Executive summary This orbital bearing wrapping machine executes an eye-through (through-the-bore) packaging cycle, applying an inner protective layer of volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) paper followed by an external barrier layer of stretch film. Engineered specifically for hot, high-humidity manufacturing and maritime transit environments, the inner VCI paper passivates critical bearing steel surfaces against electrochemical oxidation, while the synchronized outer stretch film seals out ambient moisture, vapor, and particulate ingress.
Table of Contents
- What the machine does
- Why VCI paper plus film
- Wrap layers
- What we set per bearing
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the machine does
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Loading | Bearings are placed on the roller conveyor station |
| Feeding | The motorized conveyor delivers each bearing into the wrapping station |
| Wrapping | The orbital ring shuttle travels continuously through the bearing bore |
| Paper and film | VCI paper is applied directly against the steel, followed by stretch film |
| Result | A fully sealed, moisture-protected bearing discharges from the station |
The orbital ring travels directly through the internal bore of the bearing and wraps the full cross-section in a single continuous pass: non-adhesive VCI paper rests directly against the steel, covered immediately by tensioned stretch film.
Why VCI paper plus film
| Layer | Job |
|---|---|
| VCI paper | Releases chemical corrosion inhibitors directly onto bearing surfaces |
| Stretch film | Isolates the package from moisture, atmospheric oxygen, and dust |
| Overlap | Eliminates cross-sectional gaps to ensure complete physical shielding |
Volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) paper operates via continuous vaporization: proprietary inhibitor salts volatilize inside the enclosed cavity, migrating across air voids to deposit a hydrophobic, monomolecular protective layer across all exposed steel raceways and roller sets. This vapor-phase mechanism halts oxidation even on recessed surfaces without requiring direct contact.
The outer stretch film layer serves as a hermetic barrier. It prevents volatile inhibitor molecules from venting to the outside atmosphere while mechanically blocking high ambient humidity, salt spray, and particulate contamination. For ocean freight and tropical warehousing, this dual-material method prevents condensation rust without requiring heavy greasing or labor-intensive degreasing procedures.
Wrap layers
Worked example (illustrative).
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bearing OD (illustrative) | 300 mm |
| Bearing width (illustrative) | 80 mm |
| Advance per ring turn, 100 mm paper at 50% overlap | 50 mm |
| Turns for one layer around the OD, 3.14 × 300 ÷ 50 | about 19 turns |
To determine the minimum rotational turns required for complete OD coverage:
Nominal turns = (3.14 × Bearing OD) ÷ Advance per turn
Nominal turns = (3.14 × 300 mm) ÷ 50 mm = 18.84, rounded up to 19 turns
Additional film wrap turns can be applied at the lead-in and lead-out phases to reinforce axial retention and moisture seals at the bearing seams.
What we set per bearing
| Setting | Depends on |
|---|---|
| Ring size | Bearing outer diameter, inner bore diameter, and cross-sectional width |
| Materials | VCI paper, stretch film, PE film, or composite wrap combinations |
| Overlap | Packaging specification, ambient humidity, and transit duration (20%–80%) |
| Feeding | Manual loading onto conveyor or automated in-line production transfer |
Reference configuration ranges across our industrial machine series:
- Compact Station Configuration: Engineered for ring-through components with bore diameters of Φ120–270 mm, a maximum OD-to-ID difference of 190 mm, widths of 40–130 mm, and payload capacities of 5–70 kg. Cycle speed operates at 20–35 seconds per workpiece with an orbital ring speed reaching up to 100 r/min, utilizing PLC material length monitoring and manual load/unload ergonomics.
- Large-Format Heavy-Duty Configuration: Designed for slewing and heavy industrial bearings with bore diameters of 300–900 mm, outer diameters of 600–1,200 mm, widths of 20–300 mm, and payloads from 10–500 kg. Cycle duration runs 40–50 seconds per workpiece at adjustable ring speeds of 30–70 r/min, supporting 20%–80% overlap ratios across 380 V, 2.5 kW power systems.
Selection checklist
- Bearing physical dimensions: Outer Diameter (OD), Bore Diameter (ID), and total Face Width (mm).
- Part weight range: minimum and maximum structural unit load (kg).
- Packaging material specification: VCI paper, stretch film, woven knit belt, or dual-roll combination.
- Overlap ratio and required wrap layer thickness (e.g., 50% overlap double-layer wrap).
- Throughput target: required finished pieces per hour.
- Logistics profile: target transit time, ambient warehouse temperature, and relative humidity exposure.
Safety
- Keep hands clear of the ring while it turns.
- Stop the machine before changing paper or film.
- Do not reach into the ring to adjust a bearing.
- For CE markets, the machine is designed to ISO 12100:2010 (risk assessment and risk reduction) and EN 415-10:2014 (general requirements for packaging machines).
Engineering FAQ
Q: Why are VCI paper and stretch film deployed simultaneously? A: VCI paper releases vapor-phase molecules that passivate the steel against rust, while the stretch film provides a mechanical vapor barrier that traps the active chemistry inside and seals out ambient moisture.
Q: Does the wrapping shuttle travel completely through the bore? A: Yes. The orbital ring guides the roll dispenser through the internal bore of the bearing while supporting base rollers rotate the bearing around its center.
Q: How many turns are needed to achieve full single-layer coverage? A: For a 300 mm outer diameter bearing wrapped with 100 mm wide material at a 50% overlap ratio (50 mm effective advance per turn), the nominal cycle requires 19 complete ring turns.
Q: Is the machine manually loaded or integrated into conveyor lines? A: The standard system utilizes manual part placement onto the roller infeed station; conveyor-fed transfer from an upstream line is set per project.
Q: Can this machine wrap other annular industrial components? A: Yes. Any toroidal or circular steel workpiece meeting the internal diameter clearance and payload capacity—such as forged rings, wheel blanks, and wire coils—can be wrapped after clearance verification.
Q: Which machine safety and design standards govern these systems? A: For European and export territories requiring CE compliance, equipment is engineered and evaluated under ISO 12100:2010 and EN 415-10:2014.
Next step
To match the correct orbital wrapping model to your bearing line:
- Submit your part drawings and parameters (OD, ID, width, unit weights, packaging media preference, and climate conditions) to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive an engineering proposal within 48 hours containing technical data, cycle-time calculations, and baseline layout drawings.
- Schedule a factory integration review to finalize conveyor elevations, electrical configurations, and footprint layouts.
Related reading
- Automatic Bearing Wrapping and Packing Line
- Full Wrapping-Through Machine for Small Coils
- Steel Wire Coil Wrapping, Upending and Stacking Line
- Coil packing machine
Sources
- Machine design & technical specifications: FHOPE Engineering Division
- Reference application demonstration: YouTube demonstration link
- Wrap geometry calculations: internal standard design verification model
- International standards: ISO 12100:2010 (Safety of machinery — General principles for design); EN 415-10:2014 (Packaging machines safety — Part 10: Modular packaging machines)
- Commercial turnaround protocol: 48-hour engineering review SLA
Last reviewed: 2026-10-29
