What is Pallet Wrapping Machine with Weighting and Why Do We Use Them?

Technology has changed a great deal in the past few decades. Consequently, so has the ways in which companies package and ship their products. Before such technology became commonplace, most processes were slowly and laboriously done by hand. Nowadays, these processes are handled by specialized equipment that makes them easier, faster, and more precise than ever before. The piece of revolutionary packaging equipment you’ve likely heard about is the stretch wrapping machine. There are many benefits to using stretch wrapping machines at your packaging facility, from boosted production levels to increased protection for your products. But what do you use stretch wrapping machines for, exactly? What are they, and how do they work? In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about stretch wrappers and their use.

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What Are Stretch Wrappers?

A stretch wrap machine is a piece of equipment that automatically wraps pallets with stretch wrap. This keeps the products housed inside of the pallet contained and safe from damage. The main purposes of stretch wrapping are to make products easier to transport in bulk and protect individual products from damage during shipping, so they arrive at their destination point unharmed. Although pallet loads can be wrapped by hand, using machines is the faster, more reliable, and more accurate method due to a couple of reasons that we’ll delve into later.

Though all stretch wrappers are designed with the same end goal in mind—to wrap something with stretch wrap—their visual appearance and the way they function varies depending on their design and whether they’re semi-automatic or fully automatic.

The Types of Stretch Wrappers

When it comes to stretch wrapping machines, there are a lot of different options in terms of design and functionality. The most popular types include turntable, rotary arm, and horizontal configurations.

Turntable

A turntable stretch wrapping machine will feature a turntable, which is a round, revolving platform that turns in a circle while the stretch film is dispensed and applied to the pallet load. This kind of stretch wrapper is ideal for use with most applications, making it extremely versatile.

Rotary Arm

A mechanical arm that rotates around and wraps the pallet is the key feature of rotary arm stretch wrappers. This kind of stretch wrapper is ideal for use with loads that are on either end of the weight spectrum. Whether the load is super light or super heavy, a rotary arm will work with it perfectly.

Horizontal

A horizontal wrapper dispenses the stretch film from around a ring that surrounds a horizontally laid product. This kind of stretch wrapper is ideal for wrapping lengthy items that would otherwise be hard to wrap, such as windows, doors, lumber, textiles, copper piping, and corrugated tubes.

How Stretch Wrappers Work

The way that stretch wrapping machines work depends on whether the machine in question is semi-automatic or automatic.

Automatic

As the name suggests, an automatic stretch wrapping machine does everything automatically. It carries a pallet to the wrap zone via roller conveyors. Once the machine is done wrapping the pallet, it sends it to the end of the packaging line down the exit conveyor. The next pallet is transferred to the wrap zone, and the process repeats.

Semi-Automatic

A semi-automatic stretch wrapper works similarly to an automatic one. The main difference between the two is that the semi-automatic stretch wrappers require an operator to be present to load and unload the pallet and if needed manually adjust the machinery throughout the process.

Why Should I Use Stretch Wrappers?

You know what stretch wrappers are, the different types of stretch wrapping machines, and how each of their configurations work. But what do you use stretch wrapping machines for? What can these automatic machines do to improve your business’s efficiency and bottom line? Well, it turns out they can do quite a lot.

Many business owners wrongly assume that hand-wrapping will save them money. You won’t have to spend on machinery if you stick to hand wrapping, they think, and that’s true—however, wrapping something by hand is a terribly inefficient and unreliable method that’ll cost you more in the long run than purchasing and operating stretch wrapping machinery would. A small business might be able to get by just fine with hand wrapping, but if you’re wrapping more than ten loads in a day, you’d be much better off automating the process. There are a couple of reasons for this, which we’ll discuss below.

Machines Are More Reliable Than Humans

Your employees might be reliable, but it’s hard to beat the consistency of machines. Mistakes are only human, and your workers are bound to make the occasional blunder. They might struggle to wrap with the right amount of containment force or end up using more stretch wrap than necessary. Machines, on the other hand, will use the right amount of containment force, as well as stretch wrap, each and every time. In applying the correct amount of containment force, machines ensure that your products remain safe during transit and arrive at their destination safely. They’ll also stretch the film more than can be done manually, getting the most out of your stretch film investment. How, might you ask? Let’s find out.

Hand Film Doesn’t Equal Stretch Film

Hand wrapping will give you anywhere from 10 to 20 percent stretch of the film. Machine wrapping, on the other hand, can give you anywhere from 200 to 300 percent. Stretch wrappers are now being introduced that get up to 500 percent pre-stretch. By automating the stretch wrapping process, you’ll save money on film. This is because the right stretch wrapping technology will pre-stretch the film, allowing you to get more done with less and stretch the use of a single roll of film further.

