Executive summary Our automatic horizontal orbital wrapper takes a tied tube bundle on its conveyor and spirals film around it as it passes through the ring. For bundles up to 300 mm OD the E300 fits, and the E400 extends that to 400 mm and also runs paper, PP or woven material. The bundle’s OD and length, and the film overlap you need, set the model and the cycle time.
Table of Contents
- How the wrapper runs a bundle
- Bundle OD from tube count
- E300 or E400
- Cycle time
- Film loading and daily setup
- Utilities and safety
- Selection checklist
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
How the wrapper runs a bundle
Our automatic horizontal wrapper has motorized infeed and outfeed conveyors on each side of the ring. A photocell sensor sets the packing position, the ring spirals film around the bundle as the conveyor carries it through, and the automatic cutter and feeder cuts the film at the end. Inverters set the ring speed and conveyor speed.
Vertical side guides keep the bundle on the conveyor centerline as it enters the ring. Our video shows a tied six-tube bundle wrapped this way, and the operator loading a new film roll inside the ring housing.
Bundle OD from tube count
Bundle OD is the smallest circle around the bundle. For a hexagonal bundle of seven tubes, one in the middle and six around it, the OD is three tube diameters. Illustrative examples:
| Tube OD | Seven-tube bundle OD | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 40 mm | 120 mm | E300 or E400 |
| 75 mm | 225 mm | E300 or E400 |
| 110 mm | 330 mm | E400 |
For other bundle shapes, we measure the widest diagonal of the bundle cross-section.
E300 or E400
| Parameter | E300 | E400 |
|---|---|---|
| Bundle OD | 100–300 mm | 100–400 mm |
| Bundle length | over 1,000 mm | over 1,200 mm |
| Bundle weight | 15–100 kg | 15–100 kg |
| Ring speed | 20–90 r/min | 20–90 r/min |
| Wrapping speed | 5–15 m/min | 5–25 m/min |
| Conveyor speed | 6–12 m/min | 6–12 m/min |
| Wrapping material | polyethylene film | polyethylene film, paper, PP or woven |
| Film roll | 100–200 mm wide, 100–200 mm OD, 50 mm core | 100–200 mm wide, 100–200 mm OD, 50 or 76 mm core |
| Overlap | 10–90% | 10–90% |
Choose the E400 for bundles over 300 mm, or when you want paper, PP or woven material instead of film.
Cycle time
Overlap limits the speed first. Advance per ring turn = wrapping speed ÷ ring speed, so at 90 r/min a 200 mm film at 50% overlap (illustrative) allows 100 mm per turn, or 9 m/min.
Travel time = bundle length ÷ speed. For a 6 m bundle (illustrative):
- At 9 m/min (50% overlap): 6 ÷ 9 = 0.67 min, or 40 s.
- At 12 m/min (top conveyor speed, lower overlap): 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 min, or 30 s.
Our pages list wrapping speeds up to 15 m/min (E300) and 25 m/min (E400), above the 6–12 m/min conveyor speed. Those top figures only apply at low overlap and with matching conveyors, so we confirm the real speed on a trial. Film cut and bundle transfer add to each cycle.
Film loading and daily setup
The operator’s main jobs are loading film and setting the recipe:
- Load the roll. The material frame takes several types of film, and the roll mounts on its core shaft inside the ring housing.
- Set the tension. Packing material tension is adjustable.
- Set the overlap. Overlap is adjustable from 10% to 90%.
- Check the reset. The ring returns to its wrapping position automatically, so the cutter and feeder can clamp the film for the next bundle.
The automatic cutter and feeder runs unmanned between roll changes.
Utilities and safety
| Utility | E300 / E400 |
|---|---|
| Power | about 2.5 kW |
| Power supply | 380 V, 3 phase, 60 Hz |
| Floor | flat, hard ground, load over 1 t/m² |
| Control | PLC with separate control panel |
A guardrail protects the operator, and the indicator raises an alarm automatically when a fault occurs. 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 bundle wrapper
- Tube OD and tubes per bundle.
- Shortest and longest bundle.
- Bundles per hour.
- Film, paper, PP or woven material.
- Overlap needed.
- Inline with your bundling station, or standalone.
Engineering FAQ
Q: What is the OD of a seven-tube bundle? A: Three tube diameters. Seven 75 mm tubes make a bundle of about 225 mm OD.
Q: When do we need the E400 instead of the E300? A: For bundles over 300 mm OD, or for paper, PP or woven material.
Q: How long does a 6 m bundle take? A: About 40 s at 9 m/min with 50% overlap, or 30 s at 12 m/min with less overlap, before film cut and transfer.
Q: How often does the operator intervene? A: Mainly at film roll changes. The cutter and feeder handles each bundle unmanned.
Q: What floor does the machine need? A: Flat, hard ground with a load capacity over 1 t/m².
Next step
We size your bundle wrapper in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with tube sizes, bundle lengths and bundles per hour to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with the model, material and speeds.
- Book a site survey to fit the wrapper to your line.
Related reading
- E400 horizontal stretch wrapper
- E300 horizontal stretch wrapper
- Horizontal orbital stretch wrapper
- Video: automatic bar wrapping machine
- Video: horizontal orbital ring stretch wrapper for sheet metal
Sources
- E400 data: E400 horizontal stretch wrapper page
- E300 data: E300 horizontal stretch wrapper page
- Machine in action: our automatic horizontal wrapping machine video on YouTube
- Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010, EN 415-10:2014
Last reviewed: 2026-10-04
