Vertical baler features and tools

What makes a good cardboard baler? Before purchasing a vertical baler, there are several criteria and characteristics to consider when choosing the specific model and making that you want. Below you will find an outline of all the requirements and features you may want to give thought to during this decision process.

A vertical cardboard baler can reduce the volume of cardboard by up to 95%.

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What makes a good baler – Checklist

If you want to buy a baler, then you should consider a few points in advance. But what makes a good baler? Below we have listed the most important points to help you to go through an easy decision process.

• Baler types – Dependent on the amount and dimensions of space you have available and how you will use the baler, a choice needs to be made between a horizontal and vertical baler. Additionally, some balers can compress substances other than cardboard, such as plastic.
• Size of baler – How big or small your baler should or can depend on various factors, such as available space and amount of use.
• Power required– Most large balers cannot get plugged into your average power socket. They need more power than that. For example, HSM V-press 860 L requires a voltage of 400V. The electricity need is an important feature to take into account. Nevertheless, there are smaller balers that a standard power socket may power. However, as the power socket voltage can vary per region, we advise you to do your research on this.
• Production capacity/bale size – your baler’s capacity and the dimensions of the final bale that comes out is an important criterion to consider. These are also important to contact your waste hauler about as the bales’ dimensions will affect them too.
• Safety for the operator –Does the baler comply with safety regulations? And what type of safety features does it have? Does it have interlocked doors and movement detection devices?
• Maintenance – How much maintenance does the machine need? Can you do it yourself, or does someone professional need to come to do it? Is a maintenance contract possible?
• Warranty – How long is the warranty of the baler? And what kinds of malfunctions does it include?

Features and extras

• Door specifications – The door size and direction in which the door opens can vary per baler. So before the purchase, you should think about what feed width or door size you prefer and whether the door should flap or slide shut from bottom to top or if it swings left to right with a single or double door. Furthermore, the door lock should be considered, a bell-crank lever, a hand wheel door lock, or a hydraulic lock.
• Pallets or recessed bale – Some balers produce recessed bales while others do not. The difference between a recessed bale and a normal one is that recessed bales get molded to fit your forklift, while regular bales must get placed on a pallet before being transported. Not needing pallets can save a lot of storage space and some money as well.
• Noise level & energy efficiency – Although balers are industrial machines that generally make quite some noise, some models are advertised to be quieter than others and more energy efficient.
• Automated hauling option – Some balers can be programmed to notify your waste hauler when it comes to picking up the waste. However, the purchase of a baler in general and this program’s use should be discussed with your waste hauler repurchase.

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Internal or external moving parts

Most vertical balers have their moving parts, such as the pressing cylinders and strapping rolls, visible on the top of the machine. But you can also opt for a baler where the moving parts are hidden and protected inside the machine.

A baler with external moving parts is generally less expensive than a baler with outer moving parts. But it requires more vertical space. When you want to station a cardboard box baler in a room or area (such as a warehouse rack) with limited height, then a baler with integrated parts is an option.

The downside is that baler machines with internal parts are more expensive, in the range of $2,000. Besides that, not every manufacturer has this type of baler in their assortment.

Bramidan is a manufacturer with a wide range of balers with internal or external moving parts. Most of their clients opt for a baler with external moving parts.

Customers that do want a baler with integrated moving parts do this mainly for space-saving reasons. A smaller audience wants this machine because of its sleeker look and design.

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Door types

Cardboard balers all contain a door, but how you open or close the door is all up to your preferences. For instance, you can choose a double door baler where the door is split in half.

Or you can get a baler with a loading flap, where the door tilts towards the operator. There are also balers with a sliding door, which requires less space. Lastly, you can opt for a cardboard baler with an (automatic) sliding door.

Large or small baler?

• Overall, large balers produce bales that are about twice larger than those of small to medium-sized balers.
• Small or medium balers produce bales that weigh half or even a quarter of bales produced by large balers.
• The footprint of a large baler is up to four times the size of small to medium balers.
• A larger baler’s average pressing power is usually at least 150% of the pressing force of a small to a medium baler.
• The required space for a disposal container is 20 m², a vertical baling press only needs 6 m².

Read our more in-depth article about the size of a cardboard baler.

Tools, supplies, and accessories

Besides a cardboard baler, what other supplies do you need to start baling your cardboard?

• Wheeled container – Place wheeled containers for cardboard waste at centralized areas in and around your company. Once full, these wheeled containers can easily be transported to the baling press.
• Strapping – To keep a compressed bale in a compact form. It is crucial to strap the bale with metal wire or another strong binding material to prevent it from falling apart.
• Pallet – When a bale is ready, it will get ejected from the baler. Therefore, you need a pallet to hold the cardboard bale once it gets prepared for transportation.
• Pallet truck (with scale) – To transport the pallet with the cardboard bale, a pump truck or pallet truck comes in handy. We recommend a pallet truck with a scale so you can weigh the cardboard bale on the go.
• Self-dumping hopper – This attachment for a forklift can be used to store, transport, and dump cardboard material in the area of the cardboard compactor. 

A pallet and a pallet truck are recommended tools (image source).

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