Buying Your First Pallet Wrapping Machine - Things to Consider

18 October

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Wrapping a pallet efficiently and securely in the world of modern logistics and warehousing is a task that must be completed properly. A pallet-wrapping machine can be an excellent investment and an absolute game changer, particularly if you have many pallets to wrap. Using a machine, known for its ability to wrap pallets with precision and accuracy, will ensure that your pallets are wrapped correctly and quickly, saving valuable time and manpower. In fact, a pallet wrap machine will wrap the same amount of pallets in one hour as three people could by hand. This is a huge time saver.

We understand that before you invest in a big piece of machinery, there are several key factors that you need to consider. In this article, we will delve into the essential elements that should guide your decision-making process and help you make a choice that is aligned with your needs, objectives and budget.

What is a pallet wrapping machine?

There are different types of pallet wrapping machines to choose from depending on your needs but each one ensures a fast, efficient service to ensure that pallets are wrapped securely and with complete uniformity. Not only does this ensure that your loads reach their destination in excellent condition, but it also gives a good impression of your company when your pallets are wrapped securely and neatly.

Selecting a pallet wrapping machine for your needs

There are two main types of stretch wrap machines available to suit your needs and each one has its advantages. These include:

Speed turntable wrapping machine

This works by positioning the loaded pallet on top of the turntable provided. The turntable then rotates to dispense the stretch film, attached to a vertical mast which can move up and down if required. This is an ideal machine for standard pallet loads and accounts for 8 out of 10 pallet wrap machines sold.

Rotary arm wrapping machine

This pallet wrap machine does not require the pallet to be moved before it is wrapped and is designed for demanding applications. If you regularly wrap awkwardly sized or fragile loads that are difficult to move before the load has been secured, a rotary arm wrapping machine may be the right choice for you. It utilises an overhead arm that rotates around the load to apply the stretch film.

Read about the differences between blown and cast stretch wrap and its uses. 

Key features

There are some key features that either come as standard or can be added to your pallet wrapping machine. These include:

• Easy-to-use control panel
• Film dispensers with dust and rain protection
• Ramp to load pallets
• Electric pre-stretching functions

Automatic or semi-automatic?

Both are similar but there are some differences that could sway your decision depending on your working conditions.

Semi-automatic stretch wrapping machines

Most semi-automatic stretch wrapping machines will require an operator to ensure their proper and safe operation. Such tasks might include initiating the wrapping cycle by pressing a start button or cutting the film at the end of the process.

This type of stretch wrapping machine is particularly well-suited for warehouses with lower output volumes.

Automatic stretch wrapping machines

Automatic stretch wrapping machines are ideally suited for packaging operations with high volumes, in warehouses that operate at high speeds. Fully automatic stretch wrapping machines handle the entire wrapping process from beginning to end with no intervention needed.

Benefits of using a pallet wrapping machine

If you are considering purchasing a pallet wrapping machine, you may be wondering what the benefits of using one are. They include:

• Reduction in costs - Cut down on human resources and use less film than you would if you were wrapping by hand.
• Security - Ensure that your pallets are wrapped as tightly and securely as possible with the use of a machine. Guarantee that the tension and stretch will be correct on every pallet.
• Efficiency - Eliminate the risk of human error and potential work-based accidents, thus improving work conditions for staff.
• Speed of wrapping - Consider the number of pallets your business will wrap in a day. Pallet wrap machines are capable of wrapping between 25 and 180 pallets in one hour depending on which model you choose.

Other things to consider

As well as the features of your pallet wrapping machine, you also need to consider factors surrounding your business and budget to decide whether a pallet wrapping machine is right for you. Some things to consider include:

• Space - Ensure you have the measurements of the pallet wrapping machine before you purchase it. Will it fit comfortably in the space you have? Will you still have room to manoeuvre around it and have the space you need for other essentials and people?
• Budget - Make sure that your budget allows for the additional cost of purchasing and operating a pallet wrapping machine. This may not affect your budget at all as you will be able to cut down the time taken to wrap pallets and the human resources required to wrap the pallet.
• What you are wrapping - Consider what products you are wrapping. Would your company benefit from a pallet wrapping machine?
• Business growth - Estimate how much your business will have grown in the next five years and choose a wrapping system that can meet future demands, not just provide a service for the present moment.

What is the cost of a pallet wrapping machine?

The cost of pallet wrapping machines varies depending on which one you are looking to purchase. A semi-automatic pallet wrapping machine varies from approximately £4,000 to £6,000, whilst a fully automatic one ranges from approximately £6,000-£9,000.

