Packaging is the finishing touch to any product. It’s one of the last steps in the production line and the first feature your customer sees upon delivery. Not only that, a good stretch wrap protects your pallets from damage, dust and other tapering. Wrapping pallets isn’t complicated, but it does take careful consideration of your business’s entire process. From there, it’s a matter of finding what works best in your production line.
Is an automatic stretch wrapping machine the right choice for your business? First, let’s get on the same page on the elements that make a stretch wrapper fully automatic.
Now let’s take a look at five advantages to adding an automatic pallet wrapper to your business’s production line.
Getting more done in less time? What manager doesn’t like that idea? An automatic stretch wrapper can get you on the right path to efficiency.
An automatic takes much of the manual process out of packaging. Operators don’t have to wait around to start or and stop the wrapping cycle (like with a semi automatic machine). With the pull of a cord, or the placement of a pallet on a conveyor, the wrapping cycle starts and stops.
Our entry level automatic – the low profile turntable PLPA-2150 – has 15 RPM and can wrap up to 40 loads per hour. Our automatic stretch wrappers only get faster from there. Our fastest Rotary Ring stretch wrapper (the PRRA-4000) can complete up to 120 loads per hour.
If your production is even higher, many of our clients have multiple automatic stretch wrappers on their warehouse floor.
A setup of three automatic rotary arm stretch wrappers are designed for high speed multiple load wrapping.
When you introduce an automatic stretch wrapper into the production line, whether it’s a turntable model or conveyorized automatic, it will make a difference to the pace of your work floor. An automatic machine frees up staff to do other tasks while the wrapper does its job. A forklift or pallet jack operator can place the pallet on the turntable or conveyor and then immediately begin preparing another pallet.
Take for example a pick and pack warehouse. Multiple pallet jack operators are in the warehouse building pallet orders. Once the pallet is complete, they can place the pallet on the conveyor or turntable, let the automatic stretch wrapper package the load, and begin preparing the next pallet.
Pallet jack operators prepare pallets and place them on this low profile conveyor system integrated with an automatic stretch wrapper.
Both semiautomatic and automatic stretch wrapping machines are going to save a business money on film costs when compared to hand wrapping. Our pre-stretch carriage ensures the correct amount of stretch is applied to the film. The film threads past two rollers, where the second rollers’ rotational speed is faster than the first, thereby stretching the film. Not only does this increase the tensile strength of the film, it also reduces overall film costs.
A rotary ring automatic stretch wrapper is even more efficient. Phoenix’s proprietary technology allows for a one-way wrap and stopping/starting the load anywhere. This feature cuts out unnecessary rotations and wasted stretch film. See how much your business could save in film by using our film savings calculator.
A PRRA-2100 at work in a customer facility.
An automatic stretch wrapper keeps a forklift operator on the forklift – and that’s a safety advantage right there. More than 80 percent of forklift accidents involve a pedestrian – someone who’s walking around on the warehouse floor. Keeping forklift operators on their forklifts keeps them off the floor and focused on the job at hand. If you’re upgrading from hand wrapping, which often causes wear and tear injuries, the automatic will inject safety from that perspective. An automatic stretch wrapper requires little interaction (or bending) from the operator. The pull of a cord from the forklift or the push of a button is all it takes to get the pallet wrapped.
Additionally, an automatic stretch wrapper ensures a safe, consistent wrap that’s ready for transport. A poorly wrapped pallet can topple resulting in damaged goods or injury to a handler.
Predictability is a huge benefit when balancing all the elements of a production line. That’s what an automatic stretch wrapper does – it predictably and consistently wraps pallets in the same way each and every time.
Wrapping up
An automatic stretch wrapper brings consistency, safety and production to whatever warehouse it ends up in. If this list of benefits has your curiosity piqued, check out our full line of automatic stretch wrapping machines at Phoenix. Does your company already have an automatic machine? How has it changed operations? Let us know via Twitter – @phoenixwrappers.
For more information horizontal stretch wrapping machine, please get in touch with us!