Thanks to technological advancements, companies are changing how they carry out nearly all operations, from manufacturing to packaging and shipping. A few decades ago, the processes were laborious and time-consuming, which slowed down the production team and hindered companies from reaching their potential.
Things are better, and today, packaging and shipping are done by specialized equipment to save time and ensure more accuracy and precision.
The stretch wrapper is among the revolutionary packaging equipment that most business owners have probably heard about. And one of the most famous ones is the lantech wrapper, thanks to its unique features and ease of use. This guide has everything one needs to know about stretch wrappers to help them make an informed choice.
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What is a Stretch Wrapper?
Also known as a stretch wrap machine, a stretch wrapper is a machine that wraps pallets using stretch wraps. By machine, the equipment does the job automatically, thus eliminating human labor.
Pallet wrapping aims to ease products transportation in bulk while protecting the pallets from damage during shipping. And while the wrapping process can be done by hand, the idea is unreliable, tedious, and poses risks of errors.
However, although all stretch wrappers are crafted for the same job and end goal, the equipment’s visual appearance and functionality differ. For instance, a semi-automatic lantech wrapper is not the same as a fully automatic one.
Benefits of Stretch Wrappers
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Like any other machine, stretch wrappers are meant to improve companies’ efficiency and bottom line. Other benefits from this equipment include;
Cost-Effectiveness
The primary reason why some business owners shy away from using stretch wrappers is that they assume that hand-wrapping will save them money. But that’s only because they fail to look at things from the right perspective, to realize that stretch wrappers save them more than what they are avoiding spending.
Sure, hand-wrapping means that a company does not have to spend on equipment. However, the idea requires the business to hire more staff packaging or compromise on some production areas. Furthermore, hand-wrapping increases the risk of errors, resulting in huge monetary losses.
Efficiency and Saving Time
This is probably the most significant advantage of using packaging equipment over manual packaging. Stretch wrappers allow companies to wrap as many pallets within the shortest period. And with this, the staff can focus on other productive tasks around the common, which improves the chances of reaching their end goal.
Stretch Wrappers Are Reliable
A company may have the most disciplined and self-driven employees. But they cannot match up to the consistency of a machine. For starters, the equipment is not likely to get tired after wrapping a few pallets. It also does not struggle to use a particular containment force and stretch wrap. This ensures that only the right containment forces are used and that the products remain through the shipping journey.
This is a money-saving benefit. The reason being the machine will not waste any stretch wrap by using more than necessary. Therefore, the company can make the most out of its stretch film investment.
Choosing the Right Stretch Wrapper to Meet a Company’s Needs
A lot comes into play when selecting the ideal stretch wrappers for different businesses. But first, business owners must understand the different types of stretch wrappers and how they work.
There are two main types of stretch wrapper functionalities, automatic and semi-automatic. With automatic stretch wrappers, companies do not necessarily need someone to control the equipment. It does everything automatically, including carrying the pallet to the wrap area through a roller conveyor. Once the wrapping machine is done wrapping, it sends the pallet to the end of the line and leads to the exit conveyor, and the cycle continues.
On the other hand, a semi-automatic stretch wrapping machine works nearly the same as an automatic machine. The major difference is that the semi-automatic equipment needs an operator for loading and offloading the pallets. The operator also needs to adjust the equipment through the process.
So, how does a company determine the best between the two stretch wrappers?
The Cost of the Equipment
Cost plays a critical role when selecting any product, and this case is not an exception. It will help if businesses set a stretch wrapper budget based on how much they can afford to pay. And then look for a machine that fits in the budget.
The size of the company will undoubtedly affect the set budget. For instance, a small business may not afford an expensive stretch wrap machine, but considering that the company will be dealing with a small number of packages, semi-automatic equipment will do just fine.
On the contrary, big businesses that deal with a ton of pallet packaging per day should consider automatic equipment, which may be a bit expensive but worthy of investment.
Consider If the Turnable Stops if the Film Breaks
Safety should be a significant consideration for any company when choosing a pallet wrapper. The best one should feature a turnable that stops the cycle when it detects a film break. This feature saves the operator from reattaching the film to a rotating load.
Wire and Motors’ Safety
It will help if businesses avoid stress wrappers with exposed motors and wires as they pose significant trip hazards and could cause burns and scrapes. The best wrappers feature enclosed components to protect the machine and the operator.
Location of the Delivery System
Is the film delivery system located on the same side as the control panel? The setup is the best to save the operator’s time and protect them from accidents when walking between the mast and turntable. Ensuring that the critical points are on the same side of the mast enhances convenience and eliminates chances of errors.
The Rollers Should Be Protected
Again, companies should prioritize the safety of the stretch wrapper and the operator by choosing equipment with top-notch safety measures. They should go for one with protected rollers to prevent the operator from accidentally being pulled into the film delivery system.
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