26 Oct New and Used Cardboard Box Baler Solutions and Rental Options
When a company needs a cardboard baler there is no one-size-fits-all machine that suits every purpose. A list of factors impacts the purchasing decision, such as the volume, type and size of material destined for baling, the preferred method of feeding the machine, and the company’s budget, among others.
One common mistake when gathering quotations for a cardboard baler is ignoring the adage: “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.” Any machine has its limitations. Deal with the company that will provide you with an honest assessment to match needs with expectations. The best outcome will be a recommendation that will hopefully maximize the return on investment for your capital expenditure.
Cardboard baler rental options are available as well. It’s an appealing alternative for companies that want to avoid buying new and used equipment. When you sell your cardboard, it may even help cover the monthly rental fee. Additionally, your business can save on hauling costs. Learn more about rental options.
Size
The size of the largest cardboard box that requires baling will determine the size opening of the required baling machine. For example, a 60-inch vertical baler will be able to handle boxes up to that size limit. If a company has cardboard boxes that are 64 inches long, the boxes will not fit or jam the machine and the client should consider the next size up, like one with a 72-inch feed.
Box size is one of the critical questions the salesperson should ask and the client answer honestly. There is likely a variety of box sizes being fed into the baler, but it is the box with the largest dimension that will most affect sizing requirements for optimal performance.
Volume
Horizontal balers fit situations when there is a large volume of scrap or boxes that need to be baled. These can be fed continuously and are equipped with hoppers in various sizes.
For example, a manufacturer that makes paper or cardboard boxes is an ideal candidate for a high-volume horizontal baling machine. Printers and paper converters will often install a pneumatic device to gather scraps or trim, then pneumatically convey the scraps into an automatic collection device. In this instance, the size of the baling machine will be determined by the volume, density and weight of the scrap being collected.
The horizontal baler will compress and bale the scraps or boxes into a marketable bale the company can sell to a recycling facility or directly to a mill. These types of facilities can generate enough scrap to create four to six bales per hour that weigh 1500 lbs.
In contrast, a distribution center for apparel or other consumer goods might generate enough scrap to make one bale every two hours.
Consistency
Another factor to take into consideration when purchasing a cardboard baler is the timing related to feeding the machine. Is there a consistent volume of material flowing throughout the day or are there peak times?
For example, in the case of a paper or cardboard manufacturer, there is high volume consistently fed into the machine through the pneumatic collection system. In the case of a recycling operation with a fleet of collection trucks, all the trucks generally return to the plant at the same time. This sudden heavy volume can overwhelm a single baler or cardboard baling machine that is not sized appropriately.
Space Constraints
Vertical or horizontal balers consume very different floor space. Retail outlets or stores that need to bale scrap boxes are prime candidates for a vertical baler. This type of baler occupies approximately the amount of space as a large desk and are hand-fed. This type of machine often has a short cycle time of 45-50 seconds and is very easy to operate, starting the cycle at the push of a button.
Smaller manufacturers that need to conserve space and don’t have a large volume of cardboard to bale could also consider a vertical style baling machine.
Budget
Ely Enterprises offers both new and reconditioned equipment. A reconditioned baler costs approximately 50-60% of a new machine.
We don’t stop at selling the machine. With our own fleet of trucks, we transport both new and reconditioned cardboard balers to the site, install the machine and help train staff on proper usage. If there are any issues with the machine, our service technicians will help diagnose and fix the problem.
Balers Transform Disposal Fees into Savings
Finally, the right cardboard baler can help transform disposal fees into savings.
Any operation that generates scrap, from manufacturers to retailers, will incur disposal fees for waste haulers. The fees related to cardboard can be turned into savings with the proper type of baler. In the case of a smaller manufacturer or distribution service, a vertical baling machine with a small footprint can help rid them of disposal fees related to cardboard boxes and scraps.
In one instance, a small manufacturing firm was paying $1,000 per month in disposal fees. A vertical baler from Ely reduced the disposal fees by $500 per month. This amount paid off the baler within 18 months and the company could look to years’ worth of service from the baler they purchased.
Learn more about our horizontal and vertical cardboard balers, or give us a call at 216-249-6189.
