Executive summary Our special customized wrapping machine packs shovels, whose long thin handle and wide flat blade do not suit a standard wrapper for boxes or bars. We built it as a ring wrapper: the operator lays each shovel through the green ring, and the ring winds film round it as it passes. Film use follows from the section of the shovel, its length and the overlap set. All are set per project.
Table of Contents
- What the video shows
- How the shovel wrapper works
- Estimating film per shovel
- What was customized
- Controls and safety
- Selection checklist for a custom long-product wrapper
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the video shows
Our green ring wrapper stands on a green frame between two yellow guard fences, with blue control boxes alongside. The operator feeds a black hose-like guide through the machine, then lifts a shovel and holds it up to show the wrapped finish.
The shovel’s long handle and wide blade are both covered. The FHOPE GROUP mark sits in the top corner of the clip.
How the shovel wrapper works
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Load | The operator lays the shovel on the infeed supports |
| Feed | The shovel is moved through the ring |
| Wrap | The ring turns and winds film round the passing shovel |
| Cut | The film is cut after the shovel leaves the ring |
| Unload | The wrapped shovel is lifted off the outfeed |
The ring turns round the product rather than the product turning, so a long, uneven item like a shovel can be wrapped without spinning it.
Estimating film per shovel
Illustrative example for a 1,200 mm shovel, with film 100 mm wide laid at half overlap:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Shovel length | 1,200 mm |
| Film width (illustrative) | 100 mm |
| Advance per ring turn at half overlap | 50 mm |
| Ring turns, 1,200 ÷ 50 | 24 |
| Average wrapped section perimeter (illustrative) | 300 mm |
| Film laid, 24 × 0.3 m | about 7.2 m |
The blade has a far larger perimeter than the handle. Slowing the feed over the blade gives it more cover where it is most likely to be damaged.
What was customized
| Point | Why it matters for shovels |
|---|---|
| Ring size | Passes the full width of the blade |
| Infeed supports | Hold a thin handle and a wide blade level |
| Guard fences | Keep the operator out of the ring path |
| Program | Sets feed speed and overlap for each shovel model |
Tell us every model you pack, from the smallest to the largest blade.
Controls and safety
Yellow guard fences stand either side of the ring. The ring turns at speed during wrapping, so keep hands outside the guards and away from the ring while it runs.
The standards that apply depend on the destination market. For CE markets, ISO 12100 sets the risk-assessment method and EN 415-10 sets general requirements for packaging machines.
Selection checklist for a custom long-product wrapper
- Product length, and largest and smallest section.
- Products per hour.
- Overlap and wrap pattern you want.
- Manual or automatic loading.
- Film type and width.
- Floor space for infeed and outfeed.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Why a ring wrapper for shovels? A: The ring turns round the shovel, so a long, uneven item does not have to be spun.
Q: How much film per shovel? A: Ring turns times the wrapped perimeter. Our 1,200 mm example lays about 7.2 m.
Q: Can the blade get more cover? A: Yes. Slowing the feed over the blade raises the overlap there.
Q: Does it suit other tools? A: Long tools like rakes, forks and handles wrap the same way when the ring size suits.
Q: Is loading by hand? A: In the video the operator loads by hand. Automatic loading can be planned per project.
Next step
We plan your custom long-product wrapper in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with product models and output to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with the ring size and film plan.
- Book a site survey to check the loading and floor space.
Related reading
- E300 horizontal stretch wrapper
- Video: rod orbital wrapper and bar wrapping machine
- Steel tube strapping machine
Sources
- Machine content: FHOPE engineering team, 2026-10-04
- Film example: our worked example, illustrative values
- Machine in action: our video on YouTube
- Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010, EN 415-10:2014
Last reviewed: 2026-10-04
