Choosing the best pallet wrapper depends on your initial expectations, but also on objective needs. This guide will make your decision much easier; keep reading…
How to Choose the Best Pallet Wrapper: Everything You Need to Know
The criteria for choosing the best pallet wrapper are numerous, and the type of company you have is decisive. It’s not the same to work in an SME as in a large company, nor in an automotive components distribution company as in a food company.
Pallet wrapping has specific characteristics that must be respected. In any case, you should keep these points in mind; take note:
Calculate the Number of Pallets You Need to Wrap
An objective criterion is the number of pallets you need to wrap, or in other words, the workload to be handled. This is not a secondary matter, as you can calculate how many pallets you will need to manage in a workday.
This is essential when deciding on one wrapping machine or another. The more intensive the use, the more importance you should give to the quality of the machinery, for example. Therefore, this is the first element to be clear about, along with the cost of the machine.
Be aware, often what is sought is speed. And here, it’s not just about how many pallets you can wrap in the long term, but also what is possible in the short term.
Quality of the Wrapping
The quality of the finishes when wrapping a pallet is crucial. For example, avoiding leftover film or glue is very important because we don’t want a pallet to be returned from a gauge control. In addition, the film must stretch properly because the higher the wrapping quality, the lower the chances of tears or damage.
When choosing a pallet wrapping machine, this is another point to consider. Will your wrapper seal properly and do it without leaving residues? In that case, we are talking about a good machine, because the fewer problems you have after palletizing, the better.
Palletizing Speed
The palletizing speed of the machine is another factor to evaluate when making a decision. And here, we have to tell you that there are very large variations depending on the item. For example, some wrapping machines guarantee up to 45 pallets per hour, while others reach 120. If you work in mass production, you may want to know the maximum number of pallets that can be wrapped per hour.
Materials You Will Use for Wrapping
The materials you will use for wrapping are different, and therefore the tensioning capacity may also vary. The most common material is stretch film because it ensures stability and lower consumption if the machine tensions it correctly; however, depending on the type of product, other materials such as kraft paper or shrink film are also used.
Choosing a wrapper cannot ignore this circumstance. If you use kraft paper, you should apply less pressure to avoid tearing it, whereas when using stretch film, applying pressure is convenient to achieve a good result.
Degree of Automation of the Wrapper
The degree of automation of the wrapper can vary, as there are automatic and semi-automatic machines. In the first case, no external intervention is necessary because it operates independently, while in the second, some intervention is required, even if only to start the process.
What can we expect? A semi-automatic wrapper may be cheaper, but nowadays the differences are narrowing. Automation is better because it optimizes the use of productive resources, reduces costs, and eliminates occupational risks. Reducing human factor drawbacks is good whenever possible.
Ideally, you should be able to control the entire process from start to finish. Today, the best pallet wrappers allow you to electronically and self-adjustably control tension and pressure.
The Best Pallet Wrapper: Calculate the Cost
Cost is another essential factor before deciding on one model or another. But it is not enough to consider only the total cost; you should also evaluate these points:
- Machine lifespan: This is unavoidable, especially depending on your business growth prospects. Sometimes, it’s better to anticipate growth periods to have response capacity. Keep in mind that lifespan is always calculated based on an “X” workload.
- Number of pallets that can be wrapped: Not only per hour, but per day or in total. This measure helps to assess the performance you can expect from your wrapper. Once you have this figure, you should divide the final price by the number of pallets for a realistic estimate.
- Maintenance costs: Even with good machine use, occasional inspections and part replacements are necessary. It’s important to know who handles the warranty and whether there is an additional cost.
All this allows us to conclude whether buying a particular wrapper is the best option or if others remain. Therefore, take your time before making a decision.
Quality of the Materials
The quality of the wrapper’s materials is also a factor to consider. They must be robust, waterproof, and rust-resistant to ensure a long machine lifespan. In this case, we advise checking the technical specifications and ensuring a prolonged warranty period.
In Summary…
As we can see, to find the best pallet wrapper, you must follow and evaluate these guidelines. If you want automation, we recommend a rotary ring wrapper because it achieves better results. At Movitec, we specialize in rotary and ring wrappers with various speeds suitable for all sectors. Contact us without obligation!