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Designing the complete C&D facility

CBI's C&D recycling system installed for recycler SB Cox.
CBI's C&D recycling system installed for recycler SB Cox.

by Keith Barker

SB Cox is a company that has built a steadfast reputation in demolition. For more than four decades, the Virginia-based company says they have been getting their jobs done safely, on budget and on schedule – for commercial, residential and municipal clients.

Only within the last five years, did the company begin the venture into running their own C&D recycling operation. Just over four years ago they opened their first facility in Richmond, Virginia, and then as their end markets and experience grew, company president Barbee Cox decided to build a second facility. In the summer of 2011, SB Cox opened their new C&D recycling facility in Yorktown, Virginia, and they are now finishing up their first six months in full operation.

SB Cox worked exclusively with Continental Biomass Industries, Inc. (CBI)in designing and installing both facilities. According to CBI, the Yorktown SB Cox facility is specifically designed to recycle C&D materials. It is also engineered to allow for the addition of a second line in the future. 

Tim Griffing, Systems Engineer for Continental Biomass Industries (CBI), was involved in the installation of both SB Cox C&D recycling operations.

“In Richmond, it’s a fairly simple system,” explains Griffing. “They use a large, octagon-shaped, enclosed Action Screens trommel, and then it’s basically a sorting table with wood conveyors. 

“For the new Yorktown installation, it’s being built in two phases,” continues Griffing. “The first phase has been installed. It’s a complete C&D system, handling your typical C&D material – everything right down to the kitchen sink. There’s a lot of wood in this area as well, so they have one of our 5400 horizontal grinders as part of the system.”

The Yorktown installation allows wood being pulled from the waste stream to go directly to the CBI 5400 horizontal wood grinder, and it allows the grinder to be loaded directly, if needed.

“The wood conveyors are positioned under the mezzanine, and allow the pickers to pick the wood and drop it onto the conveyors, which go directly to the grinder,” explains Griffing.

“The reason we went with a horizontal grinder versus a vertical-feed grinder, is so they can batch-feed the grinder from the tipping floor. So if they get a large load of just wood, then they can put it right in the grinder – not through the entire system.”

The Magnum Force 5400 is the latest offering in CBI’s new generation of grinders. Units are available with five different field-swappable rotors to accommodate changing materials and processing demands, and the unique design provides the flexibility to process an exceptionally wide variety of materials.

According to Griffing, SB Cox has had no problems during their first six months of operation in Yorktown, and have only had to replace shear pins, which are used to protect the grinder. The complete system includes the 5400 horizontal grinder, conveyors, and an Action Taper-Slot Screen as a primary screener that takes out fines.

“Action Screens builds many different screen styles for CBI,” says Griffing. “They have so many sizes available, and they build the heaviest. Everything else, we build. We build all the conveyors, grinders, and we build them so much heavier-duty than everyone else.”

“We also build a lot of flexibility into our systems, to allow for future expansion,” says Griffing. He says the next steps for SB Cox would be adding a trommel screen, and a Dense-Out Air Separator (or air-knife), made by Action Screens. This would allow them to effectively separate heavies from lights, and would increase flow in the system.

“Right now, SB Cox is set up to process 70 tonnes per hour. If they put in a second line, they can process much more.”

Griffing also explained that with the way they have the system set up, if the grinder goes down, the CBI-built conveyors are bi-directional, so the material can be diverted into a bunker. 

“This allows for continuous operation, even if the grinder goes down,” he says.  “We install our C&D systems totally, and we tie into them with computers and monitor them continuously. All the controls are done in-house, we’re the only company that does it all.”

“Other manufacturers have to go find their shredder, grinder and their screens. If something happens to the trommel, or any component of the system, we take care of it. We do the training on the screens as well as all the product support. Everything is done from CBI, including parts and service – it’s a one phone call scenario.”

When asked about advice to those looking to get into C&D recycling, Griffing says; “Find your market first. Wood markets primarily. Without a good wood market, you’re just banging your head against the wall.”

And when it comes to finding the right equipment, he says; “Do your homework. Talk to as many customers as possible. And buy for durability, not price.” 

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