The processing of mixed commercial and industrial waste into alternative fuel instead of landfilling is the direction chosen by the Portuguese company Euro Separadora after commissioning the Untha XR3000C single-shaft shredder. Before this technology was implemented, some material streams and waste types could not be efficiently recycled due to the lack of suitable processing solutions. Today, the XR3000C shreds non-recyclable mixed commercial and industrial waste into high-quality refuse-derived fuel for use in the cement industry.
Euro Separadora operates in the Portuguese waste management market, specialising in the collection, sorting, transport and recycling of waste streams from industry and commerce, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and construction and demolition waste. One of the company’s key strategic objectives is the production of alternative fuels for energy-intensive industries. Since 2025, Euro Separadora has been pursuing this objective using an industrial shredder from Untha.
"In the past, we were unable to recycle these waste materials. However, since we started using the Untha XR3000C, we have been able to efficiently process all types of commercial and industrial waste, including plastics, waste wood and textiles, into substitute fuels for the cement industry" says Avelino Dias, founder and managing director of Euro Separadora.
Euro Separadora’s requirements for the shredder
The technical assumptions for the new shredding line included a throughput capacity of 10 tonnes per hour, high operational reliability, energy-efficient drive technology, low operating costs and comprehensive service and maintenance support. As Luis Silva, product manager at Untha Ibérica, points out, the XR3000 with C-cutting system was selected to meet these requirements.
"The XR3000 with the C-cutting system perfectly meets Euro Separadora’s requirements. This single-shaft shredder is designed to process a wide range of materials, including plastics, waste wood, textiles and WEEE. In addition, our team supports the company by servicing and supplying spare and wear parts. In this way, we offer a complete solution, from consulting and shredding technology to lifelong service" states Luis Silva.
XR3000C shredder configured for C&I waste
Untha Ibérica has supplied Euro Separadora with an XR3000C industrial shredder driven by two 132 kW motors. The C-cutting system with three rows of knives ensures efficient and consistent shredding of heterogeneous waste streams. In the process, approximately 10 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste per hour are processed and converted into a homogeneous RDF product.
The machine is equipped with a discharge conveyor belt for the shredded material and an overband magnet that automatically separates ferrous metals from the shredded fraction. These metals are returned to the material recycling loop, while the remaining material is placed on the market as refuse-derived fuel. RDF is used in the cement industry as a non-fossil energy source, helping to reduce CO2 emissions, conserve resources and improve the environmental profile of cement production processes.
The design of the XR3000C has been developed for intensive continuous operation. The reinforced construction increases resistance to contaminants in the waste stream, enables safe processing of difficult materials and limits operational downtime. Features of the XR series also include easy operation and maintenance, low operating and energy costs and reduced dust and noise emissions.
Process flexibility and further development of RDF production
One of the key advantages of the Untha XR3000C shredder is the ability to adapt it to changing requirements regarding waste streams and end-product parameters. If Euro Separadora decides in the future to process additional types of waste or to produce RDF fuels with different specifications, the machine configuration can be adjusted accordingly. For example, the number of cutting teeth can be changed or different perforated screens can be used to control the target particle size.
"We are very satisfied with both the machine and the level of service support. Our goal is to operate the XR in two shifts and produce around 1,000 tonnes of RDF per month" emphasises Lina Cruz, production and laboratory manager at Euro Separadora.
By using the XR3000C shredder to prepare refuse-derived fuel, Euro Separadora is expanding the segment of alternative fuels for customers in energy-intensive sectors, mainly cement plants. The applied technology enables the diversion of part of the waste stream from landfilling towards material and energy recovery, which is in line with efforts to increase resource efficiency in waste management.
Euro Separadora processes C&I waste into RDF with Untha XR3000C
