How to properly pack the goods on the pallets: it’s the matter of technology

Pallet is in fact of quite an old age. Indeed! Human desire for rationalism and industrial progress led to the fact that more than a hundred years ago, American manufacturers began to make wooden skids for transporting products.

By 1925, the newly made pallet had gone the way from two planks, hammered together with two cross-bars, to a flat wooden platform that could be lifted by a loader. Then it was officially established as the means of production.

Despite a century of evolution, the modern pallet does not differ much from its predecessor. Its functions are defined as a packaging tool. In other words, this is a rigid pallet for consignment of goods. This method of loading significantly saves space for storage and transportation.

In addition, the correct palletizing of commodity units ensures their excellent preservation. Today our specialists are going to tell us more about it.

What is required?

There is a set of requirements, including international ones, regulating palletizing of goods. They lie in ensuring:

Safety of cargo, vehicles, warehouses, environment ;
Safety of cargo during storage, transportation and overload;
Optimal use of transport facilities and warehouse space;
The possibility of unhindered loading/unloading.

How can we achieve this and how do we need to carry out the packaging of goods on the pallets?

Packaging stages

There are only two stages, but they have a great number of peculiarities:

Placement of goods on the pallet
Fixing/packing of goods

There are two ways to place the cargo units on the pallet: “brickwork” or “one on top of the other”. The most important thing is to make sure that the edges of cargo do not protrude the ends of the pallet. Thus, it is possible to place from a few dozens to several hundreds of production units on one pallet.

Fixation types

After filling the pallet, it’s necessary to secure the cargo. The type of fixation is determined by the nature of the product.

Large, resistant to external influences units may be simply connected with a packaging strap – metal or plastic. And for ensuring fastening, as well as safety of goods, one may use thermosetting or stretch film.

Stretch film tightly and firmly covers all the surface of the pallet. This eliminates shifting of cargo units during their transportation. This packaging reliably protects the pallet from dirt, dust, external influences and theft.

Both these materials – thermosetting or stretch film – may be used for three types of packaging:

manual
semi automatic (automated)
automatic

Manual option of packing into thermosetting film is the use of a heating gas gun. Manual wrappers are being used for stretch packing – they significantly facilitate the work of the operator, providing a high-quality result.

Semi automatic thermosetting may be carried out via:

Gas thermosetting column (It is a mobile cart with a column and gas cylinders. It may be rolled up to the pallet to perform the operation. The process takes around 60 seconds);
Semi automatic thermosetting machine (the pallet with thermosetting bag is installed on the revolving platform; the carriage with the heater moves up and down, carrying out the setting of the film. In this case, the cargo is not exposed to heating);
Tunnel thermosetting machine (pallet in film firstly goes through the heating thermo tunnel, and then – through the sealing part of the unit)

Semi automatic packing into stretch film is carried out with the special packaging unit. With the help of the operator they wrap the pallet in a special way, and then cut and fix the film. There are:

Platform (the pallet is being placed on the platform and rotates around it, while a carriage with a reel of stretch film is carrying out wrapping, cutting and fastening of the package)
With turning lever (the pallet is motionless; a winding carriage with a film rotates around it)

Stretch system and lines are implementing the automatic process. The following units operate with thermosetting film:

Tunnel automatic machines (the pallet goes through the sealing part, and then the setting one; the photo-eye keeps the whole process under control; machines are of high productivity; they can be integrated into packaging lines);
Automatic wrapping machines (automatic unwinding of roll of film, wrapping of the pallet, cutting, sealing and thermosetting; saving of film by choosing the desired roll height; can be integrated with existing production lines);
Automatic thermosetting machines for packing in the sleeve film (they can operate with the thermosetting cases on top of the pallet, as well as independently cover the cargo).

Automatic packing in stretch film is carried out by the pallet wrappers:

With a turntable (the pallet is loaded onto the platform and wrapped with film during rotation; the process involves preliminary stretching of the film (up to 300%), that ensures its significant saving; after completing the corresponding wrapping program, the film is cut and sealed; they are distinguished by high performance); (3)
With turning lever (the pallet is motionless, and the carriage is placed on the bar rotating around the pallet; ensuring pre-stretching of film; ideal choice for packing of delicate and unstable goods; high operation speed);
Orbital systems ((heavy-duty units for packing of large and long pallets; high saving of the film; the cargo is loaded on the moving belt, that has a gap – in this place the wrapping carriage rotates around the pallet)

Resolutions for your success

The variety of options and technologies for packaging goods on the pallets comes down to one thing – the ability to ensure maximum protection and safety for your products. The use of modern packaging equipment guarantees the transfer of goods to the consumer in pristine order.

“Skladpack” company offers the best developments for automatic packaging of pallets in a stretch film. You may find the detailed information on the equipment from the best European manufacturers in the catalogue. Our experts will provide professional support and help make an optimal choice for your production. Quality packaging equipment is a guarantee of the competent optimization of your production.