The Top 8: Selecting the Perfect Pallet Wrapping Machine

HOW TO SELECT THE PERFECT PALLET WRAPPING MACHINE FOR YOUR NEEDS. TOP 8 QUESTIONS TO ASK.

Selecting a 

If your business already needs to wrap pallets for transportation, two key goals to work towards are:
1. Make savings in 
2. Increase pallet wrapping efficiency. And if you&#;re just starting on pallet wrapping, these questions will help you determine what pallet wrapper would suit your requirements:

 1. How many pallets do you wrap per day?
Current and projected production levels are very important in helping to determine the appropriate machine. Different wrapping machines offer different top end revolutions per minute. Revolutions per minute and total wraps required per load will factor the maximum production levels of a machine.

 2. What are the largest pallet dimensions to be wrapped?
It is important to purchase a pallet wrapper to accommodate the largest pallet being wrapped. This will require a length, width, and height measurement. Tall pallets may require an extended mast machine, while wider and longer pallets may require a larger base. Pallet wrapping machines have different weight capacities. The weight of pallet loads also determines what type of pallet wrapping machine you require.

3. Does each pallet need to be weighed?
Built-in scales in the turntable of a pallet wrapper allow you to weigh the pallet while wrapping to avoid double handling. Choosing a machine with a scale is much more affordable than choosing to add a scale after the machine is received. Other questions that should be considered include, what is the maximum weight needed for the scale; and, if a printed weight receipt is required.

4. Do you want a pre-stretch head to reduce stretch film usage?
Power Pre-stretch refers to the process of stretching the pallet wrapping film before it is applied to a pallet load. We recommend purchasing a 

5. Where will the machine be located for operation?
The external environment around the machine can affect performance. Machines placed in cold room storage can often require different lubricants. Machines placed in areas of high dust can sometimes require additional covers and protection. High humidity can require more frequent maintenance. Be sure to identify the type of environment before selecting a pallet wrapping machine.

 6. Will the pallet be loaded onto the pallet wrapping machine turntable with a pallet truck or forklift?
If you load your pallets on the turntable with a pallet truck, the low profile




 7. What machine features do you need to maximize wrapping efficiency?
There are a range of extra machine features available to increase the level of automation, including:

• The &#;Cut and Seal&#; feature, unique to the Superplus machines. Film is automatically applied to the pallet at the beginning of the cycle. At the end of the wrapping cycle, the film is cut and heat sealed. This eliminates the need to manually attach and cut the film.
• Motus Fix, Superplus and Inline pallet wrapping machines are available with a remote control feature. This allows you to operate the machine without the need to leave the forklift.

8. What colour of stretch film should be used?
It is important to determine if the film being used will be clear or coloured, or black or clear. This determines the type of photo-eye needed on the pallet wrapping machine. Dark coloured loads and
 
This guide is designed to help with understanding the sorts of considerations to examine when you are looking to invest in, or upgrade your pallet wrapping machine. Making the right choices can have a significant effect on your costs and plastic use.

Get in touch with one of our pallet wrapping specialists today to find out more and book a

