Automatic Bundle Making and Film Binding Machine for Tubes

Executive summary A bundle making and film binding machine gathers loose tubes into a tight bundle and holds it with bands of film instead of steel strap. Ours runs the tubes along a roller conveyor into a yellow binding unit, where film from a separate supply unit is wound round the bundle. Film use follows from the bundle section, the band spacing and the turns per band. All are set per project.

Table of Contents

What the video shows

The clip opens on the whole line. Long silver tubes ride a roller conveyor with yellow rollers from the blue multi-station frame towards the yellow binding unit. White guides line the tubes up at the unit’s entry, and a pair of press rollers sits inside it.

The camera moves to the film supply unit, a blue frame carrying a large white film roll on guide and tension rollers. Back at the binding unit, the tubes are already partly covered in clear film as they pass through. The FHOPE GROUP mark sits in the corner of the clip.

How bundle making and film binding works

Step What happens
Gathering Loose tubes are brought together into a bundle on the conveyor
Guiding White guides line the bundle up at the binding unit
Film binding Film from the supply unit is wound round the bundle while press rollers hold it tight
Outfeed The bound bundle runs on along the conveyor

Film bands hold the tubes together without the dents a steel strap can leave on thin-wall tube. They also keep dust off the bundle in storage.

Planning film per bundle

Illustrative example for a square bundle of 5 × 5 tubes, each 30 mm across, 6 m long, banded every 1 m with 2 turns per band:

Item Value
Bundle section, 5 × 30 mm 150 × 150 mm
Bundle perimeter, 4 × 150 600 mm
Bands on a 6 m bundle, every 1 m including both ends 7
Turns per band (illustrative) 2
Film per bundle, 7 × 2 × 0.6 m 8.4 m

Closer bands hold the bundle tighter but use more film. Set band spacing and turns per bundle in the program.

Film bands or steel strap

Point Film bands Steel strap
Marks on the tube None Can dent thin wall
Dust protection Covers the band area None
Holding force Lower Higher
Removal Cut by hand Strap cutter needed

Heavy bundles that are lifted by crane often still need steel or PET strap. Film binding suits lighter bundles and finished tube that must stay unmarked.

Controls and safety

The binding unit has a control panel with green and red lights. The conveyor rollers, press rollers and film winding move during the cycle, so keep hands clear while the line runs.

The standards that apply depend on the destination market. For CE markets, ISO 12100 sets the risk-assessment method and EN 415-10 sets general requirements for packaging machines.

Selection checklist for a tube film binding machine

  • Tube diameter, wall and length range.
  • Tubes per bundle and bundle shape.
  • Band spacing and turns per band.
  • Bundles per hour.
  • Film bands only, or strap as well.
  • How bundles leave the line.

Engineering FAQ

Q: Why bind tubes with film? A: Film holds the bundle without denting thin-wall tube, and keeps dust off the banded area.

Q: How much film does a bundle use? A: Bands times turns times perimeter. Our 6 m example uses 8.4 m.

Q: Where does the film come from? A: From a separate supply unit with a large film roll and tension rollers.

Q: Can heavy bundles be film bound? A: Heavy bundles lifted by crane usually still need steel or PET strap.

Q: Does the line gather the tubes itself? A: Yes. The tubes are brought together into a bundle on the conveyor before binding.

Next step

We plan your tube bundling and film binding line in three steps:

  1. Submit your layout drawing with tube sizes and bundle plan to info@fhopepack.com.
  2. Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with the band spacing and film plan.
  3. Book a site survey to check the conveyor layout.

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-10-04

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