding size, required output size, downstream equipment and how much maintenance access the plant can provide. The table below combines the key points that buyers usually need before choosing between double shaft, single shaft and four shaft shredders.

Selection item	Double shaft shredder	Single shaft shredder	Four shaft shredder
Best role in a recycling line	Primary size reduction and pre-shredding before crusher, separator, baler or granulator	Controlled shredding when a more uniform particle size is required	One-step reduction when the project needs better output control than a two shaft machine
Cutting structure	Two counter-rotating shafts grip, tear and shear material into rough pieces	Rotor, fixed knives and screen work together to cut material to a controlled size	Four shafts work with screen control to recirculate oversized material inside the chamber
Output size control	Rough output, commonly affected by blade thickness, cutter hook shape and material behavior	More uniform output because the screen controls discharge size	Better output control than a double shaft shredder, but not always as simple as a single shaft machine
Screen requirement	Usually no screen; suitable when rough reduction is acceptable	Usually equipped with screen for controlled discharge size	Often uses a screen structure for internal recirculation and finer reduction
Material suitability	Bulky waste, tires, plastic drums, light metal scrap, pallets, MSW, e-waste and mixed industrial waste	Plastic lumps, plastic film, wood, rubber, paper, textile and materials needing more regular output	Hard drives, electronic scrap, packaging waste, plastic, rubber, confidential destruction and finer pre-processing
Handling of large feeding size	Strong. Large hopper and dual shafts can bite bulky or irregular materials directly	Medium. Feeding size often needs to match the rotor and hydraulic pusher design	Medium to strong, but chamber structure is more complex and needs correct feeding control
Anti-jamming ability	Strong when equipped with PLC auto reverse and high-torque gearbox drive	Good for suitable materials, but screen blockage may happen if material is wet, dirty or elastic	Good reduction ability, but maintenance and cleaning are more complex than two shaft design
Maintenance difficulty	Relatively simple. Fewer shafts and no screen in most rough shredding applications	Medium. Rotor knives, fixed knives and screen need regular checking	Higher. More shafts, knives and chamber parts mean more maintenance points
Typical downstream equipment	Belt conveyor, magnetic separator, eddy current separator, hammer crusher, granulator, baler or tire recycling line	Washing line, granulator, pelletizing line, screen system or material storage	Screening, separation, confidential destruction line, RDF preparation or secondary granulation
When to choose it	Choose it when the first job is to open, tear and reduce large waste before further processing	Choose it when output size consistency is more important than accepting very large mixed feed	Choose it when the project needs more reduction than a double shaft shredder but still needs strong shredding force
Internal links	Current double shaft shredder page	Single Shaft Shredder	Four Shaft Shredder

Selection note: If your material is large, mixed, dirty or difficult to feed, start with a double shaft shredder. If your project requires a smaller and more uniform output, consider adding a crusher, granulator or screen-controlled shredder after the first shredding stage.

When users compare a dual shaft shredder, single shaft shredder and four shaft shredder, the real question is whether the project needs rough volume reduction, screen-controlled output or a higher reduction ratio. This is why a twin shaft pre shredder is often placed before sorting, granulation or metal separation systems.

How to Choose the Right Double Shaft Shredder

To choose the right double shaft shredder, first confirm the material, feeding size, target output size, required capacity and downstream recycling process.

How to choose a double shaft shredder machine

1. Confirm material type

Send the material name and photos or a short video. For example: HDPE drums, whole tires, light metal buckets, aluminum profiles, e-waste, textile waste or mixed MSW.

2. Confirm feeding size

Measure the largest piece size. A 200-liter plastic drum, a truck tire and a furniture board require different hopper sizes and cutter bite angles.

3. Confirm target output size

Double shaft shredders are often used for rough shredding. If a smaller or more uniform output is required, the line may need a crusher, granulator or screening system.

4. Confirm capacity

Use hourly and daily targets. A project requiring 2 tons per hour is very different from a plant running 20 tons per hour for two shifts.

5. Confirm downstream process

Will the material go to magnetic separation, eddy current separation, tire steel wire separation, baling, washing or RDF preparation?

6. Confirm site conditions

Check voltage, available space, feeding method, dust control, noise requirements, foundation and maintenance access.

If the material is light but bulky, such as plastic drums or wood pallets, feeding stability may matter more than motor power. If the material is metal scrap, tires or mixed MSW, torque reserve, shaft strength and overload protection become more important.

Double Shaft Shredder in Complete Recycling Lines

In complete recycling lines, the double shaft shredder is usually the first reduction stage that prepares waste for conveying, separation, crushing, granulating or baling.

