ZB Group Strengthens Its U.S. Presence with First PREDAX 8347 Installation at Frailey’s Recycling

ZB Group’s first PREDAX 8347 in the U.S. is already processing around 1,500 gross tons of scrap per month at Frailey’s Recycling in Oklahoma

ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, September 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — ZB Group has reached a new milestone in its North American expansion with the commissioning of the first PREDAX 8347 pre-shredder in the United States, installed at Frailey’s Recycling in Oklahoma.

The installation gives Frailey’s a purpose-built solution for preparing scrap before it enters the company’s 1,000-horsepower hammermill, helping improve feed consistency, production efficiency and overall shredding performance.

Only weeks after commissioning, the PREDAX 8347 is already processing approximately 1,500 gross tons of scrap per month, with Frailey’s estimating that its current operation could potentially handle twice that volume.

A new approach to pre-shredding scrap metal

Frailey’s Recycling is a family-owned scrap recycling business whose family history in the industry dates back several generations. As the company expanded its operations, it began looking for a more effective way to prepare material before the hammermill.

Traditional twin-shaft shredders had been tested for the application, but the company was looking for a solution that could provide better material preparation while reducing the maintenance requirements and downtime commonly associated with this type of equipment.

That search led Frailey’s to ZB Group and the PREDAX 8347.

The machine was developed specifically for scrap recyclers that need an intermediate solution between conventional twin-shaft pre-shredders and large-scale stationary equipment.

Rather than simply reducing the size of incoming scrap, the PREDAX is designed to create a more consistent feed for the downstream hammermill, helping the entire shredding line operate more efficiently.

The equipment can process a wide variety of scrap, including complete vehicles, baled scrap and bulky ferrous material.

Up to 40 gross tons per hour

The PREDAX 8347 combines high-torque shredding with a configuration designed for the operating requirements of scrap yards.

Its main specifications include:

“The PREDAX 8347 delivers throughput of up to 40 gross tons per hour and can be configured as either a portable or stationary unit, with diesel or electric power options. It features a Hägglunds Quantum shaft drive delivering up to 200,000 lb-ft of torque, a power package of up to 585 HP, an operating weight of approximately 90,000 lb and an 83-inch inlet width”.

A key consideration in the development of the PREDAX platform has been maintenance. Wear costs and downtime can have a significant impact on the profitability of scrap processing operations, particularly for small and mid-sized recyclers.

ZB Group designed the system to reduce those requirements while maintaining the throughput necessary to support industrial hammermill shredding operations.

First results exceed expectations

For Frailey’s Recycling, the first weeks of operation have confirmed the potential of the new system.

The PREDAX is now consistently preparing material before it reaches the hammermill, and the company expects to continue increasing the volume processed through the machine.

The installation also demonstrates how pre-shredding can help recyclers improve the productivity of an existing hammermill without necessarily moving to a much larger and more complex processing system.

For ZB Group, the Frailey’s project provides an important real-world reference for the PREDAX in the United States and responds to a growing demand the company sees among American scrap recyclers.

More than 40 years of recycling equipment experience

Founded in Spain in 1983, ZB Group has more than four decades of experience designing and manufacturing industrial recycling equipment.

The company has delivered more than 100 mobile and stationary shredders worldwide, with active installations in more than 30 countries.

ZB designs and manufactures its equipment in-house at its facility in Gipuzkoa, Spain, including pre-shredders, high-power hammermill shredders, integrated shredding systems and downstream material recovery solutions.

The company was also an early developer of high-power mobile hammermill shredding technology, launching its THOR series in 2013.

European engineering with U.S.-based support

ZB Group’s expansion in the United States goes beyond supplying machinery from Europe.

Through ZB North America Corp., the company provides U.S.-based technical assistance as well as a parts and service center in East Point, Georgia.

Critical spare parts are stocked in the United States, allowing ZB to provide faster response times, technical support and on-site assistance to North American customers.

This combination of in-house European engineering and manufacturing with local U.S. support is a central part of ZB Group’s strategy for continued growth in the American recycling market.

The successful commissioning of the first PREDAX 8347 at Frailey’s Recycling represents another step in that strategy and provides U.S. scrap recyclers with a new alternative for increasing the efficiency and profitability of their shredding operations.

About ZB Group

ZB Group designs and manufactures industrial recycling equipment and complete processing plants for scrap metal, end-of-life vehicles, construction and demolition waste and other recyclable materials.

Its range includes pre-shredders, mobile and stationary hammermill shredders, integrated shredding systems and downstream separation and recovery equipment.

ZB Group combines more than 40 years of manufacturing experience with a growing North American presence through ZB North America Corp., providing local technical support, service and spare parts for customers throughout the United States.

More information: ZB Group USA

Ander García
ZB North America Corp.
+1 404 435 3806
email us here

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