Smicon SMIMO Food Waste Depackaging Machine Review

The Smicon SMIMO is an established industrial food waste depackaging machine that cuts or grinds packaged and unpackaged organic materials before separating the organic fraction through an interchangeable screen.

Smicon states that the SMIMO range has been used for unpacking food products since 2006. The machines are available in several sizes, including the SMIMO80, SMIMO120 and SMIMO160, and may be supplied in steel or stainless steel.

The machine can operate as the central depackaging stage within a larger waste reception and separation line. Optional equipment can be added to recover more organic material, clean the organic output further and reduce the weight or contamination of the discharged packaging.

Disclosure: This is an independent technical review based on publicly available manufacturer and supplier information. Performance claims should be verified through representative feedstock testing and incorporated into contractual acceptance criteria.

Key Takeaways

The SMIMO is a combined cutting or grinding and screening depackaging machine rather than a passive sieve.
Smicon offers the SMIMO80, SMIMO120 and SMIMO160 for different processing capacities.
Interchangeable screen apertures allow the machine to be adapted to different feedstocks and output requirements.
Published technical literature gives screen sizes from 8 mm to 50 mm and a nominal operating speed of 500 rpm for the SMIMO120/160 range.
The machine is intended to produce an organic output on one side and a retained packaging stream on the other.
Smicon claims that the organic output can achieve at least 99.5% cleanliness in some applications, depending on the incoming material.
That 99.5% figure is a manufacturer’s claim and should not be treated as a universal performance guarantee.
Optional downstream equipment includes the WS800 Windshifter, SP600 Screw Press, BS260 Belt Separator and, in some installations, a cyclone separation system.
Because the machine cuts or grinds the organic fraction and operates at appreciable rotational speed, it should not automatically be described as a low-impact depackager.

What Is the Smicon SMIMO Depackaging Machine?

The Smicon SMIMO depackaging machine is designed to separate food and other organic material from plastic, metal, cardboard and mixed-material packaging.

Smicon states that the machine has been used commercially since 2006 for applications including:

packaged and unpackaged food waste;
supermarket returns;
expired food products;
restaurant and catering waste;
household source-separated organics;
fruit and vegetable residues;
potatoes and other agricultural produce;
food manufacturing waste;
animal-feed materials; and
organic feedstock intended for anaerobic digestion or composting.

The organic fraction passes through a screen and leaves on one side of the machine. Packaging and other retained material are discharged separately.

How Does the SMIMO Work?

Smicon’s main product page gives only a brief explanation, stating that the machine passes organic contents through a sieve while packaging leaves through another outlet.

More detailed supplier literature describes the organic material as being cut or ground within the SMIMO before passing through the screen.

The process can therefore be summarised as follows:

Packaged and unpackaged food waste is fed into the SMIMO.
Internal rotating components open, cut and agitate the material.
Food and other soft organic matter are reduced sufficiently to pass through the selected screen apertures.
The organic fraction falls or is conveyed through the screen.
Packaging and other material too large to pass through the screen travel to the reject outlet.

The precise internal rotor and blade arrangement is not fully explained on Smicon’s public product page. However, the available technical literature makes clear that separation involves active cutting or grinding rather than relying solely on compression or passive screening.

Is the SMIMO a Grinder?

The SMIMO is marketed primarily as a depackaging machine, but Smicon-related literature states that grinding and unpacking can take place within one machine.

An earlier Smicon technical brochure lists a nominal operating speed of 500 rpm for the SMIMO120 and SMIMO160. At that speed, the machine applies considerably more dynamic mechanical action than a slow-speed auger or gentle package-opening system.

It is therefore reasonable to describe the SMIMO as a mechanically active depackager that incorporates cutting or grinding and screening.

This does not mean that it necessarily pulverises all packaging. Smicon and its distributors claim that the machine can produce relatively large remaining pieces of packaging. Nevertheless, buyers concerned about microplastic formation should obtain measured particle-size information rather than relying on general descriptions.

SMIMO Models and Published Technical Data

Smicon currently lists three principal depackaging machine sizes:

SMIMO80;
SMIMO120; and
SMIMO160.

The model designation appears to relate to machine size and capacity, although detailed current specifications are not published consistently on the main product page.

An earlier Smicon technical brochure gives the following combined range for the SMIMO120 and SMIMO160:

Power: approximately 11 kW to 110 kW, depending on configuration;
Nominal speed: 500 rpm;
Capacity: up to approximately 35 m³/hour;
Screen aperture: 8 mm to 50 mm;
Construction: steel or stainless steel; and
Controls: PLC and/or SCADA options.

