Automatic Pallet Wrapping Machine: Turntable, Film Carriage and Automatic Film Handling

Executive summary

An automatic pallet wrapping machine turns the pallet on a turntable while a film carriage travels up and down the mast, then grabs, cuts and wipes the film without an operator. The B200 features a 2,000 kg capacity turntable running at 3–12 rpm and a powered pre-stretch system rated up to 200%. In an automated packaging line, the total cycle time drops below 2.5 minutes per pallet, ensuring a continuous throughput of at least 24 pallets per hour.

On this turntable stretch wrapper, palletized loads are indexed onto the heavy-duty turntable aligned with the structural mast and vertical carriage guide. A mast-mounted control enclosure and operator HMI govern all motion profiles. During the initial commissioning or first-cycle setup, the stretch film tail is secured to the pallet base; once automatic mode is engaged, the pneumatic film grab, cut, and wiping mechanism handles all subsequent film attachment, separation, and edge sealing automatically.

Table of Contents

• What makes a pallet wrapper automatic
• Turntable and conveyors
• Film carriage and pre-stretch
• Film grab, cut and wipe
• B200 and automatic line data
• Worked example: 1,200 kg pallet on the automatic line
• Selection checklist
• Safety: EN 415-6 and ISO 12100
• Engineering FAQ
• Next step
• Related reading
• Sources

What makes a pallet wrapper automatic

A semi-automatic wrapper requires operator intervention at both ends of every wrapping cycle: the forklift driver or floor operator must manually tie the film web to the pallet base before rotation starts, and physically cut the film tail and brush it down once the cycle concludes.

An automatic turntable wrapper eliminates both manual touches through integrated automation:

• Pneumatic clamping and cutting: An automated mechanical gripper secures the film tail, an impulse heating wire severs the film at the final wrap, and a trailing brush wipes the tail cleanly against the pallet.
• Continuous ready-state: The clamp maintains positive retention of the leading film edge, holding it in position for the next incoming load.
• In-line conveyor integration: Powered infeed and outfeed roller or chain conveyors transfer pallets into and out of the wrapping station without requiring forklift staging during the cycle, allowing the machine to operate inline.

Turntable and conveyors

• Capacity. The B200 turntable handles a standard 2,000 kg payload, with heavy-duty options engineered for 2,500–3,000 kg [manufacturer rating].
• Diameter. Standard turntable diameter options are 1,800 mm or 2,000 mm; fully integrated conveyorized lines utilize up to 2,200 mm to clear load diagonal footprints.
• Drive engineering. Heavy-duty ring gear bearing driven by a double-chain motor mechanism [manufacturer rating]. Variable frequency drive (VFD) controls soft start and soft stop acceleration curves to prevent unstable or tall stacked goods from toppling.
• Speed control. Infinitely variable turntable rotation speed of 3–12 rpm, equipped with a dedicated jog function for manual positioning and maintenance alignment.
• Conveyor alignment. The motorized turntable rollers and adjacent infeed/outfeed conveyor beds share an identical datum level, enabling smooth, uninterrupted load transfer across transitions.

Film carriage and pre-stretch

The powered film carriage is the primary driver of material cost savings in automatic stretch wrapping. Internal motorized rollers stretch the film prior to load delivery:

• Pre-stretch performance: The B200 powered pre-stretch carriage delivers up to 200% film elongation [manufacturer rating], with custom ratios engineered to order. Fully automatic packaging lines typically deploy a 250% fixed or variable pre-stretch assembly, with configurations available from 100% to 300%.
• Material yield: At a 250% pre-stretch ratio, 1.0 m of virgin film off the supply roll yields 3.5 m of stretched film applied to the load perimeter.
• Vertical drive and sensing: The carriage is elevated along the mast via an independent DC drive motor [manufacturer rating]. An integrated optical photocell sensor continuously measures pallet height to automatically govern carriage reversal at the load top.
• Wrap program controls: Through the PLC interface, operators configure bottom, middle, and top reinforcement zones from 0 to 99 wraps each [manufacturer rating]. Specific cycle routines accommodate variable overwrap, overlap, and reinforce-wrap parameters, tracked by independent top/bottom wind counters and a master production cycle counter.

Film grab, cut and wipe

The pneumatic mechanical handling arm automates cycle turnover in four sequential steps:

1. Clamping: Heavy-duty scissor-action pneumatic gripper bars clamp the film web securely against the pallet base upon cycle completion.
2. Cutting: An instantaneous impulse heating wire severs the stretched film web precisely without tearing.
3. Wiping: A soft industrial brush arm presses and wipes the trailing film tail flat against the side of the pallet, ensuring secure adhesion.
4. Positioning: The clamp retains the newly cut film web edge firmly in place, ready to wrap the subsequent pallet the moment it reaches the station.

