Plastic Granulator Machines for Recycling & In-House Regrind
Wet, rigid, vertical, PET-bottle and integrated shredder-granulator machines from 100 kg/h to 2,000 kg/h. SKD-11 blades, custom screen sizes, direct from the manufacturer.
What a Plastic Granulator Does — and Where It Sits in Your Line
A plastic granulator reduces scrap — runners, sprues, defective parts, bottles, film, pipe, sheet — into uniform regrind granules (typically 4–18 mm) ready for direct extrusion, pelletizing, or resale. Where a shredder tears large items into coarse strips at high torque and low rpm, and a pelletizer turns molten polymer into round pellets, the granulator is the precision size-reducer in between: high-speed rotors (400–800 rpm), tool-steel blades, and a sizing screen that defines final particle size. For injection-molding shops, a beside-the-press granulator reclaims hot runners in-line. For recycling plants, a central granulator downstream of a shredder produces the regrind that feeds a washing line, extruder, or pelletizer. Choosing the right granulator — rotor diameter, motor power, blade steel, screen size, wet or dry — sets the ceiling on your throughput, energy cost per kilogram, and regrind cleanliness for the entire line. See shredder vs. granulator vs. pelletizer for how the three machines differ, or read how a plastic granulator works for the mechanics. Planning a turnkey project? Start with our line-level Recycling Solutions.
Core Advantages of Our Crusher & Granulator Series
Versatile Model Range
From compact units to large-scale machines for wet and dry materials, PET, PVC, and bulky rigid plastics.
High-Performance Cutting
Specialized rotors (V-cut, claw-blade) and durable D2 steel knives ensure efficient size reduction and uniform output.
Engineered for Usability
Features like easy-access chambers, adjustable blades, and modular sieves simplify operation and maintenance.
Robust Construction
Heavy-duty design and quality components guarantee long life and reliable performance with tough materials.
Smart Control Ready
Optional PLC integration for automated feeding, overload protection, and synchronized line operation control.
Explore Our Crusher & Granulator Lineup
PET Bottle Granulator
A specialized V-cut rotor and force-feeding system produce uniform, high-purity PET flakes with minimal dust.
Small Crusher Machine
An efficient and versatile solution with adjustable blades and a modular sieve for modern recycling operations.
Integrated Shredder-Granulator
Combines high-performance shredding and precise granulation in one compact machine for diverse materials.
Vertical Granulator for PVC Pipes & Window Profiles
A heavy-duty design allows easy feeding of long pipes without pre-cutting, maximizing safety and efficiency.
Wet Plastic Granulator
Effectively cleans while granulating, ideal for processing wet or contaminated plastic waste to produce cleaner particles.
Lead Ingot Cold Cutting Machine
A safer, fume-free way to produce lead granules by transforming solid ingots without melting, saving energy.
Extra Large Rigid Plastic Granulator
Tackles bulky waste like drums, crates, and pallets, transforming them into uniform high-value regrind.
Plastic Tray & PVC Sheet Horizontal Crusher
Designed for flat bulky plastics with horizontal feeding for stable processing and uniform regrind.
Technical Parameters (Standard Series)
The specifications below are typical examples for our standard plastic granulator series. Final configuration depends on your material, throughput, and target flake size.
| Model | Motor (kW) | Moving Blades | Fixed Blades | Rotor (mm) | Feed Opening (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC400 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 380×400 | 400×320 |
| PC500 | 22 | 18 | 2 | 380×500 | 500×320 |
| PC600 | 30 | 24 | 4 | 450×600 | 600×450 |
| PC800 | 45 | 30 | 4 | 580×800 | 800×550 |
Note: Machines can be customized to your material and output requirements.
How to Choose the Right Plastic Granulator in 4 Questions
1. What’s your feedstock?
Bottles & film → wet or PET-flake granulator. Rigid lumps & purging → heavy-duty rigid. Long pipe & profile → vertical. Mixed / unsorted bulky → integrated shredder-granulator.
2. What throughput do you need?
Beside-the-press reclaim: 50–200 kg/h. Mid-scale recycling: 300–900 kg/h. Central plant: 1,500–2,000 kg/h. Size 20% above peak to protect the motor.
3. What regrind size do you need?
Extruder feed: 6–10 mm. Pellet line: 8–14 mm. Resale as flake: 10–18 mm. See our screen size guide.
4. Dirty or clean feed?
Clean scrap → standard D2 or SKD-11 blades. Labeled bottles, film with sand → wet granulator + stainless hopper. Glass-filled / fiber-reinforced → CPM-10V or carbide.
Prefer the long form? Read the complete granulator selection guide →
Granulator vs. Shredder vs. Grinder vs. Pelletizer
All four reduce plastic — at different stages, rpm ranges, and output sizes.
| Shredder | Granulator | Grinder / Pulverizer | Pelletizer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input Size | Up to 2 m | Up to 800 mm | Regrind granules | Regrind granules |
| Output Size | 20–100 mm | 4–18 mm | 0.1–1 mm powder | 2–4 mm pellets |
| RPM | 20–120 | 400–800 | 3,000–6,000 | 30–60 |
| Torque | Very high | Medium | Low | High (screw) |
| Typical Use | Initial size reduction | Second-stage / in-house | PVC, rotomolding powder | Final reprocessing |
Where Energycle Granulators Run Every Day
PET Bottle Recycling
Hot-washed PET flake production, 8–14 mm output feeding food-grade pellet lines. See PET line case study →
HDPE Drums & IBC
Heavy-duty rigid granulator with oversized hopper for IBC totes, HDPE drums, and blow-molded purging up to 800 mm.
