In a world where mass production often leads to compromises in quality and performance, Scanhugger stands proudly apart. It’s all about handcrafted machinery, not mass production.
Founded in Denmark 40 years ago and built upon true craftsmanship, Scanhugger has maintained a philosophy of tailor-made engineering rather than volume manufacturing. Each machine is custom-built to meet the precise needs of the client – ensuring that every part is selected correctly to ensure the machines work flawlessly in its intended application.
This dedication to bespoke production is what sets Scanhugger above many high-volume manufacturers who produce high amounts of standard machines. With Scanhugger, buyers receive a machine designed and tailored to suit their exact process — not a one-size-fits-all machine rolled off the production line in mass.
Wood waste can be produced in all stages in the manufacturing process. The following wood waste can all be shredded and turned into wood chips:
- Dry wood
- Wet wood
- Used wooden furniture
- Cartons or packaging,
- Large scrap or small scrap wood
- Hardwoods or softwoods
- Solid wood or composites wood
- Hardened wood.
Scanhugger delivers experienced shredding technology to all of them. The size of the wood chip can be customised pending to your needs.
A history rooted in ingenuity
The Scanhugger story began in the 1970s when a Danish sawmill owner sought an efficient way to process his company’s wood waste. His early designs evolved into powerful shredders, chippers, and guillotines that have revolutionised how wood residue could be reused. By the late 1980s, Scanhugger had introduced the first PLC-controlled horizontal shredder, setting a new standard for safety, consistency, and performance. Today, with over 1,500 systems worldwide – including more than 200 machines in the UK – Scanhugger continues to deliver machinery that defines reliability and precision.
The Machinery Range: designed to last
Scanhugger’s equipment line-up covers the full wood waste reduction chain:
- Single-Shaft Shredders (HL Series): heavy-duty machines for solid wood, MDF, chipboard, or pallets, featuring the famous Smart Ram feed control and four-sided rotating knives
- Drum Chippers: ideal for shredding long beams and long offcuts from board cuttings
- Hammermills & Guillotines: perfect for refining or inline chopping of offcuts at the source
- Material Handling Systems: conveyors, augers, and overband magnets create a seamless, turnkey flow from waste to finished chip.
Each Scanhugger system is built with reliably engineered components and configurable modules — ensuring a lifespan often measured not in years but in decades. Many UK machines have been running continuously for more than 25 years, still delivering clean, consistent chip quality daily.
MCA engineering: The UK specialists behind Scanhugger
In the UK, the name of Scanhugger is represented exclusively by MCA Engineering Group, a company that has rapidly established itself as experts in wood waste management. MCA doesn’t just supply wood machinery – it delivers complete wood waste systems and engineering services. Their projects often integrate:
- The full Scanhugger range (shredders, chippers, conveyors, silos, hammermills, magnets)
- Briquetting presses
- Heating and dust extraction systems
- Full factory installations, electrical wiring installations and machine installations.
- Electrical and Mechanical breakdown repair and servicing across all industries
By supplying and installing the entire turnkey wood waste system, MCA ensures every part of the system works in perfect unison – optimising energy use, improving chip consistency, and maximising return on investment. Customers enjoy a single point of responsibility and a fully synchronised, high-efficiency waste-to-energy solution. MCA Engineering Group have over 20 years of engineering experience, with highly skilled mechanical and electrical engineers, bringing reliable after sales support and experience, which is also backed up with the experience and knowledge of the Danish experts. MCA Engineering Group are experts in installations, services and breakdown repairs across many different sectors of manufacturing.
Longevity built on support
There are now more than 200 Scanhugger installations across the UK, from small furniture workshops to major biomass producers. Some of these machines have operated for more than two decades, supported by MCA’s exceptional after-sales service network. MCA Engineering has grown its team with a new influx of professional engineers and technical sales specialists, providing:
- Nationwide coverage
- On-site maintenance and repairs
- Preventive servicing and diagnostics
- Spare parts supply and retrofit upgrades.
Their local presence means downtime is minimal — and every customer, new or existing, benefits from the assurance that their machine will keep performing year after year.