Some distributor listings contain different capacity figures. These may refer to different models, feedstocks, historical configurations or data-entry errors. Buyers should therefore obtain a current model-specific data sheet directly from Smicon and secure a guaranteed tonnes-per-hour figure for their own material.

Interchangeable Screens

The SMIMO uses interchangeable screens so that separation can be adjusted to suit the incoming material and required organic output.

This flexibility is useful, but it introduces an important performance compromise:

Larger apertures may increase throughput and organic recovery but allow larger packaging fragments into the organic fraction.
Smaller apertures may improve physical contaminant removal but reduce throughput, increase wear or leave more organic material in the reject.

The selected screen should therefore be based on representative trials rather than a general preference for the smallest or largest available aperture.

Can the SMIMO Operate Without Added Water?

Smicon distributor information states that the SMIMO can process wet and dry food products and may operate without added liquid.

This could be an important advantage because unnecessary dilution:

reduces recovered slurry dry-solids concentration;
uses anaerobic digester hydraulic capacity;
increases pumping and heating demand;
increases digestate volume; and
may reduce the mass of organic dry matter accepted per unit of digester volume.

However, Smicon also states that liquid can be introduced through the main shaft or inlet housing where this helps control the process or output composition.

Water demand should therefore be measured during trials. The relevant question is not merely whether added water is optional, but how much is required to achieve the guaranteed recovery and purity for the proposed feedstock.

Manufacturer Claim of 99.5% Clean Organic Output

Smicon states on recent project pages that the SMIMO120 can achieve a clean organic output of at least 99.5%, depending on the incoming material.

This is a significant claim, but the precise test basis is not published on the project page. Buyers should establish:

whether 99.5% refers to wet mass, dry mass, volume or another measurement basis;
which contaminants are included;
the minimum particle size included in the analysis;
whether the figure was achieved by the SMIMO alone or after further treatment;
the screen aperture used;
the incoming packaging composition;
the amount of water added; and
the organic recovery achieved at the same time.

A high purity result alone does not prove that the system has achieved high organic recovery. Purity and recovery should always be measured separately.

Optional Post-Treatment Equipment

Smicon offers several downstream machines that can be added to the SMIMO system.

WS800 Windshifter

The WS800 separates materials using adjustable airflow, weight and surface-area differences.

In a typical installation:

a magnetic belt first removes ferrous metal;
the windshifter separates lighter packaging from heavier organic material;
recovered organics may be returned to the SMIMO or reception bunker; and
the remaining packaging proceeds to further processing or collection.

This may reduce organic losses from the reject stream, but it also demonstrates that the packaging leaving the SMIMO may contain recoverable food that warrants further separation.

SP600 Screw Press

The Smicon SP600 screw press is intended to squeeze moisture and residual organic material from the packaging stream.

Smicon states that it has a 600 mm screw diameter, a capacity of approximately 30 m³/hour and can reduce reject disposal costs by up to 50% through weight reduction.

The phrase “up to 50%” is a manufacturer claim and will depend on the original reject moisture, packaging composition, disposal charging method and press performance.

BS260 Belt Separator

The BS260 Soft Belt Separator can be used either:

as a standalone depackaging system for selected soft packaged foods; or
to provide additional purification of the organic output from the SMIMO.

Smicon describes it as particularly suitable for moist food in flexible plastic packaging.

CS300 Cyclone System

Some Smicon installations also use a cyclone treatment stage after depackaging. In a French installation, the organic output from a SMIMO120 was treated by a BS260 Belt Separator and CS300 Cyclone System before being sent to anaerobic digestion.

This indicates that achieving the cleanest possible organic output may require more than the primary SMIMO separation stage.

Examples of SMIMO Installations

Sunnyvale, United States

Smicon supplied a system in Sunnyvale using an in-ground reception bunker and a SMIMO120. Three shaftless screws in the bunker prevent wrapping and provide a homogeneous feed to the depackager.

After depackaging, the organic fraction is sent to a separate SMIMO15 pulper to produce a finer pumpable material.

This installation clearly distinguishes the reception screws, the SMIMO depackager and the downstream pulper as separate process stages.

Madrid, Spain

A 2024 project in Madrid uses a SMIMO120 for separately collected household organic waste intended for compost production.

