Advanced Orbital Wrapping and Strapping Solution for Long Products
Packaging long, bulky items such as pipes, lumber, extrusions, profiles, and textiles presents unique logistical challenges. Ensuring product integrity, load stability, and efficient handling requires specialized solutions. This advanced Orbital Wrapper, integrated with a three-station strapping system, provides a robust automated solution specifically engineered for securing elongated products for storage and transit. By combining the benefits of stretch film encapsulation with the high tensile strength of strapping, this machine delivers superior load containment and protection.
The Technology: Orbital Wrapping Meets Integrated Strapping
This system leverages proven packaging technologies, enhanced for the demands of long product handling.
Orbital Wrapping Mechanism
The core of the machine is the rotating ring assembly. The product feeds horizontally through the ring's center while a film carriage, mounted on the ring, dispenses stretch film, spirally wrapping the item. Key features often include:
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Powered Pre-Stretch: Many modern orbital wrappers incorporate pre-stretch units, elongating the film before application (often cited in packaging research as achieving ratios from 150% to over 300%). This maximizes film yield, reduces material costs, and provides tighter, more secure wraps compared to non-pre-stretch methods. Patent literature, such as concepts seen in US Patent 5,680,751 discussing film tension control, highlights the importance of consistent film application for load stability.
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Variable Overlap Control: Allows adjustment of how much each film layer overlaps the previous one, ensuring complete coverage and optimized film usage based on product requirements.
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Automatic Film Cut and Clamp: Enhances automation by automatically cutting the film tail at the end of a cycle and clamping it for the next load, minimizing operator intervention.
图片1 Integrated Three-Strap System
Complementing the stretch wrap, three strategically positioned strapping heads apply high-strength straps around the bundled product. This dual approach is crucial for:
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Enhanced Unitization: While stretch film contains and protects, straps provide rigid reinforcement, preventing lengthwise shifting or loosening of individual items within a bundle, particularly under the stresses of transport. Research published in journals like Packaging Technology and Science often emphasizes the role of strapping in maintaining bundle geometry and stacking strength.
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Improved Load Stability: The straps significantly increase the overall stability of the load, making it safer and easier to handle with forklifts or cranes.
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Strap Material Versatility: Systems are typically designed to handle Polyester (PET) strapping, known for its high tensile strength and retained tension, or Polypropylene (PP) for lighter-duty applications. Composite strapping is also an option offering high strength with less elongation.
Automation and Control
These machines typically feature PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) systems with HMI (Human-Machine Interface) touch screens, enabling:
- Recipe storage for different product types and wrapping/strapping parameters.
- Adjustable ring speed, conveyor speed, film tension, and strap tension.
- Integration with upstream and downstream conveyor systems for fully automated lines.
- Safety features like light curtains, emergency stops, and guarding compliant with industry standards.
Driving Efficiency and Product Integrity
Implementing an orbital wrapping and strapping system offers significant advantages:
- Superior Load Containment: The combination of 360° stretch film wrap and high-tensile strapping ensures exceptional load security, minimizing product movement and potential damage during handling and shipping, often helping meet stringent transit testing standards like ASTM D4169 or ISTA procedures.
- Enhanced Product Protection: The stretch film provides a barrier against dust, moisture, dirt, and surface abrasion. UV-inhibitor films can also be used for products susceptible to sunlight degradation.
- Optimized Throughput: Automated wrapping and strapping cycles are significantly faster and more consistent than manual or semi-automatic methods, boosting overall packaging line efficiency.
- Reduced Material & Labor Costs: Powered film pre-stretch can cut film consumption by 50% or more compared to manual wrapping. Automation drastically reduces the manual labor required for wrapping and securing long loads.
- Improved Handling Safety: Tightly secured, unitized bundles are inherently safer and easier to handle, store, and transport, reducing risks for personnel and equipment.
Versatile Applications Across Industries
The Orbital Wrapper with 3 Straps Packing is indispensable in sectors dealing with long or awkwardly shaped products:
- Construction & Building Materials: Ideal for unitizing bundles of lumber, PVC pipes, metal studs, conduit, beams, and insulation panels. Ensures materials arrive at the job site undamaged and organized, reducing waste and improving project efficiency.
- Metals Industry: Essential for packaging aluminum extrusions, steel bars, copper pipes, and other metal profiles. Protects high-value surfaces from scratches and corrosion while ensuring bundle integrity for safe storage and transport. As noted in publications like Modern Metals, surface finish protection is paramount.
- Furniture & Wood Products: Efficiently wraps long components like furniture frames, table legs, bed rails, moldings, and flooring planks. Protects finished surfaces and unitizes components for kits or bulk shipment to retailers or assembly plants.
- Plastics Industry: Suitable for wrapping bundles of plastic pipes, profiles, and conduits, providing containment and protection.
- Textile Industry: Can be adapted for wrapping rolls of fabric, carpets, or non-wovens, offering protection from environmental contaminants.
Technical Specifications Overview
Please note: The following specifications represent a typical configuration. Systems are frequently customized to meet specific application requirements and integration needs. Contact us for a detailed consultation based on your product and process.
- Machine Type: Automatic Orbital Stretch Wrapper with Integrated Strapping Stations
- Operation Mode: Fully Automatic via PLC Control
- Wrapping Material: LLDPE Stretch Film (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene)
- Strapping Stations: 3 (Adjustable Positioning Optional)
- Strap Type Compatibility: Typically PET (Polyester) or PP (Polypropylene)
- Maximum Object Dimensions: Dependent on Ring Size (e.g., configurable height/width aperture); Length typically unlimited due to pass-through design.
- Wrapping Speed: Variable, often up to 15-20 meters/minute (dependent on ring RPM and product)
- Film Pre-Stretch: Powered, variable ratio (e.g., up to 250%)
- Film Roll Specifications: Outer Diameter: ~250mm; Width: ~125-500mm (application dependent)
- Power Requirements: Typically 380V/480V, 50/60Hz, 3-Phase (region specific)
- Approximate Machine Footprint: (Example) Length: 6000mm; Width: 1200mm; Height: 1600mm (highly variable based on ring size and options)
Partnering for Optimized Long-Product Packaging
This integrated orbital wrapping and strapping system represents a significant upgrade in packaging efficiency, product protection, and load security for long items. By automating a traditionally labor-intensive process and optimizing material usage, it delivers tangible cost savings and operational improvements. Its adaptability across various industries highlights its value as a strategic investment for manufacturers and distributors handling elongated goods.
info@fhopepack.com