Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
Pallet wrapping machines, sometimes called stretch wrap machines or stretch wrappers, can make a huge difference to how safe your pallets are stacked and shipped. There is more than one way to wrap a pallet. Hand-wrapping devices are inexpensive. A person can walk around a pallet load and wrap the load with a hand-held roll of stretch film. But the hand-wrapping method is inefficient.
The job is repetitive and can lead to injuries. It’s also difficult to be consistent with hand-wrapping, and it can end up using 200% more film (or more) than machine-wrapping. This is because it’s much harder to stretch film consistently and to the maximum possible extent by hand, as compared to a machine.
For more productive and cost-effective pallet-wrapping, it makes more sense for warehouses dealing with larger volumes of load, to automate the process of stretch wrapping.
There are usually three types of automation in pallet wrapping machines, and businesses choose the machine that suits their scale of operations. Small to medium-sized operations can benefit from semi-automatic pallet wrapping machines to secure loads quickly and efficiently.
For larger volumes, automatic machines may make wrapping more productive. Fully-automated machines are best for large-scale operations where pallet wrapping is integrated into a packaging line with a conveying system.
Keeping these utilities in mind, let’s take a look at the differences between these machines in greater detail.
Semi-Automatic Pallet Wrapping Machines
Semi-automatic machines are good for low to medium pallet wrapping volumes. They usually need an operator to use. The operator will need to attach the stretch film to the pallet load initially, set the desired tension, etc. on most semi-automatic machines. When the wrapping cycle is complete, the film needs to be cut off.
Some semi-automatic machines offer a higher degree of automation. They may come with pre-set programs and tension control. These pre-set programs may be able to detect the load force that’s needed around the edges of the pallet and adjust it automatically. This additional bit of automation prevents the film from breaking and optimises the stretch performance of the film.
This type of stretch wrapper is good for warehouses where a small to medium volume of pallets are wrapped on a daily basis. The popular turntable pallet wrapping machines tend to be semi-automatic, with low upfront costs and portability. These machines, along with rotating arm pallet wrapping machines, are best suited for small to medium-sized loads. Rotating arm machines don’t have the mobility of the turntable machines.
Wrapping robots are compact machines, easy to have around the warehouse and wrap light to medium-weight loads of any dimension. Robots have intuitive sensors, which makes it easy for them to adjust their wrapping to odd shapes.
Automatic Pallet Wrapping Machines
When wrapping higher volumes, automatic machines make the task easier. The machine attaches the stretch film to the load. It also cuts and seals the film when the wrapping cycle ends. This prevents loose tails from the film catching and loosening in transit, which is a common issue leading to bad practices, poor containment, and damage.
These machines usually attach the film to the pallet and cut it off at the end of the wrapping cycle, controlled via remote control. Or the operator can also use a control button mounted near them, so they don’t have to get off the forklift for operations.
Some automatic pallet wrappers are different from semi-automatic machines in their ability to blow air to keep the ends of the stretch film from dragging. Usually, the dragging ends get caught in other objects and serve to loosen the wrap. The loose tail is secured to the pallet using heat sealing. There is usually an element of the machine that catches the film at the end of each wrapping cycle, so the next wrapping cycle can start without the operator having to manually attach the film to the pallet load.
You may also find automatic tension settings on some machines. This setting lets the operator program settings for adjustment to the tension control. It automatically detects the wrap force needed for each section of the load. It helps to make sure there’s the right amount of stretch, to prevent the film from breaking on sharp corners.
Fully-Automatic Pallet Wrapping Machines
For large-scale operations, fully-automatic machines can integrate the pallet wrapping process into the conveyed packaging line. There are many ways to customise these machines depending on how they are to be used, from adding weighing systems to alerts and barcode readers, etc. These machines can nearly do without any operator. They help operators save on labour costs and increase efficiency in the warehouse.
Orbital machines that wrap the load over and under are typically used in conveyor belt systems, where unwieldy or flat objects such as carpet rolls and doors are wrapped. Orbital machines can be fully-automatic and customised to specifications. But they can also be semi-automatic or automatic systems.
Ring straddle machines are usually completely automated and ideal for conveyor belt systems. They are able to handle loads of over 180 units an hour. This makes the specialised systems highly popular in the beverage, paper towel, and tissue industries.
Vendors can even design an end-to-end solution for a warehouse, that helps to make the most of efficiency and labour in the warehouse. Businesses with a focus on their carbon footprint can also ask for customisation for a lower carbon footprint. It’s not just the type of stretch wrapping film you use that can lower your carbon footprints, but also how much of it you use. The performance and efficiency of the machine play a role in how much film is used for a job.
Final Thoughts
With many options of automation, pallet wrapping machines can save businesses and warehouses labour costs. They can ensure film wrapping is efficient and integrated smoothly into the workflow at the warehouse. Depending on the kind of operations workflow at your warehouse, you’ll find there is a suitable pallet wrapper for you somewhere. If not, the best machine for you can always be customised to your needs.
