Auto Pallet Wrapping Machine Benefits

Many warehouse owners and managers have realized the many benefits gained by converting to an auto-wrapping machine from manually wrapping pallets by hand. 

Stretch wrap machines consist of rotating turntables onto which pallets can be loaded and then rotated while stretch wrap, kept at a certain level of tension, is unrolled around them and binds the contents of the pallet together. An alternate design is a machine with arms that hold a roll of stretch wrap and rotate around a stationary pallet. Both designs of auto-wrapping machines have many benefits over hand-wrapping pallets.

Benefits of Auto-wrapping Machines

The benefits of auto-wrapping machines vastly outnumber the few drawbacks and include:

Efficiency

When an auto-wrapping machine is used, every pallet conforms to certain parameters. This improves the efficiency of the space used in the truck or warehouse. You can pack pallets tightly without worrying about damaging the products on the pallets. 

Productivity

The uniformity achieved with an auto-wrapping machine also boosts productivity. There are fewer work stoppages to re-wrap pallets that have become loose or to clean up spills from a poorly hand-wrapped pallet. 

Reduces Occupational Injuries

Pallets full of products that have shifted while being handled are a common source of workplace injuries in warehouses. The boxes fall from overhead racks and hit workers below. Auto-wrapped pallets guarantee tightly wrapped pallets that eliminate these types of injuries. 

Reduces Product Damage

The same tight wrapping that results in eliminating warehouse injuries also eliminates product damage and this equates to fewer insurance claims. 

Enables Barcode Readability

Hand-wrapped pallets tend to be over-wrapped and use more stretch than is needed. The overwrapping causes scanners to have trouble reading barcodes on the boxes under the stretch wrap. Machine-wrapped pallets use the minimum amount of stretch wrap needed, enabling scanners to read barcodes through the stretch wrap easily.   

Reduces Many Warehouse and Shipping Costs

From the time saved by avoiding laborious hand-wrapping of pallets to reducing your stretch film needs and product damage, machine-wrapped pallets can save you money in many ways. However, there are a few drawbacks. 

Drawbacks of Using an Auto-wrapping Machine

The drawbacks of using auto-wrapping machines include: 

High Initial Costs

Auto-wrapping machines are large, heavy-duty, and complex pieces of equipment that require a significant initial investment.

Need for Regular Maintenance

Like any complicated and expensive piece of machinery, performing the regularly required maintenance to keep it operational and contribute to an improved workflow makes sense. 

Need for Dedicated Warehouse Space

The placement of an auto-wrapping machine in a warehouse needs careful consideration. There must be adequate staging areas around the machine, space for the machine itself, and storage space for the rolls of stretch film it uses. 

Deciding Factors

Managers and owners should consider incorporating auto-wrapping machines into their operations when certain issues and conditions in their operations become apparent. These factors include:

When the Workload Takes a Toll on Your Staff

Wrapping pallets by hand is time-consuming and can be inefficient if done haphazardly or improperly. If your staff is spending too much time wrapping pallets, it may be time to consider an auto-wrapping machine.   

When it Becomes More Cost-Effective

Hand-wrapping pallets may also consume increasing hours of the day as your business grows. Investing in a machine that saves money in valuable workforce hours may become more cost-effective. 

When the Waste of Stretch Wrap Becomes Too Costly

Hand-wrapping pallets tend to use more stretch wrap than is necessary, as workers have different wrapping techniques. If you find that your stretch wrap costs are increasing more than your business growth warrants, it may be time to consider an auto-wrapping machine.  

Where Can I Find a Quality Pallet Wrapping Machine?

MMP Corporation Ltd. offers our large-scale pallet wrapping machine model, TMD-P46P-PLUS. Our Pallet wrapping machine has a heavy-duty rotating turntable attached to a tower that holds the roll of stretch film and moves vertically to wrap the pallet automatically from bottom to top. 

It can wrap pallets up to 2.2 meters in height and offers adjustable top and bottom wraps, turntable speeds, and wrapping tension. The machine can also detect pallet height by a photo sensor and ensure the pallets are wrapped quickly and efficiently. 

Contact MMP Corp to learn more about the productivity, durability, and operating costs of our auto-wrapping machines and line of machine stretch wrap.