During a recent factory visit, we noticed a customer was using a lot of stretch film to wrap pallets. They informed us that they were using a substantial amount of manual hand wrap for their products. They were manual hand wrapping 90 pallets per day. Hence, they found that their backs were getting sore. Also, it was taking up a lot of their time as rolls kept breaking, since they were using a 7 micron pre-stretch wrap.
What problems were they facing?
The pallets were being made up for all different sizes and weights of loads. This wasn’t suiting the wrap they were currently using. They needed a stronger micron film, with more stretch-capability.
Could they use a better film?
We mentioned we supply machine wrappers that go hand in hand with our wide range of films. The best option on the market now is to use Stratos film. It’s made from 3 different extrusions that can stretch up to 300%. This would suit them best, as it gives increased loan containment, which will stabilize their awkward packed pallets.
Once we showed them a video clip of Stratos, we suggested to get a machine in on a free trial basis that would offer cost savings, labour savings and improve load containment. Forget manual hand wrapping.
What pallet wrapper should they use?
The wrapper we proposed was a Cyklop CTT300 which has power pre-stretch rollers that can stretch up to 300%. Using this wrapper with Stratos is like “bread and butter”. It also has a digital touch-screen which you can set up 9 different programs. They were happy to proceed with a Loan trial, so we got an agreement form signed and power set up on the production floor.
What happened when the wrapper arrived on site?
When we finally got the wrapper on site we conducted film trials. We did the trials based on their current cost of hand wrapping versus using the wrapper and Stratos. The yield savings were substantial which resulted in a lot of cost savings.
The timing was a big thing for them as we could wrap a pallet in 32 seconds. Hence, the operators agreed it would take them that long to even go and get a roll of hand wrap, never mind wrapping it. The fact was there was no wear and tear on their backs and this was a massive positive for them. A lot of the operators were in their mid-forties so this was a major selling point also.
Based on a payback period of 1 year and 9 months they decided to buy the wrapper outright.
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