Smicon states that the system can process wet and dry material and achieve at least 99.5% clean organic output, depending on feedstock. Different screens and post-treatment options can be selected according to the required output.

Herbstadt, Germany

Smicon supplied a turnkey system for supermarket returns. Waste is stored in two below-ground bunkers and conveyed by two screws to a SMIMO120. The separated organic fraction is used for anaerobic digestion.

France

A French turnkey installation treats packaged and unpackaged food waste using:

a SMIMO120 depackager;
a BS260 Belt Separator;
a CS300 Cyclone System;
a magnetic belt;
a WS800 Windshifter; and
return of recovered organics to the process.

This project illustrates how extensive a complete separation line may become when both organic purity and reject recovery are prioritised.

Potential Advantages

Long commercial track record

Smicon states that SMIMO depackaging machines have been used since 2006.

Multiple machine sizes

The SMIMO80, SMIMO120 and SMIMO160 provide options for different processing capacities.

Dry and wet feedstock capability

The machine is promoted for both relatively dry packaged products and wetter organic waste streams.

Interchangeable screens

A wide range of apertures allows the process to be adapted to different feedstocks and output specifications.

Optional stainless-steel construction

Stainless steel may improve resistance to acidic food waste and cleaning chemicals.

Modular plant design

Smicon can supply reception bunkers, conveyors, wind separation, screw pressing, belt separation, grinding and further organic purification.

Representative product testing

Smicon offers prospective clients the opportunity to test their own material before purchasing equipment.

Potential Limitations

The process cuts or grinds organic material and may also fragment packaging.
The nominal 500 rpm operating speed indicates appreciable mechanical impact and abrasion.
Smaller plastic fragments may pass through larger screen apertures.
Output purity may depend on downstream belt or cyclone separation.
The packaging reject may require wind separation and screw pressing.
Added liquid may be needed for some feedstocks or output specifications.
Published capacity figures are inconsistent between available sources.
The 99.5% cleanliness claim is feedstock-dependent and lacks a publicly stated standard test method.
Smicon does not publish universal organic-recovery or reject-purity guarantees on its general product page.

Is the SMIMO a Low-Impact Depackaging Machine?

The SMIMO should not automatically be classified as a low-impact depackager.

The available information indicates that it:

operates at a nominal speed of approximately 500 rpm;
cuts or grinds the organic fraction;
uses screens as small as 8 mm;
applies significant mechanical action to mixed packaging; and
may require further separation to remove contaminants from the organic output.

Smicon does state that the process can leave relatively large packaging pieces and produce a comparatively dry and clean reject. These may be meaningful advantages over some hammermill systems.

However, the extent of package fragmentation should be established using representative trials and a measured particle-size distribution.

Microplastic and Packaging Fragmentation Considerations

Any depackager that cuts, grinds or abrades plastic packaging may create smaller plastic particles.

The practical risk depends on:

rotor speed;
blade or impact geometry;
screen aperture;
residence time;
packaging polymer and thickness;
presence of rigid plastic, film, laminates and composite packs;
feed rate; and
the effectiveness of downstream contaminant removal.

Buyers should request testing that measures not only visible packaging pieces but also smaller fragments in the recovered organic output.

A claim that the organic fraction is 99.5% clean may still leave 0.5% physical contamination. At large annual throughput, even a small percentage can represent a substantial mass of plastic or other unwanted material.

Reject Stream Quality

The SMIMO discharges the packaging separately, but this does not necessarily mean that it is immediately recyclable.

Reject quality will depend on:

remaining food contamination;
moisture content;
the degree of fragmentation;
the proportion of plastic film, rigid containers, cans, paper and composites;
whether ferrous metals have been removed;
whether the stream has passed through a windshifter;
whether it has been screw pressed; and
the requirements of the receiving recycler or fuel producer.

Smicon’s use of the WS800 and SP600 indicates that post-treatment can improve the reject by recovering additional organics and reducing moisture and weight.

However, buyers should obtain samples and written acceptance from the intended outlet before assuming that the reject has a positive recycling value.

