In the 2000s, GÜNTHER began developing a new screening concept that was very special for the company, alongside the successful MULTISTAR star screen system. The first hand-drawn sketches of the SPLITTER spiral screen as a pre-separator were created. However, the design and sales departments still had their hands full until the patent was granted and the product was ready for series production.
When managing director Bernd Günther came into the design department with a hand-drawn sketch and presented his “new screening technology idea,” his colleagues, who were completely immersed in optimizing and further developing star screen technology, were initially astonished. The next step was to find out, "Does it even work? And what can it be used for? Can the screw system previously used as a means of transport also function as a successful separation system?" So they began developing the screen and then manufacturing a prototype. The screening results of the first prototype were incomparable to those of the already known screening technologies, which gave the colleagues pause for thought. “Does it make sense to continue here? Does the result actually have to be similar or comparable to other technologies?” After all, the spiral wave screen had other advantages. It was very robust, virtually maintenance-free in design, and offered the possibility of screening into three fractions, depending on the application. The SPLITTER was therefore not intended to compete directly with other screening technologies or even with our own star screen technology. As a pre-separator, it opened up completely new possibilities for refining the material processing chain. As we now know years later, it took a few more prototypes, test sieving with a wide variety of materials, optimizations, and adjustments, and then there it was: THE screen for pre-separation. The SPLITTER spiral wave screen from GÜNTHER.
First hand sketch by Bernd Günther - Idea for SPLITTER First prototype of the SPLITTER
After 15 years in use, still a solution that inspires!
One of the first customers to place their trust in this new technology was EBS Concept in Glückstadt, part of the B+T Group. There, the SPLITTER UNIT is used to process commercial and municipal waste. “We invested in this new technology back then and have not been disappointed. SPLITTER technology has now been serving us well for over 15 years.” Mr. Petersson, Operations Manager at EBS Concept. Like EBS Concept, many domestic and commercial waste processing companies around the globe have integrated SPLITTER technology for size separation into their processing plants over the years. Today, SPLITTER technology has become an indispensable part of waste processing worldwide. After the first successful market applications in commercial waste, new project inquiries for further applications kept coming in: light packaging, scrap metal, construction waste, stones, and soil, to name just the most common ones. Each material has its own requirements for the technology, which cannot be met with a standard solution.Over the years that the screen has been installed and sold, it has been continuously optimized and developed. The straight screen deck, known as the SPLITTER FLAT, was developed into the SPLITTER WAVE with a curved screen deck on one side and the SPLITTER TWIN WAVE with a curved screen deck on both sides, which works in two directions. For some materials, processing in a stationary plant is advantageous, but for stones and earth, for example, mobile technology is usually required. Today, the SPLITTER X2 screening machines with TWIN WAVE or SPLITTER HOOK are available as FLAT variants for mobile applications, and in stationary plants, the SPLITTER UNITs in all basic variants have established themselves primarily as pre-separation elements in the processing chain.
The latest developments show how versatile SPLITTER technology is. A stepped SPLITTER screen deck was recently adapted so that paper and cardboard can be reliably separated. At the same time, it was modified for use with “stones and earth” so that it can withstand the high loads caused by the impact of heavy stones over the long term. This alone shows how versatile the SPLITTER is when it comes to screening solid materials. It is sold worldwide and is therefore also gaining a high level of international recognition. In English-speaking countries, it is colloquially known as the “GUNTER screen” – after its original manufacturer and inventor: Anlagenbau Günther GmbH.
Regardless of the industry in which the system is used, customers are always impressed by the low-wear technology, the clogging- and winding-free screening technology with high process reliability, and consistently good screening quality. The decisive factor here is often that other screening technologies are unable to screen the material adequately or properly, or regularly become clogged, which entails high cleaning and maintenance costs.
What once began as a technical vision has now established itself as an indispensable solution in the world of separation technology. The SPLITTER not only stands for maximum efficiency, but also for a deep understanding of the needs of customers in the industry.
SPLITTER X2 mobile machine - Stone and earth SPLITTER UNIT - Commercial waste
200 SPLITTERS – 200 stories
In the year following the company's 100th anniversary, the 200th SPLITTER system left the factory in Wartenberg. This is a big moment for the medium-sized family business. This screening technology now accounts for almost half of all projects and is sold directly by GÜNTHER. The fact that the 200th machine “Made in Germany” has now left the factory shows how the SPLITTER's reputation and quality have developed and established themselves on the market. Each individual machine is the result of team spirit, precision, and years of experience. With each device, not only does the product portfolio grow, but so does customer confidence in GÜNTHER technology. 200 SPLITTERs tell a story. A story of innovation, passion for the product, and unwavering belief in the idea.
Just as the employees worked continuously on modifications to the star screen while Bernd Günther already had new ideas in mind, they are now working diligently in parallel on modifying the SPLITTER technology as the latest ideas come in via sketches. The difference is that today they are less surprised about this. Because if there's one thing we know, it's that “we develop innovations for tomorrow,” and with an eye to the future, we are developing even smarter technologies that are capable of meeting tomorrow's challenges and making a significant contribution to active environmental protection.