Buy a high-quality machine pallet wrap from Industrial Polythene

Industrial Polythene stands as a leading supplier of polythene packaging solutions. Our dedicated team brings together over five decades of unrivalled expertise in the industry. We cater to a wide array of diverse business sectors, consistently delivering solutions to meet specific requirements.

If you would like to talk to us about your polythene packaging requirements, contact us today.

- Sunday, September 1,

Are you struggling with how to package your products? A shrink wrapper may be the right packaging equipment for you. It allows you to package your products safely and efficiently. Shrink wrapping machines use shrinkable plastic film to tightly seal your products.

So, when choosing a shrink wrap machine, it's important that you know some basic information about it. What is a shrink wrap machine? How does a shrink wrapper work? What are the major types of it?

This guide encapsulates everything you need to know about shrink wrapping machines. Once you've read it, I'm sure you'll be able to make a more informed choice when purchasing your own shrink wrapper.

What is a Shrink Wrapping Machine?

A shrink wrapping machine is a device used for heat shrink packaging. When a product enters the shrink wrapper, the machine will wrap a layer of transparent plastic film around it. The heat generated by the machine then causes the film to shrink, wrapping the product tightly. In this way, a strong, tamper-resistant film is formed on the outside of the product.

What are Different Types of Shrink Wrap Machines?

There are many types of shrink wrap machines on the market, each designed for specific needs and product types. Let's check out some of the most common types of shrink wrapping machines.

I-Bar Shrink Wrap Machine

 

Image Source: Pro Pack Solutions

The i-bar shrink wrapper is a manually operated packing machine. It has a very simple design, using only an i-bar sealer and an infeed roller to do its job. The i-bar shrink wrapping machine is operator friendly as it can cut and seal the film at the same time with only one action.

In addition, this i-bar shrink sealer is ideal for stock shrink bags. You fill the product into the stock bag and then shrink the bag with a heat gun. So you have perfectly completed sealing a product. However, this kind of manual shrink wrapping machine has an obvious shortcoming. That is, it can only fulfill low volume packaging needs. Because by its nature, it cannot operate at high speeds like an automatic shrink wrapper.

L-Bar Shrink Wrap Machine

L-bar shrink wrappers are the most popular category of shrink wrap machines. In the shrink sealer market, l-bars are usually available in manual, semi-automatic and automatic models.

• Manual L-Bar Shrink Wrap Machine

Manual l-bar shrink wrap machines rely heavily on the operator. Operators play a hands-on role in the packaging process. They manually place a product into the sealing area and then pull down the sealing lever to create a seal on the film around the product. This kind of manual control allows for more precise sealing of products. So, the manual l-bar shrink wrapper is ideal for small-scale production.

• Semi-Automatic L-Bar Shrink Wrap Machine

The semi-automatic l-bar shrink wrapper combines manual and automatic functions. Although the operator still needs to manually feed the product into the machine. But once the product is in place, the semi-automatic l-bar shrink wrapper uses its sealing bar to automatically cut and seal the film outside the product.

This level of automation ensures consistent and accurate sealing and reduces reliance on operator skill. The sealing bar of the semi-automatic shrink sealer is controlled by a very simple control panel. The operator can adjust parameters such as heating temperature and time from the control panel.

• Automatic L-Bar Shrink Wrap Machine

Compared with the first two types of l-bar shrink wrap machines, automatic shrink wrapper runs faster and can pack more products in the same amount of time.

In addition, automatic shrink wrappers are more versatile, allowing for automatic film feeding, sealing, shrinking, and product discharge. With virtually no manual labor needed, this type of machines provide the fastest speeds and highest efficiencies for high-volume production lines.

Side Seal Shrink Wrap Machine

Image Source: Texwrap

When it comes to side seal shrink wrapping machines, you will be faced with two options: intermittent and continuous. Both types of machines are efficient solutions for packaging your products, but they work in totally different ways.

• Intermittent Side Seal Shrink Wrapper

The intermittent side seal shrink wrapper runs in cycles but with intervals. Once the product is placed on the conveyor, the sealing strip drops and seals the film around the product. After sealing, the film and product will move a set distance before stopping, and the operator places the next product. This cycle is repeated for each product.

Because intermittent side seal shrink wrappers can only handle one product at a time, so they will be slower than the continuous type in terms of speed. This type of wrapping machine is more suitable for small to medium sized projects.

• Continuous Side Seal Shrink Wrapper

The continuous motion side sealer is a wrapping machine that can run continuously. There is no need for downtime between sealing and cutting cycles. The product is placed on a moving conveyor belt and the machine automatically seals the product as it passes over the sealing strip.

