How much does a cardboard baler cost?

Short ROI on a low-cost investment.
Updated on Feb. 8, 2024 | Author: Brent Nijssen

A cardboard baler is an investment in your company with a lot of cost-saving and environmental benefits. The initial average investment of a new vertical cardboard baler machine is between $10,000 – $25,000. A new horizontal baler starts at $20,000 for a closed-door baler. Depending on the organization’s needs and the specifications of the baler, costs can differ.

But the cost involved with a cardboard baler should also include operating costs, which differ significantly per baler and the use intensity within your warehouse.

To create a comprehensive answer to the actual cost of a cardboard baler, we split the answer into two sections.

Check: Machine prices of new and used balers compared per size.

1. Small vertical baler prices
2. Medium vertical baler prices
3. Large vertical baler prices
4. Closed-end horizontal baler prices
5. Open-end horizontal baler with auto-tie function prices
6. Industrial baler with auto-tie function prices

Check: Operating and maintenance cost associated with a cardboard baler

1. Cardboard bale strapping material
2. Maintenance of the baler
3. Energy usage
4. Labour cost of usage

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Cardboard baler machine prices

Small, medium, large and industrial balers

A cardboard baling machine is mainly used to compress and crush your cardboard boxes and packaging material into high-value secondary material for the recycling of cardboard.

That’s why you should be well informed about which cardboard baler is suitable for your organization. This depends mostly on the output of cardboard and the size and weight of cardboard bales you want to produce.

When you choose the right-sized baler, the main question becomes whether you should buy a new or a used one. Used ones, in general, are significantly cheaper but will require more maintenance early on, incurring higher annual costs.

Next to that, malfunction of a used baler could occur more, hindering the internal logistical processes in your warehouse.

Prices for vertical balers

In this table you can identify the approximate prices for a new baler and the prices for a used vertical baler machine.

Price of HSM vertical balers

HSM Baler	Price
HSM V-Press 610	Approx. $11,000 USD CHECK PRICE »
HSM V-Press 820	Approx. $17,200 USD CHECK PRICE »
HSM V-Press 825 plus	Approx. $17,700 USD CHECK PRICE »
HSM V-Press 825 plus pro	Approx. $18,600 USD CHECK PRICE »
HSM V-Press 860 eco	Approx. $22,080 USD CHECK PRICE »
HSM V-Press 860 plus B	Approx. $23,000 USD CHECK PRICE »
HSM V-Press 1160 eco	Approx. $23,800 USD CHECK PRICE »
HSM V-Press 1160 plus	Approx. $25,200 USD CHECK PRICE »

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Prices for horizontal balers

#1) Closed-end horizontal baler cost

A closed-end horizontal cardboard baler will cost approximately the following:

• Cost new baler: $ 20000 – $ 100000
• Cost used baler: from $ 15000

Check closed-end horizontal balers

#2) Open-end horizontal baler with auto-tie function cost

An open-end horizontal cardboard baler will cost approximately the following:

• Cost new baler: $ 100000 – $ 750000
• Cost used baler: from $ 40000

Check open-end horizontal balers

#3) Industrial cardboard baler with auto-tie function cost

An industrial-sized cardboard press approximately the following:

• Cost new baler: $ 400000 – $ 1.5 million
• Cost used industrial baler: from $ 50000

Price indication source: RecyclingToday & Recycling.nl

Renting or leasing a cardboard baler

Another option baler manufacturers offer is the ability to rent or lease a cardboard baler machine. Renting or leasing a cardboard baler spreads out the substantial investment involved with cardboard balers. The rent or lease contracts get agreed upon on a per month basis for a fixed price.

Operating and maintenance costs

Maintenance, strapping material, energy usage and staffing

The operating cost will be based on a few factors linked to the intensity the machine gets used. The four groups are maintenance, strapping material, staffing, and energy consumption.

#1) Recycling balers will require annual maintenance to decrease any malfunctions and ensure the machine runs smoothly. When you buy, rent, or lease a  baler, we advise always taking a service contract with the manufacturer.

The manufacturer will always have the correct spare parts in their inventory when a machine component of the baler breaks down, which cuts down the machine’s downtime.

Next to that, the manufacturer has in-depth knowledge of the machine, should part of the machine break down, then they should come up with the cause early on. The cost depends on the baler size and age and differs per manufacturer.

#2) The strapping material for tying the bale together should consist of a strong material that counteracts the outward force stored in the bale. For bales, there are three options, namely:

• Polyester baling tape costing around: $ 0.02 – $ 0.04 per meter
• iron baling wire costing approximately: $ 0.06 – $ 0.11 per meter
• Black annealed baling wire (3.4 mm): $ 0.06 – $ 0.11 per meter

*Price indication based on data between the years 2015 – 2021

The prices of these strapping materials for baler machines fluctuate according to the market prices of their respective raw material.

Vertical balers can use polyester strapping, but these polyester strapping can’t hold together the outward pressure force stored in bales produced by a horizontal baler machine.

Polyester strapping, thus, isn’t a viable option that leaves iron- or black annealed baling wire on the table. These materials are generally two to three times more costly per meter/ foot than polyester strapping but guarantee that the bales stay together. Ensuring your bales are stackable and won’t break open, creating a mess at your company site.

“Make sure you always have strapping wire on supply to ensure a continuous baling process at your facility.”

#3) Staffing is, of course, needed to operate the machine. When you opt for a vertical or closed-end baler, the time required by manual labor for one bale is higher than an open-end auto-tie horizontal baler.

The extra handling with the vertical or closed-end machines is for strapping each bale individually and ejecting it manually on a pallet, pallet jack, or forklift truck.

All versions of the recycling machine will require an operator(s), monitoring the baling process, feeding it with recycleables materials, and stacking the bales when they have been compressed from the baling- channel or chamber.

#4) Lastly, the energy consumption that is used to power the machine. The cost for this depends on the current energy price, use intensity of the recycling baler, and the type of baler.

What are the benefits of cardboard baling and recycling?

Check the article we wrote about the benefits and cost-savings of baling your cardboard.