Waste Baler

Material Collection: The materials are gathered and sorted to remove any contaminants or non-recyclable items. This sorting process ensures that only suitable materials are fed into the baler.

Loading: The sorted recyclable materials are loaded into the hopper or feeding chamber of the baler. Some balers may have conveyor belts or mechanical systems to transport the materials into the chamber automatically.

Compression: Once the materials are inside the baler’s chamber, a powerful hydraulic ram activates and creates pressure on the materials.

Binding: A binding material holds the compacted materials together and forms a stable bale. Typically, steel wires or straps are fed into the baler, and they are positioned around the compressed materials before the ram retracts.

Tying: The binding material is then fastened around the bale by a tying mechanism. This can be done using wire cutters and twisting the wires into a knot, or some balers have automated systems that tie the wires or straps automatically.

Ejection: Once the bale is tied, the baler’s chamber is opened, and the completed bale is ejected or pushed out of the machine onto a platform or conveyor belt. The bale is then moved to a storage area.

Removal and Transport: Depending on the facility’s operations, the bales may be manually removed from the storage area or transported using forklifts or other handling equipment. They are typically stacked and secured for transportation to recycling facilities or storage until they can be transported.

It’s worth noting that the specific design and functionality of Waste balers may vary depending on their size, capacity, and the materials they handle. Some balers may have additional features such as automatic tying systems, bale monitoring sensors, or integrated conveyor systems for efficient material handling.

Space Requirements and Your Facility
When choosing a baler for your facility, space requirements are a critical factor to consider. Different types of balers have varying sizes and space needs, impacting where they can be installed and how they operate within your facility.

Vertical balers are commonly used in various commercial and industrial settings, including supermarkets, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and recycling centers. These balers typically produce bales ranging from 10 to 90 cubic feet, weighing up to approximately 2,000 pounds, depending on the material. Their compact design makes them suitable for locations with limited space. Some models are small enough to be portable when equipped with casters, offering flexibility in placement within a facility.

Horizontal balers, on the other hand, are more suited for applications with higher volumes of waste or continuous feed systems. They are ideal for municipalities, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, and other large-scale operations. These balers generate larger bale sizes, often up to 70 cubic feet, and can handle a wider variety of materials.

Efficiency and Speed Matter
Efficiency and speed in baler operations are essential for optimising waste management and recycling processes. In a fast-paced business environment, swiftly and effectively processing waste materials is vital for operational productivity and cost-effectiveness.

An efficient baler shortens the time needed to compress and bundle waste, increasing throughput. This is especially important for businesses with large volumes of waste. An efficient baler ensures timely waste processing, preventing the build-up of unprocessed materials and avoiding operational bottlenecks.

Speed isn’t only about the baler’s operational rate; it’s also about how swiftly it can adapt to different materials. A versatile baler that handles various materials with minimal downtime for adjustments leads to smoother, more efficient operations. Moreover, a faster baler impacts labour costs. Quicker balers necessitate less manual intervention and monitoring, freeing staff for other tasks. This is particularly significant in larger facilities where waste management is continuous.

Maintenance and Ease of Use
Maintenance and ease of use are critical factors in the selection and ongoing operation of waste management equipment, such as balers. These aspects are crucial for ensuring the equipment operates efficiently, safely, and reliably over its lifespan.

Maintenance Considerations
Regular Servicing: Regular maintenance is essential to keep the baler in optimal working condition. This includes routine checks and servicing of mechanical parts, hydraulic systems, and electrical components.

Access to Parts and Service: Accessibility to spare parts and service is important, especially for high-use equipment. Prolonged downtime due to unavailable parts or service can be costly for businesses.

Simplicity of Design: A baler that is designed with maintenance in mind, having easily accessible components, can significantly reduce the time and cost involved in maintenance activities.

User Maintenance: Some balers are designed to allow basic maintenance tasks to be performed by the user, such as cleaning and simple part replacements, which can reduce the need for specialist servicing.

Ease of Use
User-Friendly Interface: Modern balers often come with user-friendly interfaces, such as touch screens or intuitive controls, making them easier to operate.

Safety Features: Safety is paramount. Balers should have built-in safety features such as emergency stop buttons, guards, and safety interlocks to protect users.

Efficiency in Operation: The ease of loading materials, speed of operation, and the process of tying and ejecting bales are also important aspects of ease of use. A baler that is efficient in its operation can save considerable time and labor.

Regularly Clean the Baler
Ensure that when operating your baler is has been cleaned. A lot of debris, dust, and grime accumulate in the baler that can cause damage to the internal parts if left uncleaned. It is also important to keep the area around the baler free of waste to help prevent rodents and other buildup around the equipment that could cause further damage. Dirt around the control console can lead to some issues, a build-up of dust can cause overheating of the motors and cooler, which can be an expensive repair or replace. With that being said, take time to clean away any dust each day while conducting deeper cleans weekly, monthly, and quarterly.

Keep Up on Preventative Maintenance
Another baler maintenance tip is to routinely check for preventative maintenance needs. Instead of waiting for parts to break down. Take the time to do minor maintenance over the weeks and months which will save you thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs or replacements. We recommend completing weekly, monthly, and yearly maintenance checks and repairs on your baler. Weekly maintenance should be top of mind in this regard, some examples of this are cleaning parts, avoiding dust build-ups, inspecting the oil and testing condition of the power unit.

Always Check Your Oil
Baler operators should always be checking oil levels when cleaning the equipment. Oil is critical for a stable and safe operation making it extremely important to check this regularly to ensure no issues. Changing your machinery’s oil only needs to be done every few years, although certain conditions, such as dust build-up, often mean the oil needs to be changed more frequently. Also, make sure to note the oil temperature as this plays an important role in keeping your baler efficient and not slow.

Keep Up with Hydraulic Maintenance
The hydraulics are the driving force behind your baler, yet they tend to be overlooked and break down sooner than they should. Issues with baler hydraulics are a common issue due to the pressure and very high temperature they operate under, so make sure to check these regularly to ensure optimal performance. For example, the baler’s hydraulic fluid levels should always be in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations, while also inspecting the oil around the hydraulics is also an important task. Lastly, having a lot of dust build-up may cause your machine to overheat sooner than necessary, so make sure to check around the hydraulics and clean when needed.