Field Test on Seasonal Output Difference of Thermal Break Aluminum Crusher: How Much More Can the Same Material Produce in Summer Than in Winter?

Thermal break aluminum profiles are different from ordinary aluminum materials because they contain nylon insulation strips in the middle. Temperature changes can affect the toughness and brittleness of these nylon strips, which further influences the actual output of the thermal break aluminum crusher. Haoxing Machinery Factory tested the same batch of thermal break aluminum material with the same crusher in summer and winter. The following are the test results and practical analysis for customers engaged in aluminum recycling and processing.

1. Test Data: Summer Output Is More Stable Than Winter Output

The tested material was the same batch of thermal break aluminum window profiles, with a length of about 50–80 cm and similar moisture content. The equipment used was the Haoxing Machinery 1200 model double-shaft thermal break aluminum crusher, equipped with a 40 mm screen. To make the test results more reliable, the same feeding method, screen configuration, and operating conditions were used in both seasons.

In summer, when the ambient temperature was about 32°C, the machine ran continuously for 4 hours, with an average output of about 4.2 tons per hour. In winter, when the ambient temperature was about -5°C, the average output under the same working conditions was about 3.1 tons per hour. This means that the summer output was about 1.1 tons per hour higher than the winter output, with a difference of around 35%.

According to the discharge condition on site, more nylon powder appeared in the crushed material during winter operation, and the proportion of long strip-shaped aluminum pieces was also higher. In winter, the screen was more likely to become partially blocked, and material accumulation in the crushing chamber occurred more often. As a result, the machine needed more reverse clearing operations, which reduced the effective working time.

2. Cause Analysis: The Temperature Characteristics of Nylon Insulation Strips Are the Key Factor

The main difficulty in crushing thermal break aluminum does not only come from the aluminum itself, but also from the nylon insulation strips inside the profile. Aluminum changes relatively little under different seasonal temperatures, while nylon strips are much more sensitive to temperature changes.

In summer, the temperature is higher and the nylon strips have better toughness. After being impacted by the cutter rollers or hammers, they are more likely to stretch and deform instead of breaking into powder immediately. This allows the aluminum and nylon strip to be torn and crushed more evenly, making the discharge process smoother.

In winter, especially when the temperature is below zero, the nylon insulation strips become harder and more brittle. After entering the crusher, they are more likely to break into fine powder or small particles. These nylon powders mix with the aluminum pieces, affecting the uniformity of the discharge and easily blocking the screen holes.

Once the screen discharge becomes unsmooth, material will gradually accumulate inside the crushing chamber. This increases the equipment load and requires more frequent reverse clearing. Although each clearing process may not take long, the accumulated downtime reduces the effective crushing time and lowers the overall output in winter.

In addition, low winter temperatures may also affect the running condition of the equipment itself. For example, hydraulic oil and lubricating oil become more viscous, and the starting, reversing, and transmission parts may experience slightly higher resistance. Although this factor alone may not have a major impact, it can further widen the output gap when combined with brittle materials and screen blockage.

3. Practical Suggestions for Improving Winter Output

Based on Haoxing Machinery Factory’s field commissioning experience, winter production can be improved from two aspects: material pretreatment and equipment parameter adjustment.

First, it is recommended to increase the material temperature before crushing in winter. If conditions allow, the thermal break aluminum material can be stored indoors or placed under sunlight for several hours, so that the material temperature rises above 5°C. This can reduce the powdering problem caused by overly brittle nylon strips and help reduce screen blockage.

Second, the screen size and machine speed can be adjusted according to the material condition. For example, if a 40 mm screen is prone to blockage in winter, it can be replaced with a 50 mm screen to improve discharge efficiency. At the same time, the cutter roller speed can be properly reduced, such as from 350 r/min to 280 r/min, to reduce excessive crushing of nylon strips and allow more tearing action instead of generating too much powder.

Haoxing Machinery Factory once adjusted the winter crushing solution for a customer in Shandong. Under the original working conditions, the machine output was about 2.8 tons per hour. After adjusting the screen size, reducing the speed, and optimizing the feeding rhythm, the winter output increased to about 3.6 tons per hour, and the machine ran more smoothly.

In addition, the screen and crushing chamber should be checked after shutdown in winter. If nylon powder is found to be caked or blocking the screen holes, it should be cleaned in time to avoid excessive load during the next startup. For users in colder northern regions, auxiliary configurations such as a heating hopper or frequency conversion speed control system can also be considered to improve equipment adaptability in low-temperature environments.

4. Seasonal Output Difference Does Not Mean Equipment Failure

Many users may suspect equipment problems when they find that the output of the thermal break aluminum crusher decreases in winter. In fact, if the motor, cutter rollers, screen, and transmission system are all working normally, the seasonal output difference is usually related to material temperature, nylon strip condition, and discharge efficiency, rather than equipment failure.

For the same batch of thermal break aluminum material, different performance in summer and winter is mainly caused by the structural characteristics of the material itself. In summer, the nylon strip has better toughness and the material is easier to tear continuously. In winter, the nylon strip becomes brittle, powder increases, the screen is more likely to block, and the effective running time of the machine decreases, so the output naturally drops.

For users who process thermal break aluminum waste for a long time, it is not enough to only focus on the rated capacity of the equipment. Seasonal temperature, material moisture, profile size, nylon strip proportion, and screen configuration should all be considered together. Only by adjusting the production method reasonably can the crusher maintain more stable working efficiency.

5. Haoxing Machinery Factory Provides Customized Configuration Solutions

The difference in output between summer and winter is common in actual thermal break aluminum crushing production. When purchasing or using a crusher, users should choose the proper machine model, screen size, and control method according to local climate, raw material condition, and finished product requirements.

Haoxing Machinery Factory can provide suitable equipment selection, screen configuration, frequency conversion speed control, heating hopper, and other supporting solutions according to different working environments. These solutions can help users reduce blockage and improve discharge stability under low-temperature conditions.

If you are processing thermal break aluminum doors and windows, waste thermal break aluminum profiles, or aluminum-plastic composite materials, welcome to contact Haoxing Machinery Factory for a suitable crushing and recycling solution.

This article was edited by Liu Peipei from the Promotion Department of the Gongyi Haoxing Machinery Factory Online Department, based on actual tests conducted on 2026-06-05. If quoted, please indicate the source.