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 Stretch Hood for Cement
Package Pavement Co., Inc. updates Packaging Equipment
Package Pavement Co. Inc., a QUIKRETE® manufacturer of concrete mixes, recently invested in new end-of-line packaging equipment to optimize productions and the standard of package presentation at its production facility in Stormville, NY.
Mr. Ralph Robinson, Vice President of Operations at Package Pavement stated that his prime objective was that the new packaging should ensure the integrity of the pallet loads all the way to their customers. “After installing the LACHENMEIER system we have experienced a reduction in transport damage and at the same time reduced the handling time”.
Package Pavement chose to invest in a stretch hood system from LACHENMEIER Inc., Hollywood, FL.
Package Pavement wanted to supplement the traditional stretch wrapping to allow their customers, home centers and constructions sites more flexibility in handling of the product. Further, they wanted outdoor storage of their palletized products without having to tarp the pallet loads.
Prior to installing the LACHENMEIER stretch hood system, it was necessary to cover the stretch wrapped loads with a tarpaulin to avoid the intrusion of dust, water, etc. during storage and transportation. The mere fact that they could avoid the time-consuming work of placing the tarpaulin over the loads has been a great asset.
Package Pavement contacted three of the leading companies within the field of end-of-line packaging in the search of a new packaging solution. LACHENMEIER Inc. was found on the Internet by Mr. Darren Doherty, the president of Package Pavement. LACHENMEIER introduced them to the stretch hood principle and they saw a LACHENMEIER stretch hood machine operating at the Lehigh Portland facility in York, PA -”a machine that appeared to be very well engineered and required a minimum of maintenance”, says Mr. Ralph Robinson. We recognized that the stretch hood machine is a key element in achieving a faster means of packaging, stable weather proof loads, which our customers have been looking for, says Robinson.
“The machines are capable of handling a film thickness of only 50µ, and are thus comparable to stretch wrapping in regards to film consumption”, explains Mr. Uffe S. Kristiansen, Sales Manager of LACHENMEIER Inc., North America.
Furthermore, you get a fixed wrapping cost per pallet when employing a stretch hood system. When using traditional stretch wrapping the operator often chooses to apply another layer of film, just to be “on the safe side”, thereby increasing the per pallet cost, Mr. Kristiansen explains.
The machine installed at Package Pavement Co. is wrapping 1200 x 1000 mm pallet loads of 25 and 35 kg bags of concrete at a rate of 60 pallets an hour. The potential of the LACHENMEIER machine is much higher though. 100+ pallets/h is possible in a LACHENMEIER stretch hood machine. Besides loads of concrete, the machine packs loads composed of cement sacks and filled cardboard boxes etc., which come automatically to the LACHENMEIER stretch hood machine.
The stretch hood machine receives pallet loads that have been automatically palletized and automatically measures the height of each load prior to entering the machine. A film hood of the correct length is manufactured and applied over the load without the use of heat.
“Given the heavy demands we place on machinery in an operation like ours, quality and dependability are primary concerns. Our experience with LACHENMEIER proved that the quality is very good, the system is robust and simple to operate and reliable.
The installation and fine-tuning of the machine carried out by LACHENMEIER technicians proved them to be meticulous and competent. To date our experience is that LACHENMEIER is a reliable partner, always responsive and listening to our needs. The system is living up to our expectations”, added Mr. Ralph Robinson.
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