This column was published in Australian Waste Management Review, issue July 2025. Please see the original article here.

There’s a new predator in waste shredding. Tana’s product manager Eetu Tuovinen explains.

The TANA Shark waste shredder has earned a formidable reputation over two decades for tackling the toughest waste materials. For years, it’s been the go-to machine for challenging shredding applications. Its powerful, high-torque capabilities have made it the industry leader in breaking down materials that often defeat other equipment, such as car tyres and mattresses.

Recognising that the recycling landscape is constantly growing and diversifying beyond these “tough applications,” manufacturer Tana Oy has launched its newest shredder – the Hammerhead.

Built on proven success

Eetu Tuovinen, Tana’s Product Manager, Recycling, says the Hammerhead builds on the proven success and unique technology of the Shark and is a strategic move to strengthen the company’s foothold in the industry.

“We’ve wanted to bring something new to the market to meet the growing demands of our customers,” Eetu says. “We understand that if we want to be part of the increase in recycling, we need to broaden our product offering.

“The Hammerhead brings together all the good features and known technology of the Shark, but in a different fashion. Even the name is a nod to the shared design philosophy, encapsulated by a clever marketing tagline: “same look, different bite”.

“We wanted to have a name that connects with the heritage of the Shark, but is still distinctly separate,” Eetu says.

Designed for high-volume waste

The primary distinction of the TANA Hammerhead is in its targeted applications. While the Shark excels in tough, low-volume applications, the Hammerhead is purpose-built for higher volume waste streams, including a broader range of materials such as green, household, construction and demolition (C&D), as well as commercial and industrial (C&I) waste.

Eetu says the emphasis is on maximising throughput and production rates.

“The priority is to produce as many tonnes per hour as possible for the customer because that means efficiency in their overall process,” he says. “By increasing the efficiency, we’re minimising their costs per produced tonne.”

This focus on capacity means the Hammerhead can deliver “30 to 50 per cent more” when processing these easier, high-volume materials compared to its robust sibling.

Smart features with flexible design

Despite its different target market, the Hammerhead integrates key features from the Shark. It maintains a similar screen basket arrangement that allows for quick changes to particle size (from 50 millimetres up to 500 millimetres) and adaptation to various material types.

The drive train, however, has been specifically adapted to optimise for its high-volume purpose.

Tana also continues its strong commitment to environmental responsibility, offering both diesel-powered units, which comply with stringent local emission regulations, and electric models for zero local emissions. Both Shark and Hammerhead shredders are available as stationary and mobile version that can be moved on wheels or tracks. 

Toughness in its DNA

As with all Tana machines, the Hammerhead provides ease of use and maintainability.

“We know that these kinds of machines are subject to a lot of harsh conditions, but toughness is in their DNA,” Eetu says. “We make them as tough as possible and as easy to repair as possible, so that the customer can really use them as a tool.

“We understand that our customers’ business depends on the equipment, so the equipment can, and must, handle being used all day long. I’m 100 per cent confident that the Hammerhead will be battle-tested and customer-approved, because it features the same smart and good features that we have had in our shredders for a long time.”

Stronger presence in Australia

With the recent acquisition of GCM Enviro, Tana now boasts a significant local presence in Australia, operating as Tana Australia.

Eetu says this means that customers in the region will benefit directly from enhanced on-the-ground support, readily available parts, and swift technical assistance when needed.

“Sales always sells the first machine, but then service and support sell the second and the third machine,” he says.

Looking ahead

That first Hammerhead was sold and shipped out just weeks after the launch. Eetu says that with a presence in more than 50 global markets, anticipation was high for Tana’s new offering.

And the Hammerhead is far from the end of the company’s innovation journey; rather, it’s the first step of expanding the shredder offering with Eetu hinting at more new products coming “sooner than later.”