Questions to Ask Before Buying a SMIMO

Which SMIMO model is proposed for the project?
What current technical specification applies to that model?
What tonnes-per-hour throughput is guaranteed for the proposed feedstock?
What bulk density is assumed in the volumetric capacity figure?
What internal cutting or grinding components are used?
What is the normal rotor speed?
What screen aperture is proposed?
What packaging particle-size distribution is produced?
What percentage of organic material is recovered?
How much organic material remains in the reject?
What does the claimed 99.5% cleanliness figure measure?
Was that result achieved by the SMIMO alone or after post-treatment?
What quantity of added water is required?
What dry-solids concentration is achieved in the organic output?
What concentrations of plastic, metal and glass remain?
Is a BS260 Belt Separator or CS300 Cyclone required?
Does the reject require a WS800 Windshifter?
Is an SP600 Screw Press required to reduce reject weight and organic loss?
What electrical energy is consumed per tonne?
Which parts are regarded as wear components?
How frequently do screens, cutting parts and other wear components require replacement?
What cleaning and access arrangements are provided?
Can the complete proposed line be tested with representative waste?
Will recovery, purity, water use, energy consumption and reject quality be included in the acceptance test?

Independent Assessment

The Smicon SMIMO is a credible and well-established industrial depackaging system with a substantial operating history and a modular range of supporting equipment.

Its strongest attributes appear to be:

the ability to process varied packaged and unpackaged food waste;
several machine sizes;
a wide selection of screen apertures;
steel and stainless-steel construction options;
integration with complete reception and separation systems; and
the availability of downstream organic and reject-cleaning equipment.

The machine is nevertheless a cutting or grinding depackager rather than a purely gentle package-opening system. The available nominal speed of 500 rpm and use of relatively small screen apertures mean that packaging fragmentation and fine plastic contamination deserve careful investigation.

Smicon’s recent project information also shows that high-quality outputs may depend on a complete process line rather than the SMIMO alone. Belt separation and cyclone treatment may be used to clean the organic fraction, while magnetic separation, wind classification and screw pressing may be required to improve the packaging reject.

This does not diminish the SMIMO’s value. It demonstrates that successful food waste depackaging is a system-design problem rather than simply a machine-selection exercise.

The SMIMO should be judged using measured whole-process results for:

organic recovery;
organic-output purity;
plastic particle size;
water addition;
dry-solids concentration;
energy consumption;
reject cleanliness and moisture;
wear costs; and
the viability of the intended reject outlet.

Where minimising package fragmentation, reducing microplastic formation and producing a dry, readily recoverable reject are primary requirements, buyers should compare the SMIMO with other food waste depackaging machine technologies using the same feedstock and an agreed test method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Smicon SMIMO a food waste depackager?

Yes. It separates packaged and unpackaged organic materials into an organic output and a retained packaging stream.

Does the SMIMO grind food waste?

Smicon-related technical information describes the organic material as being cut or ground within the machine before passing through a screen.

What SMIMO models are available?

Smicon currently lists the SMIMO80, SMIMO120 and SMIMO160.

What is the capacity of the SMIMO?

An earlier Smicon brochure states a capacity of up to approximately 35 m³/hour for the SMIMO120/160 range. Current project-specific throughput should be confirmed directly with Smicon because capacity depends on model, feedstock and screen selection.

Does the SMIMO require added water?

Not necessarily. Smicon states that it can process material without added liquid, but liquid can also be introduced to influence processing and output consistency.

Does the SMIMO achieve 99.5% clean organics?

Smicon makes that claim for certain recent installations, depending on the input. Buyers should establish the test method and whether downstream treatment contributed to the result.

Is the SMIMO a low-impact depackager?

Not in the strict sense. It uses active cutting or grinding and a nominal operating speed reported as approximately 500 rpm. Packaging-fragmentation tests should therefore form part of equipment selection.

Can the discharged packaging be recycled?

Possibly, but not automatically. Its suitability depends on contamination, moisture, particle size, material composition and the requirements of an identified outlet.

What does the Smicon Windshifter do?

The WS800 uses airflow to separate lighter packaging from heavier residual organic material. Recovered organics can be returned to the depackaging process.

Why add the SP600 Screw Press?

The SP600 squeezes moisture and residual organics from the packaging stream, reducing reject weight and recovering more organic material.

Sources

Manufacturer website: Visit Smicon.

We can adjust our machines and peripheral equipment to your specific product in order to separate it in the most optimal way.

Optionally, the SMIMO80, SMIMO120 and SMIMO160 can be expanded with a WS800 Windshifter, SP600 Screw press or BS260 Belt separator.

This post-treatment reduces the organic content in the packaging to an absolute minimum and ensures an extra yield of organic material.

https://www.smicon.nl

[Published December 2022. Updated and rewritten: June 2026.]

Discover more from IPPTS Depackaging Equipment Insights

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.