On the B200, this complete sequence is executed by the pneumatic film grab and cut-off mechanism; an optional pneumatic overhead stabilizing plate can be integrated to secure lightweight or unstable cartons under high turntable rotation speeds.

B200 and automatic line data

Worked example: 1,200 kg pallet on the automatic line

The following calculation illustrates production throughput and film consumption on an automated in-line wrapping cell (operating with 250% pre-stretch and a 2.9 m/min carriage speed, rather than the base B200 standalone carriage).

Operational parameters: Pallet footprint 1,200 mm × 1,000 mm, height 1,500 mm, total mass 1,200 kg. Applied film width 500 mm, 3 bottom wraps, 3 top wraps, turntable rotation set at 12 rpm.

Cycle summary: The mechanical wrapping process takes approximately 92 s. Pallet infeed, outfeed transit, and the pneumatic clamp-cut-wipe sequence occupy the remainder of the cycle, finishing well inside the 150 s limit (conveyor velocities and interlock dwell times are project-tailored). This achieves 3,600 s ÷ 150 s = 24 pallets per hour minimum continuous throughput, using only ~0.26 kg of LLDPE film per wrapped unit.

Selection checklist

1. Load profile: Maximum pallet dimensions (L × W × H) and gross payload weight.
2. Throughput target: Required pallets per hour (evaluating cycle time versus conveyor handoffs).
3. Material handling interface: Conveyor integration parameters versus manual forklift staging.
4. Load integrity: Carton rigidity and pallet stability (determining if a pneumatic top platen is required).
5. Film parameters: Target film thickness, roll diameter, core size, and target pre-stretch percentage.
6. Utility infrastructure: Electrical service (voltage/frequency) and pneumatic dry air supply (0.6–0.8 MPa).

Safety: EN 415-6 and ISO 12100

Automatic and semi-automatic pallet stretch wrappers are designed in strict accordance with EN 415-6 (Safety of packaging machines — Part 6: Pallet wrapping machines), with complete mechanical risk assessments conducted under ISO 12100:2010.

The primary mechanical pinch points reside at the rotating turntable interface and the vertical travel envelope of the powered film carriage. Standard safety provisions include an operator red mushroom-head emergency stop, a lockable main electrical disconnect, and safety circuit interlocks [manufacturer rating]. Complete physical perimeter fencing, light curtains, and CE certification documentation packages are engineered according to site-specific line layouts.

Engineering FAQ

Q: What material savings are realized by 250% pre-stretch? A: A 250% pre-stretch system turns 1.0 m of film fed from the roll core into 3.5 m of tensioned film on the load, slashing roll consumption by over 60% compared to friction-brake manual wrapping.

Q: What is the rated throughput of the automatic turntable wrapping line? A: The turnkey automatic line quoted achieves full cycle times under 2.5 minutes per pallet, delivering an assured continuous rate of at least 24 pallets per hour.

Q: How does the automatic film grab, cut, and wipe function without an operator? A: Heavy-duty pneumatic clamp jaws grip the film web against the load base, an impulse hot-wire severs the film, and a trailing wipe brush adheres the tail firmly to the pallet while retaining the leading edge for the next cycle.

Q: What is the maximum load weight supported by the B200 turntable? A: The standard B200 turntable carries up to 2,000 kg, with reinforced turntable ring gear assemblies available for 2,500 kg to 3,000 kg applications.

Next step

1. Submit load parameters: Send your pallet footprint, stack height, load mass, and required hourly throughput to info@fhopepack.com.
2. Engineering matching: Our packaging engineers size the turntable diameter, drive gearing, mast height, and conveyor integration.
3. Formal quotation: Receive a detailed proposal, layout drawing, and investment quote within 24 hours.

Related reading

• Automatic pallet wrapping machine B200 (product)
• Semi-automatic pallet wrapping machine A200 (product)
• Automatic pallet stretch wrapping machine with film cutter
• Fully automatic pallet wrapping machinery line
• Turntable stretch wrapper B200

Sources

• FHOPE B200 Automatic Pallet Stretch Wrapping Machine Product Specification
• FHOPE B100 Automatic Turntable Pallet Wrapper Technical Data
• FHOPE Turnkey Automatic Pallet Wrapping Line Quotation Specification
• EN 415-6: Safety of packaging machines — Part 6: Pallet wrapping machines
• ISO 12100:2010: Safety of machinery — General principles for design — Risk assessment and risk reduction

Last updated: 2026-10-29