No matter the industry, integrating high-powered stretch wrapping tools in manufacturing operations is one of the smartest things manufacturers and distributors can do; it’s an affordable change in production that generates great eventual savings later on, while also helping cut back on unnecessary labor costs right away.
This move to automated packaging technology proves its worth in both the short- and long-term, as product manufacturers in the food, pharmaceutical and dry goods industries worldwide have learned.
In this blog, we’ll cover 5 of the biggest ways wrapping automation can boost your manufacturing productivity, and match your high quality products with high quality packaging.
1.) Cut Back on Material and Labor Costs
The most prevalent way automated stretch wrapping helps manufacturers improve facility productivity is by reducing wasteful material handling behaviors and improving how manufacturers allocate labor.
Despite technological advances, which have allowed industry stretch films to down-gauge 25% in recent years, petroleum-based film waste is still a rampant problem in manufacturing applications (1.9 billion pounds of petroleum resin are used annually).
The most effective way for manufacturers to cut back on these expenditures is by limiting wrapping waste in their own facilities with automation technologies; these systems are do not suffer the drawbacks of human error, and deliver much more efficiently wrapped products when used correctly (thus, saving thousands every year in wrapping material costs).
Beyond material costs, manufacturers using film packaging automation are essentially given a refund on their previous labor requirements, instead being able to put those workers to better use in more pressing duties.
2.) Improvements in Packaging Loads and Stability
In addition to material savings, manufacturers who integrate automated stretch wrapping machines in their production operations see huge improvements in what load sizes and stability are possible. Automation technologies eliminate the boundaries of conventional, manual packaging.
Now, virtually any product, pallet or packaging can be wrapped with industrial stretch wrappers. Even in ventilated processes, such as stretch roping (which is ideal for fresh food products that require oxygen), there is no loss of stability in packaging; losses that are commonly affiliated with traditional packaging solutions. With automation, load security and stability are preserved, much more so than with manual wrapping.
3.) Full or Semi Automatic Options
One of the best ways packaging automation improves facility productivity is in its universal compatibility; manufacturers with any speed packaging line can get the full benefits of automation, no matter how slow, fast or carefully their products need to be handled.
Automation manufacturers offer packaging solutions in both fully automatic and semi-automatic variations, providing the great benefits to both packaging lines with high speeds, and those with speeds of less than 30 loads per hour.
With semi-automatic systems, typically only one employee is needed to set the pallet load in place, attach the stretch film to the load and detach it following wrapping. This, like full automation that requires zero labor, allows manufacturers to place labor focus on other areas, boosting productivity across the board.
4.) Wide Model Variety for All Industries
Going beyond the speed and full/semi-automatic distinctions, industrial stretch wrapping solutions are such a growing, lucrative investment as they come in a huge range of model types, each one perfectly tailored for unique industries.
These unique wrapper types include:
- Rotary tower wrappers
- Six-sided wrappers
- Turntable pallet wrappers
- Conveyorized wrappers
- Window and door wrappers
These various types make stretch wrapping technologies practical in a wide range of different applications, from unstable, heavy load wrapping (rotary tower wrappers) to multiple-pallet loads which require more sturdy frames (six-sided wrappers). Almost always, these automation wrappers can perform at variable speeds, making them a critical component of effective packaging in virtually any wide distribution environment.
5.) Engineering Customizations for Any Application
Perhaps even more impressive, when considering the benefits to productivity that automation technologies bring to manufacturing operations, is the extensive list of customization options these already-unique models are capable of.
When installing an automated packaging wrapper, manufacturers can choose these performance-boosting options to improve their packaging efficiency even more so:
- Pre-stretching capabilities
- Software tools and innovative operator interfaces
- Automatic force-to-load control options
- Corner board applicators (can be robotic or manual)
- Infeed and top sheet dispensers, for optimal pallet protection
- Different wrap patterns for unique applications
These customization options allow manufacturers to install the most effective automation solutions possible, and maximize their productivity with immediate, glaring results. To learn more about what stretch wrapping packaging automation can do for your production line, or for more information regarding end-of-line automation processes, contact us today.
