Choosing the Right Pallet Wrapper

Are you considering adding or upgrading a Pallet Wrapping Machine to your packaging line? With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to know where to start - high profile vs. low profile, semi-automatic vs. fully automatic, integrated vs. offline, etc. To help simplify your search, Rapid Packaging has compiled the top four questions to ask about your application to help you narrow down your search when choosing the right pallet wrapper. This article will explore each question and tell you what you need to know to ensure you choose the right pallet wrapper to successfully keep your packaging line running at its most efficient speed.

How are you loading pallet wrappers?

To find the right pallet wrapper, how you load your pallet wrapper is a must-know. If you are currently using a pallet jacks, consider purchasing a low profile pallet wrapper with a loading ramp. The ramp will allow you to easily roll the pallet onto the packer.

pallet wrapping machine

If you only use a forklift, a high profile pallet wrapper should be right for you. The high profile turntable will provide a more visible target when the forklift is placing the pallet on the turntable. It is also easier to damage the low profile turntable when using a forklift.

How heavy is your pallet?

When choosing the right pallet wrapper, you need to know how much the pallet weighs. Most semi-automatic pallet wrappers have a capacity of about 4,000 pounds. If you need to know how much your pallets weigh, consider adding a scale to your pallet wrapping machine. The scale option will allow you to quickly get the weight of your pallet so that it is ready to be shipped out the door.

If you know that your pallet load is well over 4,000 pounds, your next option is a swivel arm pallet wrapper. The swivel arm pallet wrapper is suitable for almost any packaging situation because it can wrap almost any size load. Because the load remains stationary and there is no turntable, they are ideal for packing very light, very heavy, very high and erratic loads.

How many pallets do you load per day?

How many pallets you load per day will help determine whether we should use a semi-automatic pallet wrapper or a fully automatic pallet wrapper. For example, if you are packing 5 pallets per hour, you don't need a high speed pallet wrapper, so a semi-automatic wrapper can meet that need. A semi-automatic wrapper requires the operator to start the machine, place the stretch film on the pallet and begin the wrapping process.

Once you reach 35 pallets per hour, we need to start thinking about an Automatic Wrapping Machine that provides a higher throughput capacity and automatically starts wrapping once the pallet is placed on the wrapper. The operator simply puts the pallet down and the machine takes care of the rest.

What size pallet do you use?

Finding out what size pallet you are using will help determine the size of turntable you may need. A standard 40" x 48" sized pallet will fit on a standard sized turntable. If you are using a tray that is larger than a standard size tray, you may want to consider upgrading your turntable size to a 60" round turntable or consider using a swivel arm or split pallet wrapper.

A swivel arm Pallet Wrapper works well for irregular sized pallets because it does not have a turntable. You simply load the pallet on the floor and the swivel arm wraps around the pallet. Split pallet wrappers are great when you still want a turntable but need extra space around the turntable.