Executive summary
An automatic pallet packing line takes each finished pallet through strapping, labelling and stretch wrapping on one run of conveyors. The straps hold the stack and its carton top cap to the pallet first, and the film then seals the whole load against dust and moisture. Our equivalent line combines an inline turntable wrapper for at least 24 loads an hour with a vertical strapper at about 15 s per strap. Below we lay out the conveyors and transfers, match the conveyor heights, balance the stations and work out the film per pallet.
Tall stacks of white cylindrical packages on wooden pallets, each with a carton cap on top, are strapped and then travel on blue roller conveyors. Where the line turns, a chain transfer lifts between the rollers and moves the pallet off at a right angle.
At a desk with a printer an operator prepares the pallet documents and labels before the pallet goes on. At the end of the line, inside a mesh-fenced cell, a turntable wrapper with a yellow film carriage wraps the strapped stack.
Table of Contents
- The stations, in order
- Line data
- Why strap before wrapping here
- Right-angle transfers and conveyor height
- Station times and line rate
- Film per pallet at 250%
- Labelling and traceability
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
The stations, in order
- In-feed roller conveyor from the production line.
- Vertical strapper: straps over the stack and its carton cap.
- Chain transfer: turns the flow at a right angle where the layout needs it.
- Label and document station: the pallet ticket and batch label are prepared and applied.
- Turntable wrapper in its fenced cell: the pallet runs onto the turntable conveyor and is wrapped.
- Out-feed conveyor to the forklift pick-up point.
Line data
| Item | Inline turntable wrapper | Vertical strapper |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | at least 24 loads an hour | about 15 s per strap |
| Load size | turntable 2,200 mm diameter | up to 1,300 mm wide, 1,800 mm high |
| Load weight | 1,800 kg; 2,000 kg on some configurations, confirmed at quote | to the conveyor rating |
| Conveyor height | turntable about 400 mm | 300–600 mm, adjustable |
| Turntable speed | up to 12 rpm, adjustable | not applicable |
| Film or strap | LLDPE film 500 mm wide, 76 mm core, 500–1,500 m roll | 12–16 mm or 19 mm strap, friction weld |
| Pre-stretch | 250%, optional 100% to 300% | not applicable |
| Carriage speed | 2.9 m/min | not applicable |
| Motors | turntable 0.75 kW, rollers 0.75 kW, up-down 0.37 kW, pre-stretch 0.37 kW | 3 kW total |
| Air | 6–8 kgf/cm²; consumption depends on the options, confirmed at quote | per project |
Why strap before wrapping here
The carton cap on top of each stack must stay in place, and loose packages must not move on the pallet. The straps tie cap, stack and pallet together first. The film then goes over the straps, which keeps them from snagging in handling and seals the load against dust and moisture in storage.
The label is applied before wrapping, so it travels under clear film where it stays readable but cannot be torn off. A shipping label that must be scanned without cutting the film is applied on the out-feed instead.
Right-angle transfers and conveyor height
A chain transfer sits between the rollers. When the pallet arrives, the chains lift it off the rollers and carry it sideways onto the next conveyor, so the line can turn without a turntable. The chains must run under the pallet’s bottom boards in the direction of travel, so the pallet type and its orientation are checked at quote.
All conveyors run at one height. The wrapper turntable sits at about 400 mm, and the strapper’s adjustable 300–600 mm range covers it, so the whole line can run at 400 mm with no steps.
Station times and line rate
| Station | Calculation | Time per pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Wrapper at 24 loads an hour | 3,600 ÷ 24 | 150 s |
| Strapper, 2 straps | 2 × 15 s | 30 s |
| Strapper, 4 straps | 4 × 15 s | 60 s |
The wrapper sets the rate. Even with 4 straps the strapper finishes in less than half the wrapper’s time, so it waits for each pallet.
Film per pallet at 250%
Take a 1,200 × 1,000 mm stack, 1,700 mm high to stay inside the strapper’s 1,800 mm, with 3 bottom and 3 top winds at 12 rpm. One turn is 5 s and the carriage climbs 2,900 ÷ 60 ≈ 48 mm/s.
| Check | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Plan diagonal against the turntable | √(1.2² + 1.0²) | ≈ 1.56 m, inside 2.2 m |
| Turns up and down | 2 × 1,700 ÷ 48 ÷ 5 | ≈ 14 |
| Plus winds | 14 + 6 | 20 turns |
| Film path per turn | 2 × (1.2 + 1.0) | 4.4 m |
| Film on the load | 20 × 4.4 | ≈ 88 m |
| Film off the roll at 250% | 88 ÷ 3.5 | ≈ 25 m |
| Pallets per 1,500 m roll | 1,500 ÷ 25 | ≈ 60 |
Labelling and traceability
The label and document station sits between the strapper and the wrapper. The ticket carries the product, batch and pallet number from the production order, and the same data can be passed to the warehouse system. The label printer and the data link are agreed per project.
Selection checklist
- Pallet size, height and weight.
- Strap first or wrap first for your load.
- Straps per pallet and strap width.
- Line layout, with the number of right-angle turns.
- Pallets per hour.
- Label content and data link.
Safety
We design to EN ISO 12100:2010 for risk assessment, EN 415-10 for general packaging machine safety, EN 415-6 for the wrapper, EN 415-8 for the strapper and EN 60204-1 for the electrical equipment. Each cell is fenced with interlocked doors.
Muting light curtains at the conveyor openings let pallets pass and stop the machines if a person enters. Chain transfers are guarded against trapping points. Guarding and CE documents are agreed per project.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Is the pallet wrapped or strapped first? A: Here it is strapped first, so the straps hold the carton cap and the film covers the straps.
Q: How many pallets an hour? A: At least 24, set by the wrapper.
Q: How does the line turn a corner? A: With a chain transfer between the rollers.
Q: What conveyor height? A: About 400 mm through the whole line.
Q: How much film per pallet? A: About 25 m from the roll for a 1.7 m stack at 250% pre-stretch.
Next step
- Send your pallet sizes, line layout and pallets per hour to info@fhopepack.com.
- We lay out the strapper, transfers, label station and wrapper.
- We reply within 24 hours with a proposal and quotation.
Related reading
- Automatic pallet wrapping machine B100 (product)
- Vertical pallet strapping machine (product)
- Auto pallet strapping machine in a wrapping line
- Automatic pallet strapping and wrapping machine from Shanghai, China
- Automatic pallet turntable stretch wrapper
- Fully automatic pallet wrapping machinery line
Sources
- FHOPE product page: automatic pallet wrapping machine B100
- FHOPE product page: vertical pallet strapping machine
- EN ISO 12100:2010; EN 415-10; EN 415-6; EN 415-8; EN 60204-1
Last reviewed: 2026-10-19
