Convert Vermeer grinder to chipper

Dec. 10, 2010, Pella, IA – Vermeer
Corporation is officially introducing its Fuel Chip Attachment in North
America. The attachment converts Vermeer HG6000 or HG6000TX horizontal grinders
equipped with the Series II Duplex Drum to produce biomass chips. Thus, the
machine could be used to process wood waste into mulch one day and biomass the
next by changing out the cutting mechanism. The fuel chip attachment helps
customers enter the biomass market without tying up capital resources in a
separate machine.

“Each biomass end-user requires that their
chips meet stringent specifications in terms of size, shape, and quality,” says
Todd Roorda, environmental solutions specialist with Vermeer. “This is
important, as an improperly sized or low-quality chip may adversely affect the
efficiency of the furnace and overall facility operation.”

The fuel chip attachment can be installed
in approximately four hours. The attachment is installed on the drum by
removing the bolt-on cutter blocks from the drum hammers. Ten ring assemblies
are then mounted to the outside of the Series II Duplex Drum and secured to the
existing drum hammers. The rings help provide depth control during the chipping
process. Attached to each ring are two 5/8-inch (1.6-cm) 5 by 3.5-inch (12.7 x
8.9-cm) or 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) 5.4 by 3.5-inch (13.7 x 8.9-cm) double-edged
knives that can be flipped and sharpened for extended life.

Vermeer also developed a screen system to
help produce a consistently sized chip. The screens feature a J-hook at the
back of each hole. The hook is designed to engage the wood material in the hole
until the knife comes back around, cutting the material into the desired chip
size.

Operators can also adjust the infeed speed
to help fine-tune the material size. However, the quality of the final product
also largely depends on the stock material; logs will produce a more uniform
end product compared to brushy material.

www.vermeer.com, salesinfo@vermeer.com