This article was originally published in Australian Waste Management Review. Please see the original article here.

A regional Victorian demolition specialist is scaling its circular economy efforts with the help of advanced material processing.

For Bendigo-based demolition and recycling specialist Hopley Group, processing tens of thousands of tonnes of waste each year requires powerful and reliable equipment. That’s why the company recently invested in its second TANA shredder – the TANA Shark.

A decade of proven performance

Hopley Group purchased its first TANA shredder brand new in 2014. According to Group Director Justin Hopley, it was among the first machines of its kind in Australia.

The decision to buy was made after witnessing the machine in action in Perth, where it was being tested against extreme materials.

The team saw the machine handle heavy steel and massive timber with ease. That convinced Justin and the team that it was the right fit for the group’s regional Victorian operations.

The original machine operated for a decade and retained a significant portion of its value. In 2025, Hopley Group sold it to another demolition company in South Queensland.

“It just goes to show – we ran the machine for 10 years and still got a good chunk of our money back,” Justin says. “It was still in perfect condition really. We kept it in good order, but you only have to do a bit of welding on the teeth and stuff to keep them up to speed.”

New technological advancements streamline processes

The new Shark was delivered early in 2026. It includes technological advancements that have streamlined operations for Hopley Group.

While the primary function remains the same – reducing waste size and extracting valuable metals – the new model features a fully computerised touch-screen interface.

Operators can now adjust conveyor speeds, engine power, and magnet heights with finger-tip control. The machine can even be operated via remote control, allowing it to be moved around a site “like a robot”.

Justin says one of the most significant upgrades is the shift to tungsten material on the barrel, which reduces the need for manual hard-facing and maintenance.

The Shark doesn’t flinch at diverse waste streams

Hopley Group has diverse waste streams, ranging from timber flooring and weatherboards to tyres, mattresses, and even tree stumps.

The shredder acts as the primary processor and often achieves throughputs of three to four cubic metres per minute. As a result, Hopley Group can efficiently process large volumes of demolition and green waste without multiple machines or additional handling.

For finer products, such as wood chips intended for composting, the team uses steel screen mats to size the material down to 25 millimetres. Justin says the versatility of the shredder means the team can tackle almost any feedstock without needing to switch equipment or constantly reconfigure the setup.

“Basically, what we do is demolish houses, commercial buildings, and industrial ones, and we bring them to a site where we recycle everything,” he says.

“The shredder shreds green waste, C&D (construction and demolition) waste, weatherboards, flooring, carpet, mattresses, and tyres; it’ll just about shred anything.

“It shreds everything up to woodchip size and, because it has a magnet, pulls the metals out to one side, which can go straight to the metal recyclers.”

The output from the Shark feeds into several of the Hopley Group’s commercial product lines.

They blend timber and green waste with soil and compost the material for 12 months before screening and selling it.

The company processes more than 75,000 tonnes of concrete and brick each year. It then turns the material into road-base products, drainage aggregates, and decorative materials. The team also crushes asphalt and sells it for use in new road designs.

Service and support – the game-changer

Tana Australia is the exclusive distributor of TANA equipment, providing integrated, customer-focused solutions to the waste management and recycling sectors in Australia and surrounding regions. Justin says the service and support Tana Australia provides were also key in the decision to stick with the brand.

The machines run up to six days a week, and the team plans to increase operating hours as they integrate new picking stations. As a result, even short downtime periods create high costs.

TANA technicians can remotely access the machine’s GPS and computer codes via TanaConnect® to troubleshoot issues quickly. This has been a game-changer for the regional operator. If the team needs parts, they usually arrive within two days.

“Back-up service from Tana is absolutely awesome. You can ring out-of-hours on a Saturday afternoon, and the tech guys will answer,” Justin says.

“They can also look on their computer and see exactly what’s going on with the machine if there is an issue, and they can help you through it or correct it from where they are.”

For Justin, the Shark’s aggressiveness and ability to handle the toughest waste streams make it a standout in the market. His advice to anyone looking for a shredder?

“I’d say definitely look at the TANA,” he says. “Come and see one working with different materials, because it is a very, very powerful machine. To watch it chop up a big tree is pretty unbelievable.”