Wisconsin Crime Lab Custom Gun Shredder
The Challenge
The Wisconsin Crime Lab in Milwaukee, a state-mandated organization responsible for the destruction of firearms, faced a significant challenge. Their existing gun-shredding equipment was inefficient, slow, and couldn't handle the large volume of firearms that needed to be destroyed. This created a bottleneck in their operations and raised concerns about security, as they had to rely on an external shredding company with limited oversight.
The Search for a Better Solution
Seeking to bring the entire process in-house, Kyle Anderson, a supervisor at the Crime Lab, began a decade-long search for a suitable shredder. He found that most manufacturers produced large, industrial-sized machines that were far too big for their facility and were not specifically designed for shredding firearms. The one machine he did find that was marketed for guns could not keep up with the volume as it was only capable of shredding one gun at a time. It was a time-consuming and inefficient process that wasn't sustainable for the large quantities they needed to process.
The Machinery Partner Solution
Looking for new options, Kyle discovered Machinery Partner. Instead of simply offering a pre-existing product, Machinery Partner took a different approach. They acted as a procurement partner, collaborating directly with the Crime Lab to understand their specific needs and challenges. They focused on three key areas to deliver a custom solution:
- Sourcing and Engineering: Machinery Partner didn't have a specific "gun shredder" in their catalog. Instead, they identified a suitable shredder model from a European manufacturer and worked with them to engineer and modify it to meet the Crime Lab's exact specifications. This included customizing the machine's size, conveyor belt length, and power to ensure it fit perfectly into the facility and could handle the volume required.
- Performance and Efficiency: The new shredder, the Model 5E, drastically improved the process. During a recent shred event, the Crime Lab was able to destroy over 7,000 firearms, achieving a throughput of more than 600 guns per hour. This was a monumental improvement, as the previous machine would have taken days to complete the same task. The new machine is so powerful that they can now throw in entire boxes of guns, with the boxes themselves, and the machine "doesn't even balk."
- Comprehensive Partnership: Machinery Partner's commitment didn't end with the sale. They provided unparalleled post-sales support, including assigning a local representative to assist the Crime Lab. This on-the-ground support proved invaluable when they discovered the machine wouldn't fit into their new facility, which is currently under construction. Machinery Partner's team is already working to modify and cut the machine down to fit the new building's exact dimensions.
The Outcome
By partnering with Machinery Partner, the Wisconsin Crime Lab now has a secure, highly efficient, and customized internal solution for firearm destruction. The new shredder saves time and resources while providing the agency with complete control and confidence that all firearms are properly destroyed. This successful partnership demonstrates Machinery Partner's commitment to delivering tailored solutions and providing comprehensive support that goes far beyond the initial transaction.
"They built a machine specific to us. They said, 'How long do you want the belt? How high do you want the machine? How wide do you want the machine? What are you going to use it for? What production rate do you need? They took all my input and procured the best solution for my needs.”