For more information, please visit roll palletizer.

To sum things up, stretch wrapping machines are used because they’re a much better alternative to hand wrapping loads. They’re faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective, amongst numerous other benefits.

If you’re planning on making the switch from hand wrapping to machine wrapping, Robopac USA has semi-automatic pallet wrappers and other state-of-the-art secondary packaging equipment that can benefit your business. We create our machinery with the latest, most efficient technology and are dedicated to providing our customers with the information and support they need to get the most out of their machines. Come and shop with us today!

SInce the Plastic Packaging Tax was introduced in 2022, many businesses have assessed their packaging materials and have looked at ways to reduce how much plastic packaging they use and whether to switch to recycled options. When it comes to pallet wrap and stretch film, using less of a higher quality film is often an effective solution. Switching to stretch wrap with recycled content is another popular option. But one area that shouldn’t get overlooked is the pallet wrapping machine itself.

The right stretch wrap film combined with the right pallet wrapping machine will increase your packaging efficiency, improve pallet stability and reduce plastic use – which can deliver significant cost savings in terms of materials purchased and any PPT liabilities. Selecting the right type of machine for the task and keeping it regularly serviced is essential to make your pallet wrapping as efficient as possible.

Below we explore everything you need to know about pallet wrapping machines and how to choose the right pallet wrapper for your packaging operations.

How to select a pallet wrapping machine

First of all, define your pallet packaging goals. Your options other than hand wrapping are automatic or semi-automatic pallet wrapping.  Equipment of this type is an investment, so think big picture and consider how many loads you might be wrapping in five to 10 years. Choosing the right pallet wrapper for your business will maximise your return on investment.

What am I wrapping?

The size, weight and variability of the goods you are packing will affect the pallet wrapping machine you choose.

Variable height goods may need to be wrapped horizontally on rails to ensure they are adequately secured on the pallet. Stable, lightweight cargo can be used with rotating wrap. Unstable or heavy loads will be better handled by rotating arm machines.

Types of pallet wrapping machine

• Turntable – a stretch wrapping system that places a load on a turntable. It rotates to dispense the wrapping film. This is ideal for light – mid weight stable loads.
• Rotary Arm/ Ring – The pallet stays stationary while the wrapping head rotates around the pallet. This is ideal for the high-speed wrapping of lighter more fragile loads and heavier less-stable loads.
• Stretch Hood Machines – stretch hood technology uses the elasticity of tubular plastic film that gets stretched and then released around the pallet load. Ideal to secure uneven or unstable loads, without the need to heat the film.

What additional features do I need?

Semi-automatic and automatic wrapping machines can be fitted with customisable options depending on the model you choose. Features like electric pre-stretching functions help to minimise film consumption while add-ons like film dispensers for anti-dust or anti-rain coatings can speed up operations.

Pallet wrapping machine troubleshooting

Pallet wrapping machines are designed to make pallet wrapping quick, hassle-free and efficient. The right stretch film combined with the right pallet wrapping machine will ensure efficiency, plastic reduction and cost saving. However, there are three key areas where packaging and logistics businesses may trip up:

1. Using the wrong film. This can include the wrong type of film, or the wrong gauge, meaning pallets are not entering the supply chain wrapped optimally.
2. Using too much film.A common mistake is to apply too much stretch film with the mistaken idea that more will help create stable pallets. Using the right film with the right tension often means that less is more.
3. Incorrect machines settings. Even when the perfect film for the pallets to be wrapped has been specified, you won’t get optimal performance if the settings on your machine are incorrect. For example, film may not be being stretched properly, which will in turn affect performance.

Essential maintenance for pallet wrappers

Pallet wrapping machines are a business asset and just like a fleet of vehicles, regular servicing is essential to prolong life and ensure optimal operation. Visual checks should be performed every day with the below carried out every 4 – 12 weeks depending on usage:

• Regular lubrication – all moving parts should be cleaned and well lubricated according to the user manual.
• Inspect and clean the sensors or photocells. Avoid using harsh chemicals as this could cloud the sensor housing unit.
• Check the drive system for worn or damaged belts and chains. Don’t wait for a break to replace well-used parts.
• Check the stretch-wrap tension on a test pallet and recalibrate if necessary..

Lindum offer a wide range of pallet wrapping machines and pallet wrap dispensers to suit for your specific packaging requirements. Our team of experts are here to advise and help you choose the right machine and film combination based on your needs, taking into account your warehouse environment, pallet volume and variability of pallet size and load style.

If you need help choosing a machine or want more information about our pallet wrappers, just give us a call or use our online contact form.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Shrink Wrap Machines.