Waste metal recycling line

The double shaft shredder opens paint buckets, light metal scrap, thin iron sheets and aluminum profiles before magnetic separation, eddy current separation or metal crushing.

View waste metal recycling system

Waste tire recycling line

The shredder can be used as the first reduction stage for whole tires before rasper, steel wire separation, rubber granulation and screening.

View waste tire recycling system

Waste paper cellulose line

For cartons, books, paperboard, packaging and cellulose-based materials, the shredder prepares material for further processing, baling or fuel preparation.

View paper cellulose recycling line

For oversized or difficult feeding conditions, some projects also compare the double shaft design with a Hydraulic Shredder or a Plastic Shredder before finalizing the layout.

Optional Configurations

Optional configurations make the double shaft shredder fit the actual plant layout, feeding method, separation process and maintenance requirements.

Feeding and discharge

Feeding conveyor
Discharge conveyor
Customized hopper
Grab or loader feeding layout

Separation and processing

Magnetic separator
Eddy current separator
Hammer crusher
Granulator or screen

Plant support

Dust removal system
Sound insulation cover
Remote control cabinet
Spare blades and wear parts

Material Test Examples

Material test examples help buyers understand model selection, expected output and downstream equipment before sending a formal inquiry.

Material	Typical feeding	Target output	Recommended focus	Next equipment
Plastic drums	200 L HDPE drums, buckets, crates	50-100 mm rough pieces	Blade hook shape, anti-bounce feeding, stable discharge	Crusher, washing line
Waste tires	Passenger tires or truck tires	50-150 mm tire chips	Torque, blade wear resistance, controlled feeding	Rasper, steel wire separator
Light metal scrap	Paint buckets, cans, thin sheet scrap	Rough shredded metal pieces	Shaft strength, blade thickness, magnetic separation layout	Magnet, eddy current separator, crusher
Bulky waste	Furniture, wood boards, packaging, mixed waste	Size reduction for transport or RDF	Large hopper, auto reverse, easy cleaning	Screening, baler, RDF line

Double Shaft Shredder FAQ

What is the difference between a double shaft shredder and a single shaft shredder?

A double shaft shredder uses two counter-rotating shafts and is better for bulky, mixed or tough materials. A single shaft shredder usually uses a rotor, fixed knives and a screen, making it better for more uniform output size.

Can a double shaft shredder shred metal?

Yes, it can shred light metal scrap such as paint buckets, cans, thin sheets and aluminum profiles. For heavy steel scrap, the model, blade thickness, shaft design and downstream process must be confirmed carefully.

What output size can a double shaft shredder produce?

Common rough output is around 30-100 mm, depending on blade thickness, cutter geometry and material behavior. If uniform small size is required, a crusher, granulator or screening system may be needed.

Does a double shaft shredder need a screen?

Most double shaft shredders are used without a screen for rough pre-shredding. Four shaft or single shaft machines are often selected when screen-controlled output is required.

Can it shred tires with steel wire?

Yes, a heavy-duty double shaft shredder can be used for tire pre-shredding. For tire recycling plants, it is usually followed by a rasper, steel wire separator and rubber granule system.

How do I choose blade thickness?

Thin blades are more suitable for plastic, paper and light waste. Thicker blades are used for tires, bulky waste, metal buckets and tougher mixed waste. The final choice should be based on material photos, feeding size and target output.

What information is needed for quotation?

Please provide material name, material photos or video, feeding size, target output size, required capacity, working hours per day, country, voltage and whether the shredder will work alone or in a recycling line.

Can YUXI supply a complete recycling line?

Yes. The double shaft shredder can be combined with conveyors, magnetic separator, eddy current separator, crusher, granulator, baler, dust removal and other machines according to the project.

How should buyers compare double shaft shredder manufacturers?

Buyers should compare real material tests, model range, blade configuration, gearbox design, spare parts support, recycling line experience and whether the manufacturer can explain why one model fits the project better than another.

Is a double shaft shredder for sale suitable for every waste material?

No. A double shaft shredder is suitable for many bulky and mixed materials, but very fine output, highly uniform particle size or special hazardous materials may require additional equipment or a different shredder type.

Get a Double Shaft Shredder Quote

To recommend the right model, please send your material name, feeding size, expected output size, capacity requirement, working hours and photos or video of the waste material.

Contact YUXI Compare Single Shaft Shredder

If you are looking for a double shaft shredder manufacturer for a new recycling project, send material photos, feeding size, target output size and expected capacity. YUXI can recommend a standard model or design a custom double shaft shredder layout for your line.

Double Shaft Shredder Machine