At your service: What’s the best pallet wrapper for your DC?
How do you choose a pallet wrapping machine that perfectly fits the unique needs of your distribution centre? Getting it right involves looking at more than simply speed and containment criteria.
Not all pallet wrappers are equal – and nor would you want them to be. Each is designed to undertake different tasks at certain specifications. Just as there are many different types of palletised goods being sent around New Zealand, so too are there many different pallet wrappers to meet these needs.
As companies look to increase effectiveness and decrease waste the investment in the right stretch film equipment has never been more important. The huge range in price is another good reason why it’s important to do your research pre-purchase. Here are a few key considerations…
1. How many pallets are you wrapping?
Start thinking on throughput.
For companies packing small amounts, there’s no need to go overboard. If you are a small-scale distribution or storage facility a Spinny Zero or Spinny S140 may be the perfect fit. These pallet wrappers provide excellent ROI for small or infrequent dispatches of products that can be easily shipped.
Making the move from hand-wrapping pallets can seem like a big step. But, if you’re wrapping products that can travel easily, the move to semi-automation can certainly help to reduce costs (and any hand-wrapping H&S issues).
2. What level of automation will you need?
Consider both here and now – and the years to come.
We’ve seen companies go from hand wrapping to semi automation to fully automated set-ups as they’ve grown over the years. There is no easy answer here, as every operation is different. However, an approximate guide can still be handy when initially assessing what is required.
If you are currently wrapping up to 20 pallets per day by hand, then a basic semi auto wrapper will suffice. Anything over this and it would be worthwhile consulting with our machinery specialists to discuss the volumes, the space available, load profiles and other key criteria. Only then can you be sure you’ll be gaining the overall best solution for your specific needs.
3. What products are you wrapping?
Consider both here and now – and the years to come.
Heavy, awkward, or ‘ugly’ loads often require extra stretch film to ensure everything is correctly secured and safe for transport. Often a traditional pallet wrapper turntable set-up is not ideal here, as it’s far more efficient to place the pallet directly on the ground and have a wrapping arm move around it.
Large operations that wrap a considerable amount of such loads find the full automation of Wulftec systems to be ideal. A dual Wulftec WRTA system can wrap over 100 pallets per hour and, in doing so, free up storage space previously required for pallet staging. There are also considerable gains to be made with the elimination of human operation, and there’s no need for other equipment often needed for pallet wrapping, such as counterbalance fork trucks, pit mount wrappers and ramps.
An expert consultation is necessary when installing Wulftec equipment, and we’re always ready to discuss how to meet your needs with this industry-leading technology.
4. How much space do you have?
Look at the big picture.
Does your pallet wrapper need to integrate with other equipment, such as a robotic palletiser or an existing conveyor? The line configuration of your DC can have a big impact on what will work best within the bigger picture.
The Spinny S500 is a great option for pallet packaging automation in tight spaces. For bigger operations, equipment like the Spinny S2300 (which has a fully automatic conveyorized turntable wrapper), can help increase throughput while minimising manual handling.
A site optimisation expert can ensure no opportunity is missed when it comes to maximising available resources and eliminating waste.
5. What is your ‘sweet spot’ for stretch film use?
How to wrap fantastic (with less plastic).
The power carriage of the Spinny S300 and S500 models can stretch wrap up to 300%. This capability saves between 40% – 50% in film costs, providing a healthy ROI for larger-scale distribution centres that already do a lot of wrapping.
Not only that, but it can dramatically affect the carbon footprint of an operation, ensuring that new pallet wrap products use less plastic with far greater binding strength. With this technological capability new nanolayer products like NanoWrap and NanoEcho are generally considered as the best sustainable stretch film for a busy warehouse.
6. What post-sale support does your equipment need?
Make sure you (and your pallets) are covered.
For some companies in New Zealand, pallet wrapping equipment is treated as a one-off purchase that’s then ‘set and forget’. Such an approach can prove costly in the long run, particularly if settings are arbitrarily changed or maintenance issues arise.
Proper initial training and an ongoing maintenance programme can be vital. Stretch-wrap equipment should also use as many non-proprietary components as possible. Should the worst happen, quickly sourcing and replacing parts keeps any production downtime to a minimum.
For some companies in New Zealand, pallet wrapping equipment is treated as a one-off purchase that’s then ‘set and forget’. Such an approach can prove costly in the long run, particularly if settings are arbitrarily changed or maintenance issues arise.
Proper initial training and an ongoing maintenance programme can be vital. Stretch-wrap equipment should also use as many non-proprietary components as possible. Should the worst happen, quickly sourcing and replacing parts keeps any production downtime to a minimum.