In addition, the supply of film is uninterrupted and the operator doesn't have to stop or restart the machine to load the film. This type of machine is capable of high-speed packaging, making it ideal for applications requiring high throughput and efficiency.

Features

Intermittent Motion Side Sealer

Continuous Motion Side Sealer

Working Principle

Cycles with intervals

Continuous motion

Packaging Speed

Moderate

Much Faster

Accuracy

High accuracy

Sacrificing some accuracy for high speed

Product Handling

Very flexible

Less flexible

Cost

Manual loading and unloading

Little to no human involvement

Operator Involvement

Lower cost

Higher cost

 

Heat Gun

In a complete shrink wrapping process, the heat gun is often used as an auxiliary device to the heat shrink sealer. The shrink sealer applies and seals the film to the product, while the heat gun heats and shrinks the film.

Using a heat gun requires skilled manual handling and constant attention. As a result, this equipment is only suitable for small-batch packaging or small-sized products. A heat gun produces concentrated hot air, but its heat distribution is not as even as that of a shrink tunnel. This can lead to uneven film shrinkage and may even damage the product.

Shrink Tunnel

In addition to heat shrink sealers and heat guns, shrink tunnels are also common equipment used in the shrink wrapping process. This type of equipment is designed to meet the needs of large-scale industrial applications. On a product packaging line, you may often see shrink tunnels used in combination with L-bar sealers. This kind of combo maximizes the wrapping efficiency.

Shrink tunnels have a much greater heating capacity than heat guns. In a shrink tunnel, each side of the product is heated evenly. The film wrapping the product shrinks with the heat, and creates a tight, secure seal around the product. A heat gun, while also effective at heating the product, is still a slow, manual device by nature. So, it can't meet the demands of high-volume production like shrink tunnels can.

Want to better understand the differences between shrink tunnels and heat guns? You can check out the table below.

Features

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Shrink Tunnel

Heat Gun

Function

Shrink film automatically or semi-automatically

Shrink film manually

Heating Method

Infrared, convection or steam

Centralized hot air

Applications

High-volume, larger products

Low-volume, smaller products

Size

Requires some floor space

Compact and portable

Cost

More expensive

Cheaper

Safety

Enclosed environment ensures safety

When using it, you need to be careful to avoid burns

 

Top Choices for Shrink Wrappers in

If you want to provide the best protection for your products, a shrink wrapping machine is definitely a good choice. Below we've shortlisted 2 of the top shrink wrapping machines for you, so you can choose the most suitable one depending on your product type and required output.

1. FQL 450A Semi-Automatic Shrink Wrapping Machine

The iPharMachine FQL-450A l-bar shrink wrapper combines sealing, cutting and bagging functions in one machine, using high quality shrink film as the packaging material. If you are not a large producer but want an efficient packaging machine, then this FQL-450A model is the best choice for you.

Features & Benefits

• This model of shrink wrapping machine is simple to handle
• It can operate independently or in conjunction with other packaging equipment
• The sealing and cutting units of the machine are equipped with overload protection
• The machine is very durable and has a long service life

Main Parameters

Model

FQL 450A

Supply Voltage

AC220-240V/50-60Hz

Power Consumption

W

Sealing & Cutting Time

0-3sec

Conveying Time

0-10sec

Max Conveying Weight(kg)

25

Conveying Speed

0-10(m/min)

Thickness of Film(mm)

0.015-0.08

Maximum Product Size(mm)

500×450

Dimension(mm)

×850×960

Overall Weight(kg)

120

 

2. DS H400 Shrink Wrapping Machine

The iPharMachine DS-H400 shrink wrapper is a compact, cost-effective packaging machine. If you are on a budget, why not try the DS-H400?

Features & Benefits

• This is a stable machine with high heating efficiency
• It has low maintenance cost
• It adopts electronic stepless speed regulation and intelligent temperature control system
• Low noise level when the machine is in operation

Main Parameters

Model

DS H400

Applicable Materials

PP, POF, PVC, PE

Speed

0-12(m/min)

Temperature Range

0~300°C

Max Conveying Weight(kg)

5

Power Consumption

3KW

Supply Voltage

220V 50HZ/110V 60HZ

Dimension (mm)

x430x580

Weight

54kg

 

Final Tips for Choosing the Right Shrink Wrapping Machine

By now, you should have a good understanding of shrink wrapping machines. However, you may still be unsure which shrink wrapper is best for your project. Don't worry, at the end of this guide, we will provide you with some tips on how to choose a shrink wrapping machine.

• First, you have to determine the type and size of your product.
• Secondly, your future monthly production volume needs to be taken into consideration.
• Choose the film material for your product.
• Determine your budget and find out the price of your interested shrink wrapping machines.