Selecting a pallet wrapping machine is an important decision. Given the huge range of machines available, all with specific features relevant to different circumstances, it can be hard to know where to start. This guide is designed to help explain some of the key questions to ask when you&#;re choosing the right pallet wrapping solution.If your business already needs to wrap pallets for transportation, two key goals to work towards are:1. Make savings in pallet wrap film plastic reduction2. Increase pallet wrapping efficiency. And if you&#;re just starting on pallet wrapping, these questions will help you determine what pallet wrapper would suit your requirements:Current and projected production levels are very important in helping to determine the appropriate machine. Different wrapping machines offer different top end revolutions per minute. Revolutions per minute and total wraps required per load will factor the maximum production levels of a machine.It is important to purchase a pallet wrapper to accommodate the largest pallet being wrapped. This will require a length, width, and height measurement. Tall pallets may require an extended mast machine, while wider and longer pallets may require a larger base. Pallet wrapping machines have different weight capacities. The weight of pallet loads also determines what type of pallet wrapping machine you require.Built-in scales in the turntable of a pallet wrapper allow you to weigh the pallet while wrapping to avoid double handling. Choosing a machine with a scale is much more affordable than choosing to add a scale after the machine is received. Other questions that should be considered include, what is the maximum weight needed for the scale; and, if a printed weight receipt is required.Power Pre-stretch refers to the process of stretching the pallet wrapping film before it is applied to a pallet load. We recommend purchasing a pallet wrapper with a pre-stretch head to save on film costs. However, we suggest the use of a machine without a pre-stretched head if a pre-stretched film is to be used on the machine.The external environment around the machine can affect performance. Machines placed in cold room storage can often require different lubricants. Machines placed in areas of high dust can sometimes require additional covers and protection. High humidity can require more frequent maintenance. Be sure to identify the type of environment before selecting a pallet wrapping machine.If you load your pallets on the turntable with a pallet truck, the low profile Plana pallet wrapper is a good solution, as its turntable is only 18mm high. It also has a 270° access ring to the turntable. It can save space as it eliminates the need to have 3m long steep inclined ramps you will need with standard machines. If you load your pallets on the turntable with a forklift, regular wrapping machines with an 86mm high turntable will suit.There are a range of extra machine features available to increase the level of automation, including:It is important to determine if the film being used will be clear or coloured, or black or clear. This determines the type of photo-eye needed on the pallet wrapping machine. Dark coloured loads and black stretch wrap can throw off a standard photo-eye. Some stretch wrappers may need a black photo-eye or a laser sensor to properly wrap loads.This guide is designed to help with understanding the sorts of considerations to examine when you are looking to invest in, or upgrade your pallet wrapping machine. Making the right choices can have a significant effect on your costs and plastic use.Get in touch with one of our pallet wrapping specialists today to find out more and book a FREE no obligation 14 day onsite pallet wrapping machine trial.

Check now

If you are responsible for a pallet wrapping operation, you&#;ll know only too well that your choice of machinery can make an enormous difference to your operational efficiency and costs, the amount of plastic film you use, and the load stability and safety standards you achieve.

However, the wide choice of automatic and semi-automatic pallet wrapping machines available on the market today, and the huge amount of information provided by their manufacturers, can make it very challenging to identify the pallet wrapping machine that best meets your needs. This short guide aims to help you through the selection process by suggesting the questions you should consider and providing some of the information you&#;ll need to help answer them.

WHAT IS A PALLET WRAPPING MACHINE?

So what is a pallet wrapping machine? In essence, it is a machine that holds a roll of plastic film and applies it to a pallet, either by circling around the pallet, or by rotating the pallet on a turntable. Pallet wrappers can be loosely divided into 2 main categories &#; Core Brake machines and Power pre-stretch machines. You can read a lot more about their differences, and the pros and cons of each in our pallet wrapping guide.

WHAT TYPE OF PALLET-WRAPPING MACHINE DO I NEED?

Every pallet wrapping situation has its own challenges and nuances which, combined with the variety of different machines on the market, can make it hard to know where to start. We recommend that you begin by considering the following points:

1. Stability of load before wrapping. Can your load be moved at all before it is wrapped?  If not, you&#;ll need to choose a pallet-wrapping machine that can handle this
2. Load stability. Can you be confident that the machine will keep your load secure and safe on its pallet from the time it is wrapped until the time it&#;s unwrapped, no matter how it is treated during handling, transit and storage?
3. How much will it cost you to wrap each pallet, once you&#;ve taken all costs into consideration?
4. Plastic waste. How much single-use plastic will the machine use to wrap a pallet?
5. How much available space do you have in which to wrap the pallets?
6. Can you wrap all your pallets in fixed locations, or will you need to move your pallet wrapping location around?

THE MOST COMMON PALLET WRAPPING MACHINES WITH ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

MANUAL PALLET WRAPPING MACHINE

Generally the cheapest pallet wrapping machine type, this option is entirely mechanical and requires no electrical supply.

