Banding Machines And Systems For Forest Products, Lumber, Brick And Paving Stone Manufacturers

Banding and strapping a finished load of industrial product is one of the most critical factors when it comes to several industries, including those specializing in forest products, lumber, and brick and paving stone. It is in the area of packaging/strapping that the largest bottlenecks can occur, which can be frustrating as a company’s main objective is to get the completed packages of material out of the door as quickly as possible. The high price of labour often means that industries lose quite a bit of man hours at a strapping station. Many are turning to automated systems both to save time and to reduce costs both man hours and worker risk.

Top of the line banding machines and systems eliminate the need for labour except as far as operation of the machine. As is the case with all automation, the length of time these machines need to band specific products is often a fraction of what it would take a labourer, thus even higher end machines will pay for themselves in the long run.
Smaller operations may still choose to use a labour intensive banding system, such as those that are operated by hand for strapping bundles of plywood in mills. These machines still reduce the time it would take if the banding were tightened through hand held devices, but they do pose some risk to the worker and are not as efficient as big setups.

Although banding machines and systems have come a long way, there is still no machine that will work in every industry. Not only will banding machines be tailored to their industry purpose, they will also be programmed to utilize a certain type of banding, such as metal strapping or heat sealing. A banding machine for the lumber industry, for example, may be meant to incorporate dunnage and pallets, while a brick banding machine should be designed to accommodate fall away loads that do not use panels.

Industry buyers should also consider the makeup of the machine before purchase. After all, these machines do cost quite a lot of money, and they need to last for a long time. It is important not only that they are made from sturdy materials, but also that they have a limited amount of moving parts, for lower maintenance. Often machines that incorporate a heat seal will also allow for some costs to be cut by using less expensive banding for their loads.

Using a banding machine or system is one way for industry to cut costs as well as guarantee that product backup will be minimized. These machines can be put to work 24 hours a day, and are thus a great way to maximize productivity.

By: Rob Parker

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