Executive summary A no tray wrapping machine stretch-wraps a stack of cartons straight on the turntable, without a pallet or tray underneath. The top press comes down onto the stack and holds it from above, so light, loose stacks stay still while they are wrapped. Our A-series wrapper turns at up to 13 r/min and handles 20 to 40 loads per hour.
Table of Contents
- What the machine does
- How wrapping without a pallet works
- Pallet wrapper with top press specifications
- Takt check
- Selection checklist for a no tray wrapper
- Controls and safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the machine does
The wrapper is built around a mast with the film carriage and a top press arm reaching over the turntable. The operator works from the controls at the mast.
- A stack of cartons is placed straight on the turntable, with no pallet or tray under it.
- The top press comes down and holds the stack from above. The turntable turns and the film carriage climbs the mast, laying stretch film around the cartons.
- The wrapped stack comes to rest, and the operator takes it off the turntable.
- A second, lower stack of cartons is placed on the turntable, the top press comes down onto it, and the wrap repeats.
How wrapping without a pallet works
Without a pallet, a stack of cartons is light and loose at the top. As the turntable starts, the film tension would pull the top cartons out of line. The top press solves this. It comes down onto the stack and holds it from above, so the stack stays still while the machine wraps. This is also how the same machine class handles odd loads such as chairs or canned goods, which would shift under the film.
The top press can be driven by a motor or by a pneumatic cylinder, and the press plate comes in different shapes to suit the load. The film carriage pre-stretches the film and climbs the mast, and a photocell finds the top of the load. Wrap counts at the bottom, middle and top are set on the controls.
The overhead press plate can be powered by an electric motor or a pneumatic cylinder, with platen geometry customized to match the contact profile of the load. The powered film carriage pre-stretches the film before application, while an optical photocell automatically registers load height. Reinforcement wrap counts for bottom, middle, and top zones are programmed directly on the operator interface.
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Turntable | Turns the load during wrapping |
| Top press | Holds the stack from above |
| Film carriage | Pre-stretches the film and climbs the mast |
| Photocell | Finds the load height |
| Controls | Set wrap counts, overlap and re-wrap |
| Emergency stop | Red mushroom head on the controls |
Pallet wrapper with top press specifications
| A-series turntable wrapper | Specification |
|---|---|
| Top press | Motor or pneumatic cylinder |
| Maximum load size | 1,500 × 1,500 mm |
| Minimum load size | 500 × 500 × 500 mm |
| Maximum load height | 1,800 mm |
| Turntable speed | up to 13 r/min, adjustable |
| Film | LLDPE, 500 mm wide |
| Pre-stretch | 250%, optional 100% to 300% |
| Output | 20 to 40 loads per hour |
| Supply | 220 V, 1 phase, 50 Hz |
On the A-series base, the turntable is 2,000 mm across, wrap counts are set independently at the top and bottom with a re-wrap option, and the drive starts and stops soft.
Takt check
For an illustrative 30 stacks per hour, the takt is 3,600 ÷ 30 = 120 s per stack. A wrapping pass on a carton stack takes about 40 s.
That leaves about 80 s to place the stack, lower the press and take the wrapped load off. A taller stack or more top wraps adds time, so we check the wrap program against the stack height.
Selection checklist for a no tray wrapper
- Stack size, against 1,500 × 1,500 mm and 1,800 mm high.
- Smallest stack, against 500 × 500 × 500 mm.
- How light and loose the top of the stack is.
- Top press drive: motor or pneumatic cylinder.
- Stacks per hour, against 20 to 40.
Controls and safety
The operator approaches the turntable only between cycles, once the wrapped stack has stopped. A person within reach of the turning load or under the press plate is the move to design out. We set the controls clear of the turntable and mark the swing area on the floor.
Stop, isolate and lock out the wrapper before anyone straightens a stack, threads film or works under the top press. Raise the press fully and lock it before reaching under it.
The standards that apply depend on the destination market. For CE markets, EN 415-6 covers pallet wrapping machines, which fixes the safety requirements for the turntable and carriage, and ISO 12100 sets the risk-assessment method.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Why does a load without a pallet need a top press? A: A loose carton stack can be pulled out of line by the film tension. The top press holds it still from above while the turntable turns.
Q: How is the top press driven? A: By a motor or by a pneumatic cylinder, with a press plate shaped to the load.
Q: How many loads per hour can it wrap? A: 20 to 40 loads per hour, depending on the load height and the wrap program.
Next step
We size a no tray wrapping machine in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with the stack sizes, weights and output, to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with the top press type, the wrap program and the cycle check.
- Book a site survey so we confirm the floor space, the loading method and the safe zone around the turntable.
Related reading
- A600 pallet stretch wrapper with top press device
- A100 pallet wrapping machine
- Pallet wrapping machine with top press for tall, light loads
Sources
- Top press details: A600 pallet wrapper with top press product page
- Turntable and film data: A100 pallet wrapping machine product page
- Machine in action: our video on YouTube
- Standards scope: EN 415-6:2013, ISO 12100:2010
Last reviewed: 2026-10-29