ADVANTAGES

• Low initial outlay
• No requirement for electrical supply
• Very easy to use

DISADVANTAGES

• No Power Pre-Stretch System (which means a higher cost of wrapping)
• Uses a lot more plastic than necessary to wrap pallets
• Still requires operative to walk around the pallet

TURNTABLE SEMI-AUTOMATIC PALLET WRAPPER &#; CORE BRAKE

The most basic of all motorised pallet wrapper machines, this option has a couple of advantages but many drawbacks &#; as you can see below:

ADVANTAGES

• Low initial outlay
• Can be moved using a fork lift truck

DISADVANTAGES

• No Power Pre-Stretch System (which means a higher cost of wrapping)
• Ineffective when wrapping light items, as load stability is gained by increasing the tension as the film is applied to the pallet
• Uses a lot more plastic than necessary to wrap pallets
• Although it can be moved, it&#;s not designed to be moved on a regular basis

TURNTABLE SEMI-AUTOMATIC PALLET WRAPPER &#; POWER PRE-STRETCH

These are often the most efficient, and therefore popular, machines on the market. When optimised properly these machines take some beating &#; as  you can see from the pros and cons below:

ADVANTAGES

Eopac Machinery contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

• The power pre-stretch head stretches the film in the head before it is applied to the pallet, creating better load stability when optimised.
• Minimises film used per pallet
• Easy to set up and use
• Can be moved with a fork lift truck
• Low maintenance
• Can be set up with many different programs to meet the needs of different pallet load types

DISADVANTAGES

• Has a large footprint so needs more space than some other types of machine
• Can generally only be used in one location.

LOW PROFILE TURNTABLE SEMI-AUTOMATIC PALLET WRAPPER &#; POWER PRE-STRETCH

These machines have all the advantages of the Turntable Semi-Automatic Pallet Wrappers, but with the added benefit of having a very low profile, meaning that pallets can be placed on the turntable very easily.

ADVANTAGES

• The power pre-stretch head stretches the film in the head before it is applied to the pallet, creating better load stability when optimised
• Low profile enables loading using pump trucks or PPTs
• Minimises film used per pallet
• Easy to set up and use
• Low maintenance
• Can be set up with many different programs to meet the needs of different pallet load types

DISADVANTAGES

• Has a large footprint so needs more space than some other types of machine
• Can generally only be used in one location
• Can not be moved easily once installed

ROTARY ARM MACHINES &#; CORE BRAKE

These models feature a machine head that circles the pallet, rather than the pallet turning on a turntable, so are great for situations in which pallets are transported on powered pallet trucks or when loads are very unstable prior to wrapping.

ADVANTAGES

• Allow easy access when using PPTs
• No base at all &#; so pallets can stay on the floor
• Small footprint

DISADVANTAGES

• No Power Pre-Stretch System, which means a higher cost of wrapping
• Not effective at wrapping light items as load stability is gained by increasing the tension as the film is applied to the pallet

ROTARY ARM MACHINES &#; POWER PRE-STRETCH

With Rotary Arm machines, a machine head circles the pallet rather than the pallet turning on a turnable, which means they are great for situations in which pallets are transported on powered pallet trucks or when loads are very unstable prior to wrapping. The power pre-stretch head also delivers excellent load stability, but these machines do still have their pro&#;s and con&#;s:

ADVANTAGES

• Allow easy access when using PPTs
• No base at all &#; so pallets can stay on the floor
• The power pre-stretch head stretches the film in the head before it is applied to the pallet, creating better load stability when optimised.
• Minimises film used  per pallet
• Easy to set up and use
• Can be set up with many different programs to meet the needs of many different pallet load types

DISADVANTAGES

• Large base footprint
• Often a more expensive option
• Cannot be moved once installed

ROBOT PALLET WRAPPER

The latest in the pallet wrapping innovation &#; the Robot follows the contours of the pallet and literally &#;runs&#; round the pallet wrapping it as it goes in much the same way as a human would. Robot pallet wrappers have a lot more advantages than disadvantages.

ADVANTAGES

• Easily movable, so can be used anywhere that pallets need wrapping
• Battery operated, so don&#;t need a local power supply
• Wraps pallets of any shape and size as the robot follows the contours of the pallet
• Power pre-stretch head ensures that film usage is minimised when optimised

DISADVANTAGES

For more paper roll wrapping machineinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

• Pallets need some space around them to allow them to be wrapped.
• Spare battery is required to avoid downtime.