Executive summary
Some packs need a printed, tough outer band rather than clear film: it carries the brand, holds the carton closed and resists scuffing. Our BOPP tape orbital wrapping machine spirals BOPP tape around boxes and long packs as they pass through a ring, with automatic tape clamping and cutting. Overlap is set from 10% to 90%. This page covers the build, the overlap and tape maths, and what to send us for a quote.
The wrapper shown has a white frame and ring, black rubber rollers and red clamp and guide parts driven by air cylinders. A long carton pack enters on the rollers and leaves fully covered in a spiral of blue printed BOPP tape, with neat overlaps along its length.
Table of Contents
- Why BOPP tape instead of film
- How the machine works
- Machine build
- Overlap and tape use
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
Why BOPP tape instead of film
BOPP tape is stiffer and stronger than stretch film of the same width, and it takes print well. A spiral of printed tape turns a plain carton or bundle into a branded, closed pack in one pass. It also holds loose parts together without a separate carton seal. Clear film is cheaper per metre, but it carries no print and gives less scuff protection.
How the machine works
- Infeed: the pack runs in on the conveyor; a photocell detects its front end.
- Hold: the press-down device lowers onto the pack so wrapping tension cannot shake it.
- Start: the automatic clamp holds the tape end against the pack.
- Wrap: the ring turns and lays the tape in a spiral while the conveyor moves the pack; head and end reinforcement wraps are added.
- Cut: the automatic cutter cuts the tape and the clamp holds the new end for the next pack.
- Outfeed: the wrapped pack runs out.
Machine build
Base data from our E3000 tape orbital wrapper quotation; the conveyor type is chosen per product:
| Item | Tape orbital wrapper |
|---|---|
| Ring | Reinforced cast aluminium ring on four guide wheels with twin PU drive wheels |
| Ring drive | Inverter speed control, soft start, jog |
| Overlap | 10–90%, adjustable |
| Conveyors | Powered rubber roller conveyor (as shown) or PVC belt (2.5 m × 2 sets in the E3000 quotation), inverter speed |
| Tape handling | Automatic clamp, feed and cut |
| Control | PLC, touch screen, photocell position setting |
| Floor | Flat hard floor, load over 1 t/m² |
Pack size range, ring diameter and tape width are confirmed at quote for your product.
Overlap and tape use
Conveyor speed (m/min) = ring speed (r/min) × tape width (m) × (1 − overlap).
Tape per pack (m) ≈ pack perimeter (m) × pack length (m) ÷ (tape width (m) × (1 − overlap)) + end wraps.
Example only: a pack of 0.3 m × 0.3 m section (1.2 m perimeter), 2 m long, with 0.072 m tape at 50% overlap, needs about 1.2 × 2 ÷ (0.072 × 0.5) ≈ 67 m of tape plus the end wraps. Higher overlap gives a stronger band but uses tape faster.
Selection checklist
- Pack length, width and height range?
- Tape width, thickness and roll size?
- Printed tape or plain?
- Overlap and end reinforcement?
- Packs per hour?
- Inline with a carton or bundle line?
Safety
We design orbital wrappers to EN ISO 12100:2010 for risk assessment, EN 415-10 for packaging machine safety and EN 60204-1 for electrical equipment. A shield covers the ring and moving parts, and the touch screen shows each alarm.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Can the same machine run stretch film? A: Yes. Different modes let it wrap different materials, with the tension set for each.
Q: Do the clamps and press rollers mark the carton? A: No. The press-down contact parts are covered with soft rubber or PU, and the press range is set to the pack height so the carton is not crushed.
Q: Can it run without an operator? A: Yes. The automatic clamp and cutter allow unmanned operation in a line.
Q: Can I set where the wrap starts and stops? A: Yes, the start and stop points and head and end delays are set on the touch screen.
Next step
- Send your pack sizes, tape and output to info@fhopepack.com.
- We confirm the ring size and line layout.
- We reply within 24 hours with a proposal and quotation.
Related reading
- Profile orbital wrapping machine (product)
- Panel wrapping machine (product)
- Economic orbital wrapper (video)
- Rod orbital wrapper and bar wrapping machine (video)
- Horizontal orbital stretch wrapping machine (video)
Sources
- FHOPE E3000 tape wrapping machine quotation (2021)
- EN ISO 12100:2010; EN 415-10; EN 60204-1
- The BOPP tape orbital wrapper shown above
Last reviewed: 2026-10-20
