Shrink control - Techniques for the film packaging of pallets have developed continuously during the last decades

June 2008
PPI Special Report

Paper manufacturer Koehler, based in Kehl, Germany installed an innovative shrink packaging line, to answer demands for cost savings in energy and packaging material as well as an increased packaging capacity. To fulfill these requirements, the company approached machine manufacturer MSK. During the following reference visits, the technical project management from Koehler was able to inspect different shrink packaging lines. Some of them package the pallets with a shrink hood, others envelope the pallets with shrink film before being shrunk. However, common to all was the efficient shrink frame technique that realises energy savings with substantially reduced maintanance costs, as well as the required packaging capacity and a controllable packaging result needed by Koehler. “The performance and the technical standard of the reference machines have convinced us,” confirms Volker Panther, member of the technical project management at Koehler.

The shrink result can be specifically controlled, even at high speed

An MSK Multitech high speed packaging line was installed which packages up to 100 pallets per hour. The machine is equipped with four different film formats and tunes in flexibly to various pallet sizes. It wraps ream wrapped folio size paper as well as paper rolls standing on pallets with an all-around watertight film packaging. The capable shrink frame technique – Synchrotech – operates with a specially developed MSK hot air system and consists of two control systems that can operate the long and short side of the shrink ring independently. This means the system is able to shrink a large number of different pallet dimensions without calling for mechanical adjustment of the heating bars. The shrink frame tunes in perfectly and fully automatically to the different sizes. Compared to shrink ovens, this technique leads to energy savings with high safety standards without risk of fire and film-sparing shrinkage. “The operational concept of the shrinking machine to use only the necessary heating energy for each load unit was the decisive advantage in favour of MSK," explains Panther.

The shrink result can be specifically controlled, even at high speed, so that this technology offers an outstanding display effect and load stability of the products. Compared to shrink ovens, maintenance costs could be reduced considerably with the new shrink frame system.

Beside the shrink hood packaging line, MSK also delivered conveying systems and shuttle cars. The company further integrated additional modules, such as a cover board applicator for various pallet sizes, as well as systems for scanning and weighing.

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