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 Stretch Hood for chemicals in sacks and big bags.
Solvay choose a Lachenmeier Stretch Hood machine
Solvay Barium Strontium GmbH, member of the global Solvay group, recently ordered a Lachenmeier Stretch Hood machine for their plant in Bad Hönningen, Germany. The stretch hood machine was to replace their 15 year old and outdated shrink wrapping machine where they were facing major stability problems concerning the pallet loads.
Lachenmeiers task was to supply a fully automatic system requiring only a low level of maintenance, with a high performance, which was to solve Solvay’s stability problems and which should be wrapping barium and strontium in paper sacks and big bags 16 hours a day, 5 days a week throughout the year.
Solvay contacted several of the leading machine suppliers within the field of end-of-line packaging in their search for a new packaging solution. “We could have chosen a conventional shrink hood machine, which has been the preferred packaging solution in our industry for a long time. However, we followed a different approach, and after having consulted Lachenmeier, who introduced us to the stretch hood system, we had no doubts: we wanted the Lachenmeier stretch hood machine”, says Mr Kruft, Logistic Manager at Solvay. “It was obvious that the Lachenmeier stretch hood machine was a very stable, robust machine with very few moving parts and thus a low level of main-
tenance. Furthermore, the stretch hood tests carried out at Lachenmeiers test facilities in Denmark proved a very good load stability and a high standard of product presentation”, Mr Kruft adds.
“One of the great advantages of the Lachenmeier stretch hood machine is the “simplicity”. It has no unnecessary motors, few moving parts, and it is easy to operate; all together clear advantages in the daily service of the machine”, he says. Another feature facilitating the work of the operating team is the Siemens graphical operator panel with a graphical error indicator.
The Lachenmeier stretch hood machine is characterized by its great flexibility, which enables it to wrap varying pallet sizes in one machine with automatic change between the different sizes. The Solvay stretch hood machine wraps CP1, CP2 and CP3 pallets as well as 1050 x 1050 mm and 1100 x 1100 mm pallets using only one film size. The capacity of the Solvay machine is set to 50 loads an hour. However, the capacity of a Lachenmeier Stretch Hood machine is much higher; it is possible to pack more than 150 loads an hour.
The Solvay machine wraps a combination of sack loads and big bags which are conveyed into the machine chaotically. Not all pallets are conveyed directly from the palletiser, which mean that the Lachenmeier stretch hood machine not always receives a signal directly from the palletiser, indicating which pallet type to be wrapped. Some of the pallets are fed manually by truck from two different positions. Solvay’s objective was now to find a supplier who could find a solution, enabling the machine to read the load type being conveyed into the machine automatically, so that he correct type of packaging can be chosen – either single hood for the sacks or double hoods for the big-bags. Already at the beginning of the project Lachenmeier announced, that they were able to solve this problem.
The big bag pallets are stored outside and, therefore, they are wrapped with a double hood in order to keep the first hood clean. The second hood is for weatherproof only and is removed prior to delivery. The second hood has been dimensioned in a way so that it can easily be removed without damaging the first hood.
Previously, the Solvay big bags were shrink-wrapped and before outdoor storage an oversize hood was applied and a pallet was placed on top in order to secure the wrapped load and to avoid the second hood to blow away. “Primarily, this method caused a lot of damage to our products, secondly, it created a mess because of all the broken pallets and pieces of wood lying around”, Mr Kruft says. According to Mr Kruft, Solvay has achieved considerably cost savings since buying the new Lachenmeier stretch hood machine. “The mere fact that we avoid the time consuming work of placing a second hood over the load manually and over that a pallet, has been a great asset”, Mr Kruft adds.
The Solvay machine is equipped with a double film feed device and a double film roll stand. However, because of the flexibility of the gripper system, it is possible to wrap all pallet sizes using only one film size. The film from the second film roll, specially designed for Solvay, is only applied in order to protect the bags during outdoor storage. The change between the two rolls is carried out automatically.
“The overall impression and approach of Lachenmeier and the machine has been very positive. The system is fully equal to our expectations”, Mr Kruft concludes.
According to Mr Per Andersen, Sales Manager of Lachenmeier GmbH, Germany, stretch hood packaging offers several advantages in comparison with other packaging options, e.g. the considerable reduction of packaging costs because of the reduced film consumption and the non-consumption of heat. Furthermore, the stretch hood method provides improved load visibility for quality control and provides a first class brand application for better company image.
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