PP Woven Bags & Film
Wet granulator with anti-wrap rotor for LDPE film, PP woven bags, and agricultural film.
PVC Pipe & Profile
Vertical granulator processes 6-meter PVC pipe and window profile without pre-cutting.
In-House Runner Reclaim
Beside-the-press PC400 reclaims sprues and runners hot, in-line with injection molding.
Fiber-Reinforced Plastic
Reinforced rotors with CPM-10V or carbide-tipped blades for glass-filled PA, PBT and composite scrap.
Granulator Blades & Wear Parts
Blades are the #1 consumable on any granulator. Choose the right steel and plan a sharpening cycle from day one.
Replacement Granulator Blades
Rotor and bed knives in SKD-11, DC53 and CPM-10V. HRC 58–62. Custom lengths for any rotor diameter.
Automatic Knife Grinder
Resharpen granulator blades to ≤0.03 mm precision. 6–10 re-grinds per blade set before replacement.
Selecting Granulator Blades
Match blade steel, bevel angle and hardness to your plastic feedstock.
Blade Material vs. Cost
When premium steel pays back — and when D2 is the right answer.
Keep Every Granulator Running at Peak Output
Knife clearance — weekly
Rotor-to-bed knife gap should stay within 0.15–0.30 mm. A gap above 0.5 mm wastes 15–25% of motor energy and tears plastic instead of cutting.
Screen inspection
Replace bent or worn screens — holes elongated beyond 110% let oversize regrind through. See how screen size affects quality.
Resharpen, don’t replace
Tool-steel blades can be reground 6–10 times. An automatic grinder pays for itself within one blade set.
Bearing & belt schedule
Grease bearings every 500 hours; retension V-belts every 200 hours. Full maintenance and troubleshooting guides.
Plastic Granulator — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a plastic granulator cost?
A beside-the-press PC400 starts around US$4,000–6,000. Mid-range PC500 to PC600 run US$8,000–18,000. Heavy-duty PC800 and larger range US$20,000–45,000 depending on blade steel, screen quantity, and options (wet, stainless, PLC). See our price factors breakdown.
What is the main difference between a shredder and a granulator?
Shredders run at 20–120 rpm with very high torque and tear items up to 2 m into 20–100 mm strips. Granulators run at 400–800 rpm and cut those strips — or smaller scrap — into uniform 4–18 mm regrind through a screen. Most recycling plants use both in sequence.
Wet or dry granulator — which do I need?
Wet granulators spray water through the cutting chamber to wash labels, dirt, and sand off the regrind in one step — essential for post-consumer PET bottles and agricultural film. Dry granulators are simpler, cheaper, and sufficient for clean in-house scrap (runners, purging, industrial offcuts).
What screen size should I use?
6–10 mm for direct extrusion, 8–14 mm for pellet lines, 10–18 mm for resale flake. Smaller screens produce finer regrind but reduce throughput 20–40% and increase blade wear. Full breakdown in our screen size guide.
What types of plastic granulators are available?
Beside-the-press granulators (for injection molding scrap), central granulators (medium-duty for general recycling), heavy-duty rigid granulators (for thick-wall and large items), wet granulators (for washed material), vertical granulators (for pipes and profiles), PET bottle granulators, and integrated shredder-granulator machines. Each type is optimized for specific material sizes and throughput requirements.
Which blade material lasts longest?
For clean plastic, SKD-11 and DC53 deliver 1.3–1.8× the edge life of D2. For glass-filled or fiber-reinforced feed, CPM-10V lasts 2–3× longer. For abrasive or metal-contaminated feed, tungsten-carbide-tipped blades are the only practical option.
How much power does a plastic granulator draw?
Typical specific energy is 0.05–0.12 kWh per kg of plastic, depending on material hardness and regrind size. A PC600 rated 30 kW draws 15–25 kW under normal load. Dull blades can push that to 0.15+ kWh/kg.
How often do granulator blades need sharpening?
For clean PP/PE: every 150–300 operating hours. For PET bottles with labels: every 80–150 hours. For fiber-reinforced composites: every 40–80 hours. A single blade set typically delivers 6–10 sharpening cycles before replacement.
Can you design a complete line from shredding to pelletizing?
Yes. We engineer full recycling lines around feedstock, contamination level, target output, and plant layout. Granulator selection is matched to required flake size and downstream process — washing, drying, or pelletizing.
Get a Custom Solution & Quote
To get latest prices, lead times, and a crusher or granulator matched to your material and target flake size, send us a message below. If you need a full line from shredding to washing, drying, and pelletizing, start with Recycling Solutions.
- Machine selection based on feedstock, output size, and throughput
- Support for complete lines from shredding through pelletizing
- Fast quotation with layout and utilities guidance