About Pallet wrapping machine
In the sections below, we will answer common questions as to why you need a Pallet wrapping machine, the price range of the Stretch wrap machines, how the pallet wrapper will help increase your productivity and speed up the packing process, and what the advantages of a Pallet wrapping machines are.
Pallet wrapping machine price
The price of the Pallet wrapping machine depends on various factors, however, you can expect a return in investment within months when you consider the time savings and the increase in production. The prices of pallet wrapping machines vary from a few thousand euros to ten thousand euros. The price depends on if the machine is fully automated or semi-automated. Also, another key factor is if the pallet wrapping machine has Intelligent touch control with a human-machine delivery system, a Comprehensive safety protection system, IOT module, etc…
How does Pallet wrapping machine work?
Stretch wrapping begins with pallet loading
Before the stretch wrapping process can begin a load must first be assembled on a pallet. Once the load is on the pallet, the whole ensemble (pallet and load) is stretch wrapped together.
Assembling the load on the pallet is an important step. Load placement on the pallet is key. The load should not overhang the sides of the pallet or be more than four inches inboard. The pallet itself also plays a role and should be in good condition.
3 ways to apply stretch wrap
There are three ways to apply stretch wrap to a pallet of products:
- manual
- the semi-automatic stretch wrapper
- high-speed automatic stretch wrapper
Hand wrapping relies on people to manually stretch wrap a load. An operator secures the film to the pallet and then walks the film around the load.
Pulling a heavy roll of film around a pallet is wrapping is physically demanding – especially if done right. Imagine the awful dizzy feeling in a hot warehouse. Hand wrapping generally has the highest material cost because there is no consistency of film usage and no substantial pre-stretch. It is also very difficult to wrap a safe-to-ship load consistently.
Semi-automatic stretch wrappers come in two different machine styles – turntable and straddle. The load is placed on or in the stretch wrapper wrap zone and stretch film is applied. Turntable models will rotate the load on a turntable while straddle style models have a wrapped arm that will move around the load and apply the film.
High speed automated stretch wrappers are similar to semi-automatic styles in that a machine performs the actual stretch wrapping of a load. However, automatic stretch wrappers typically include infeed and exit conveyors to automatically cycle loads through the machine.
It’s all about containment force
No matter which type of stretch wrapper you use, containment force is the most important thing to get right. Containment force can mean the difference between a load arriving at its destination intact and arriving damaged and unsaleable. So what is containment force?
Containment force is what holds the load together. Officially, it’s the wrap force times the number of film layers. Wrap force is simply a measure of how tightly each layer of film is wrapped around the load. Film layers are the number of wraps applied to a load at a specific point.
Benefits of having Pallet wrapping machine
Pallet wrapping machines are an excellent investment for anyone who uses film to tighten, fasten, and protect the pallet. They are used in manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and for whoever uses full pallets for transport. There are a large variety of advantages attached to the purchase of a new stretch wrap machine but the most important of all of them is that the human doesn’t need to be involved in wrapping pallets with film, which increases productivity and lowers the cost of labor. In addition to this, the new generation of pallet wrapping machines are made with materials that are extremely durable and are resistant to all external factors, which gives the machine an even longer lifespan, they are very ergonomic, reliable, and stable. Another advantage of the new and improved stretch wrap machine is its Comprehensive safety protection system. It has a fall prevention system, no film & break film alarm, safety through film system, bottom pressure, and injury prevention device. This makes it possible to automate wrapping pallets without any worry that something will go wrong.
Automatic or Semi-Automatic pallet wrap machine
Automatic pallet wrap machine
The automatic pallet wrap machine does not need the interference of the engineer either in the hooking stage of the film or in the last expulsion stage, the pallet in fact reaches the wrapping machine through a roller which places it rightly at the center of the platform; here the wrapping machine proceeds in wrapping it according to the program set beforehand by the operator, and once the process is finished, it is expelled.
There are different types of Automatic pallet wrapper machines. They are differentiated by the technology used in wrapping:
- Turntable wrapping machines
- Arm wrapping machines
- Double arm wrapping machines
- Ring wrapping machines
Semi-Automatic pallet wrapping machine
In the semi-automatic pallet wrapper machine, the application of the film takes place with the supervision and the interference of the worker; the operator must place the pallet and tie a wire of film manually; it will then be continued with the programmed wrapping cycle to finish with the final cutting by the worker, and the expelling from the wrapping machine.
