Are You Making A Full Bale Every Time?
Harmony’s M60MD Low Profile baler being filled to capacity with cardboard boxes.
Did you know that every vertical baler available on the market is designed to produce a specific bale weight and size for different recyclable commodities? During recent site reviews and conversations with customers, our sales team has noticed several end-users not producing full bales with their current recycling machines.
This is not only bad for the function of the equipment, but can have a negative effect on their company’s efficiency and bottom line. That’s why we wanted to take a moment to remind you of the importance of making a full bale with your vertical recycling baler.
Importance Of Making A Full Bale
There are several reasons why you will want to have your staff make a full bale of cardboard, plastics, aluminum, paper, shrink wrap, non-ferrous metal, foam, carpet, or other materials.
Here are just a few:
Recycling Revenue – Recyclers pay for bales by size and weight. While a mill-sized bale is preferred by most recyclers, it is important that each bale you produce is of the optimum size and weight allowed by your baler. A mill-sized bale measures 60″ and can weight between 800-1000+ lbs. The value of cardboard, for example, is at an all time high, so its important that each bale you produce is getting top dollar from recyclers. That way you are not only saving the expense of throwing recyclables in your waste, you are earning the most profitable recycling revenue possible!
Bale Compression and Density – Bale density is created by factors like the hydraulic ram force place on the bale, the penetration of the ram into the bale chamber toward the floor, and the built in dwell time before ram retraction. The more full the bale, the more compression is likely to occur on the product, creating a more dense, heavier, and more valuable bale!
Proper Ejection – Some people think that smaller and lighter bales are easier to eject from balers. The opposite is actually true, especially when hydraulic eject systems are employed. Lighter, less full bales can get stuck mid-ejection, creating unnecessary hassle and safety hazards with having to manually pull the bale out of the chamber. Harmony’s M60CB Vertical Cardboard Baler, M60MD Vertical Low Profile Baler, and our M60STD Vertical 60″ Baler utilize our unique front side strap eject system. Harmony’s strap eject is a wide nylon strap that is hand-sewn by local Amish seamstresses. Its multiple stitches ensure that it will not fray, tear, or snap under duress. Watch this quick video of a full 1000 lb. bale of cardboard being ejected from a Harmony M60CB Vertical Cardboard Baler.
Employee FTE Savings – Making bales that are only partially full means that your employees are stopping the baling process to tie bales off more frequently than needed. This down-time of the baler and extra time taken by your staff is a waste. Making full bales uses less employee tying time, leading to FTE savings over time.
Bale Wire Savings – When you make full bales, you are making fewer smaller bales, and using less wires in the process. This can be a considerable savings when spread out over the life of the baler.
Space and Storage Savings – Another benefit to making a full bale is the operational and storage space gained. Single, more dense bales naturally take up less space than multiple less dense half-bales. Full bales are also easier to stack in warehouses, waste corrals, and on transport trucks.
REMINDER: With Harmony Enterprises’ vertical balers, it is not necessary to break down boxes or crush aluminum cans and PET bottles before loading them into the chamber. Our recycling machines are innovatively designed to provide maximum compaction of material into every bale.
Harmony Is Known For Equipment Longevity
This M30STD baler has been used at a Minneapolis grill since 1992!
Harmony Enterprises is the 2020 Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal Family-Owned Manufacturer of the Year. Our balers and compactors are recognized around the world for their longevity, quality, and efficiency.
Customers share stories with us every week on how their equipment has lasted for decades, far exceeding standard industry expectations for machine longevity. Making sure your staff is producing full bales on a regular basis will only add to the lifespan of your baler.
If you would like to learn more about our full line of recycling balers, or any of our other products or service and parts, please fill out this simple form. Or, if you prefer to talk with a friendly and knowledgeable sales team member, give us a call at (507) 886-6666. We would be happy to help you get the most out of your existing equipment, or use our Proven Process to provide you with the right solution for your business!
