Performance, Packaged
There are many factors to consider when looking at semi-automatic stretch wrappers. Features to consider can include the the level of automation, to the load capacity, safety features, controls and drives.
This Orion chart breaks down the features of all of Orion’s semi-automatic stretch wrappers, making it easy to compare them side by side.
For more help in evaluating the right stretch wrapper for your application contact us at: https://www.orionpackaging.com/contact/
A critical point of a pallet wrapping system is the conveyor. It transports large, heavy, or unwieldy loads safely from a hand-powered pallet jack (also called “walkies”) or forklift to the stretch wrapper. Often the pallets hold stacked boxes of varying sizes, weights, and dimensions, so the conveyor must ensure safe and stable transport.
In the beverage industry, full pallets are often transported in the warehouse with walkies to minimize jostling and shaking. The companion to this is a good conveyor system that maintains a smooth and steady pace of pallets to achieve maximum efficiency.
Part of an efficient conveyor system is one that minimizes unnecessary challenges for the walkie operator. When a conveyor is raised off the ground and requires a ramp to load the pallet, it can become a hazard. The operator must guide a full pallet up an incline, trying to steady it in the process. This can result in load spills that lead to damaged products and potential danger to the operator.
A way to solve this problem is to eliminate the ramp.
One option is a low-profile, automated conveyor that stands just inches off the floor, so there is need for a ramp. It is easier and safer for the operator to bring the load to the infeed zone and then simply lower it onto the conveyor. This smooth transfer helps maintain package stability, protecting the product and the operator.
Once the pallet is on the conveyor, it’s important not only to maintain that stability but also to minimize choppy movements. In applications like beverage distribution centers, where a variety of package sizes create less-stable loads that are more likely to shift, the conveyor needs to operate smoothly. One way to ensure smooth conveyance is with a conveyor that uses an automated three-strand drag chain instead of rollers. Rollers inherently create vibration which can affect the stability of the products. Eliminating rollers maintains the integrity of the stacked pallet, reducing load spills thus improving productivity and increasing output.
Another way to increase productivity is with a conveyor that can move pallets at high speeds. An effective conveyor can move up to 60 feet per minute, as well as handle multiple pallets simultaneously. This allows larger quantities to move through the system, increasing output and positively affecting the bottom line.
Finally, a pallet wrapping system is only as effective as the quality of its material. Conveyors constructed with heavy-duty steel frames and metal components will outlast ones made with sub-par parts. When a conveyor has downgraded materials, it will end up costing more in the long run due to added maintenance, repairs, or eventual replacement.
An effective pallet wrapping system relies on speed, efficiency, and quality. By ensuring a pallet conveyor delivers the attributes necessary to attain that, the entire system will operate at peak performance, improving production and revenue.
To learn more about the features & benefits of Orion’s LoPro Triple Drag Chain Conveyor, check out the MA-DX LoPro interactive animation.
In 2016, the Costco Corporation realized it needed more than a basic system to manage its new poultry processing plant. They had previously outsourced chicken products to another company, but when those costs rose, Costco determined they would be better off creating their own processing plant. This new facility would allow them to closely manage everything, from the food that each chicken ate to packaging, freezing, and palletizing orders.
This new plant, Lincoln Premium Poultry, in Lincoln, Nebraska, was to provide most chicken products to the Costco stores west of the Mississippi River—and it had to be created from the ground up. For the retailer, this was a venturesome undertaking.
Products such as chicken thighs, breasts, and whole birds for deli rotisseries would need to be stored frozen, not fresh, so they could be held until a Costco store placed an order.
Orion was tasked with creating a case-wrapping solution that could operate in almost freezing temperatures. And while Orion’s equipment is engineered to function at temperatures as low as 34°F, the constant cold environment with temperatures between 34 and 38°F required additional measures to ensure longevity and durability.
The result was a customized “Cold Package” system with inclusions specially designed to withstand harsh conditions. For example, the wrapping film is composed of chemicals, its properties change depending on the temperature. In temperatures near freezing, a standard film can break, eliminating its effectiveness and purpose.
Orion provided the mechanical gearing to limit the pre-stretch capability of the film. If the film is stretched to 260%, which is standard, it would more than likely break in that cold of an environment. By changing the gearing to accommodate a 150% pre-stretch, the film will stretch and not break, saving on consumable costs.
Other “Cold Package” additions were made, including an 800-watt heater and thermostat for the control panel. In cold temperatures, the panel won’t operate, and the machine would be unusable. By maintaining a constant temperature, it functions properly, and production is maintained.
The system’s cables were upgraded to flexible, cold-temperature cables, which provide resiliency and flexibility in the cold, preventing the cables’ casings from cracking. Cold-temperature-rated lubricants and pneumatic cylinders finish off the one-of-a-kind Cold Package system for Lincoln Premium Poultry.
Orion builds the right machine for the customer. They understand their expectations and needs and create customized solutions.
They did this successfully at Lincoln Premium Poultry allowing it to process more than two million pounds of chicken each week, serving numerous stores in the western United States. Because of this success, Costco is now looking at replicating this system in other facilities as well.
A sizeable amount of static electricity is generated by stretch film, especially during winter months. And, while static electricity is not necessarily a major safety issue, the zap can be intense. Yet stopping the shock is not only easily preventable, it’s also relatively inexpensive.
[Read more…] about Cold Dry Weather + Static ElectricityThis is the fifth and final blog that discusses the advantages of HMI-controlled stretch wrapping solutions.
Be sure to take a look at HMI Controlled Stretch Wrapping Solutions Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, & Part 4
[Read more…] about The Future is Here with HMI-Controlled Stretch Wrapping Solutions – Part 5