Brake motor crushes bottles

12 October 2007

Bottleworks have developed a self-contained bottle crusher that reduces space requirements for empty bottles by as much as 80%. It’s compact enough to be stowed behind a bar, taking the same space as a typical bottle bin, and is no noisier than a glass washer.

Because it reduces the volume of bottles so effectively, bar staff leave the bar area (where they should be serving customers) far less frequently to exchange bins. The space saving efficiency that the bottle crusher offers (and the reduced collection charges) has already resulted in success with major pub chains, clubs and on ferries.

An integral component of the bottle crusher is the single phase motor from Lafert Electric Motors. It is a special high torque unit with progressive brake. The motor has been specially engineered to accept peak loads as bottles/broken glasses enter the crushing section of the machine, whilst having appropriate braking characteristics for quiet, non-vigorous stopping that might otherwise cause the unit to ‘travel’.

“Because this is such an innovative product targeted at a very profit sensitive market, we had to be sure of its ‘suitability for purpose’ before we launched it,” said Collin Waller, director of Bottleworks. “It had to be visibly acceptable, robust and quiet - but chiefly it had to function as intended. Hence, we need a motor that is man enough to do the job with the performance characteristics required. The Lafert motor meets all those criteria.”