The semi-automatic pallet wrapper machines are then divided on the basis of operation and structure in:
- Rotating turntable machines
- Rotary arm machines
- Mobile wrapping machines
Semi-automatic pallet wrapping machines apply a stretch film (plastic film) around the pallet to protect it during transport, stabilize the load and preserve it in store. Semi-automatic pallet wrapper machines use an extended plastic film, a flexible material that permits stable wrapping of a pallet with no danger of overturning or challenges in movement or deliveries.
The utilization of the film in the semi-automatic pallet wrapper machines must happen under the supervision and of the user or the administrator. As the machine is semi-automatic, the task of putting the pallet on the table and securing it with the required film needs to be performed by an employee. After this, the machine takes care of the subsequent preprogrammed wrapping cycle. After the machine has finished its part, it is again up to the employees to cut the film from the pallet and remove it from the pallet wrapping machine to end the packaging or in this case the wrapping cycle.
Advantages of Wrapping Your Pallets with a Pallets Wrapping Machine
A pallet wrapping machine helps in wrapping pallets, huge boxes, and containers, or other forms of products that are to be stored or transported. Stretch wrapping your products offers several advantages including:
1. Protection of Goods from Damage, Scratches, Dust, and Moisture
When you use the right pallet wrapping machine, it will ensure that your products are securely wrapped to avoid any potential damage from dirt, dust, or moisture.
2. Employee Friendly
A stretch wrapping system will keep your operator on the forklift which, in itself, is a safety measure. According to a recent survey, it was discovered that 20 percent of all forklift accidents involve people walking around the warehouse floor. Therefore, keeping the operators on the forklift keeps them from the floor and focused on the tasks ahead. Hand stretch wrapping causes wear-and-tear injuries, and upgrading to an automatic stretch wrapping machine will protect your employees.
Automatic stretch wrappers require very little interaction from their operators. By simply pulling a cord from the forklift, it gets the pallet or goods wrapped. Additionally, the machine also ensures consistent wrapping that is safe and ready for transportation, while a manually wrapped pallet can easily topple and cause damage to your goods and the handler.
3. Saves Time
By investing in a wrapping machine, you will save a lot of time. Manually wrapping pallets, boxes and other products can be tedious and also time-consuming. However, wrapping your goods and boxes for storage or transportation with an automatic stretch wrapping machine will save you a lot of time and effort that you can use in other important business processes.
4. Save on Film Costs
Compared to hand wrapping, both semiautomatic and automatic stretch wrapping machines will save your business money on high film costs. Automatic stretch wrapping machines have two film thread rollers where the second rollers’ rotational speed is higher than the first, and this stretches the film. This increases the tensile strength of the film and reduces the overall costs. Rotary tower automatic stretch wrapping machines are more efficient.
5. Faster Packaging
An automatic stretch wrapping machine with an enabled PLC control will aid in fastening the packaging process and help meet the bulk packaging requirements in your business. Stretch wrapping machines from Orion can be customized to fit your unique requirements. This is better than going for a regular machine with standard specifications, features, and accessories.
6. Efficient Product Wrapping
When you use a stretch wrapping system for all your bulk packaging business requirements, you can ensure consistency in wrapping your products with a similar stretch and efficiency which otherwise wouldn’t be possible through hand stretch wrapping. The manual wrapping process has variations in the stretch and efficiency of packaging your products. This means that an automatic stretch wrapping machine will ensure better packaging of your boxes, pallets, and products at your workplace.
7. Increased Productivity
Who doesn’t like the idea of getting more work done in less time? An automatic stretch wrapping machine will put your business on the path to efficiency. Your operators won’t have to wait for the start and stop of wrapping cycles. With the placement of a pallet on a conveyor or pulling of a cord, the wrapping starts and stops automatically.
8. Improved Inventory Control
Stacking similar products together makes inventorying easier. This also reduces the chances of product separation that can make inventory counts time-consuming. However, with clear and consistent stretch wraps, you can scan straight through it if you are using a scanning system.
A stretch wrapping system will bring consistency and safety in your production line regardless of the size and location of your warehouse. If the numerous benefits that a stretch wrapping machine brings have piqued your curiosity, you can check out our full line of automatic wrapping systems today or contact one of our product specialists.