Balers - The Basics
Overview:
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A baler is a waste reduction machine that compacts refuse into manageable bundles. Those bundles can then be disposed of by a garbage company or sold to a recycling company. Balers are purchased by many different types of companies. They can include warehouses and retail outlets, or any other company that produces lots of similar waste, such as newsprint, cardboard, envelope scrap, or foam. |
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It’s important to choose a baler geared to your business process. Some balers are designed for occasional use and require an operator to supervise operation, as well as tie the bale and remove it. These balers are inexpensive and more suited to those businesses that won’t need to constantly use the baler. This type of business is more interested in reducing the fire hazard and vermin infestation enabled by lots of loose trash. Some balers are geared toward low labor input and higher output of baled trash. These balers are typically oriented toward a horizontal workflow, and are called horizontal balers. More advanced balers may also have a continual flow model, where there is an open end, or a pause to the cycle, typically with a closed door. These balers may have, as an option, an automatic tying device that eliminates the need for an operator or attendant to watch the baler and tie the bale when the cycle is finished. |
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A baler may be fitted with certain accessories to make it more productive and require less human input. These accessories are almost always put on high-volume machines in order to facilitate a continual smooth flow of waste material. The first important option is a piggyback shredder mounted atop the baler. A piggyback shredder will shred the waste, hopefully to soup-can sized chunks. The soup-can sized chunk is the most space efficient size to bale. The second option is a feed conveyor. Feed conveyors eliminate the need for a operator to carefully load the shredder or baler. The final option is a air recovery system. Balers are operted by a industrial voltage AC motor which powers a hydraulic pump. The pump drives a ram that is either manually or automatically actuated. Balers must be made of heavy duty steel welded to precise standards due to the pressures exerted during the compacting process. Operator controls can be PLC or push-button. |