Frequently Asked Questions: Pre-Purchase
What are my floor plan considerations?
What about headroom for a baler?
How would I handle baler output?
How are the bales lifted?
What are my power considerations?
What are my water considerations?
Do I need compressed air?
Will my baler operation produce much dust?
Are there any communications needed for a baler?
Frequently Asked Questions: Pre-Delivery
Should I be concerned about the concrete?
What about the electrical connections?
How is the equipment delivered?
Will we receive training?
Will I need hydraulic fluid on hand?
What about baling wire?
How much material is needed for testing?
What are my floor plan considerations?
Will the system fit in the available floor space at your facility? Work with a detailed system drawing that shows the recommended layout, including dimensions for auxiliary equipment and clearances for loading and maintenance access. Compare the space required to traffic routes for incoming materials and shipping operations.
What about headroom for a baler?
The need for adequate ceiling height will be determined by optional configurations of the baler and related equipment. If the baler is to be fed by a wheel loader or similar machine, see that you have enough clearance to operate a loaded bucket above the baler's feed hopper. While you're at it, check to be sure your loader can give you the lift height you need to reach over the top of the hopper! If the baler will be fed by conveyor, you will need headroom for the maximum conveyor height, fully loaded. Be sure to look for overhead obstacles that might encroach on the planned headroom. Alternatively, while many conveyors are installed at floor level, some are set down into a pit in the floor so that materials can be pushed from the floor onto the conveyor belt. This could mean digging a hole in the floor, forming and pouring a concrete pit to the specified dimensions and ensuring proper drainage.
How would I handle baler output?
Where will finished bales be stored until a full truckload is ready to ship? You might consider inside storage, outside storage or moving bales directly onto a waiting truck. Different balers will produce different bale sizes and some balers allow you to set the bale size you want. Bales can generally be stacked three high so this, along with the size of truck or container you are filling, will let you calculate the floor space you need for storage. You can save space by planning to use a smaller truck, but this will also affect your shipping costs and total cost per bale. Loading directly onto a truck can be a good option, but can you afford to tie up a loading dock full time?
How are the bales lifted?
Paper and cardboard bales typically weigh in the neighborhood of 2000 to 3000 lbs. Do you have a forklift with adequate capacity to move, stack and load one or two bales at a time? Consider whether your baler offers the right choice of bale size to suit the equipment and staff you already have available, versus the cost of purchasing new lifting equipment with higher capacity.
What are my power considerations?
Compressing material into compact bales for shipping can be a real cost-saver for your business, but high density requires the right amount of power. Make sure the appropriate 3-phase electrical service is available in your building. Before you install, you will need a direct line run from the main panel to the baler's location. The line must be adequate to carry the FLA (Full Load Amperage) for the baler and any attached equipment including conveyors, air systems, fluffers, etc.
What are my water considerations?
Some balers offer a water mist system to reduce dust and improve the adhesion of baled materials. If you are considering this feature, obviously, you will have to plan on plumbing in a water supply line for the misting system.
Do I need compressed air?
Some baling systems use compressed air for self-cleaning and maintenance. If the baler requires a supply of compressed air, you may be able to use lines from an existing compressor or you will have to consider a new source.
How loud is a baler?
Noise levels in industrial settings have become an important occupational health issue. The noise generated by different types and makes of balers can vary widely. You are well advised to check on the regulations and noise level limits that are in force for your facility then request noise level data from your baler manufacturer.
Will my baler operation produce much dust?
Paper baling operations tend to generate dust -- some more than others. As many industries have learned, excessive dust can be a significant hazard both to equipment and to employees. Planning for your new baler should include an assessment of potential dust problems, with consideration to the value of new dust control systems.
Are there any communications needed for a baler?
At Midsouth Conveying, all kinds of machinery can be equipped with sophisticated communications features these days and balers are no exception. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) on the baler can provide production data to maintenance and facilities management programs. Links to the manufacturer can allow technical support staff to troubleshoot and even correct issues remotely with minimal downtime. To take advantage of these capabilities, your baling equipment will need appropriate communications support such as network cabling, modem and dedicated phone lines.
Should I be concerned about the concrete?
You will need a Civil Engineering company with a concrete specialist to ensure that the foundation will structurally support the weight of the baler and other system components. Just ask the baler manufacturer for the weight and dimensional drawings. You will need to supply these to the engineering firm.
What about the electrical connections?
You will need an electrician that is certified to handle this type of application. One of the most important pieces of information that he will require will be the FLA or full load amps. FLA requirements include not only the baler but all components that will comprise your baling operation including conveyors, air systems and fluffers. Each of these units draw amperage and need to be calculated into the requirements. The FLA information is required so that the electrician can specify the right electrical components required for the hook-up between the main power source and the (MCC) main control cabinet located on the baler. If your equipment is going to be used in an outdoor application or in an area that will be exposed to moisture, NEMA 4 electrical components must be specified. Of course this will have been part of the discussion you would have had with your baler dealer or OEM to make sure that the equipment that you have selected meets your defined requirement.
How is the equipment delivered?
Balers are transported by various means but usually on flatbed trailers and off-loaded by several methods depending upon the installation contractor’s recommendations. The company doing the installation will need to know the weight of the baler, the height and width of your dock and your existing equipment. Again, the equipment weight and dimension drawings are again critical and will be something that the installers will need. Using the wrong lifting equipment could result in damage of the equipment or even injury. Midsouth Conveying can make the freight arrangements with a trucking firm that has an excellent reputation. This includes providing customer service such as calling you or your installation contractor 24 hours prior to arriving at the site. This advance notice means that the rigging company has time to get the equipment in place to off load your new investment with all the right equipment.
Will we received training?
Training is important. Your operators need training on the features of your new investment; maximizing the baler efficiency, maintenance and safety. Midsouth Conveying offers multiple training plans. The baler manufacturer will be on-site for start-up to insure all issues are handled and all questions are answered. Your company can choose to be trained by MSC personel, by the manufacturer, or a combination of both.
Will I need hydraulic fluid on hand?
Your new baler will not be shipped with hydraulic fluid in the tank. Your Pre-Start Up Manual will provide the correct number of gallons of hydraulic fluid and a list of suggested fluid manufacturers. The hydraulic fluid needs to be located at the installation site upon the arrival of the equipment so that the installation contractor or dealer’s installer can add the fluid into the tank prior to start-up. (According to the manual, it is recommended that the hydraulic fluid be added with an inline filter with no more than 10 microns of filtration.)
What about baling wire?
Make sure that when it comes time to test the machine that you have the correct baling wire. Not using the correct wire can cause serious injury to the operator. Talk to your dealer or the equipment manufacturer about the proper wire size and type.
How much material is needed for testing?
When all of the installation procedures have been completed, you will be able to test the equipment to ensure that it is running as it should. Getting it right at this time will get you to the production numbers quicker and with less headaches. Make sure that you have enough testing material available to properly test the equipment.
