How To: Instructions on Selecting or Buying a New or Used Baler

Buying a new or used baler (frequently spelled as bailer)can be challenging task with the variety of machines for sale. See below for a few key steps and helpful hints to buying the correct one.

A. Determine your needs. Even when working with a knowledgeable sales person, some information needs to be determined.

1. What kind of material needs to be baled? News paper, Old Corrugated Containers (OCC), Aluminum Siding, Textile, Plastic, etc.
2. How much material needs to be baled? Usually the industry talks volume in terms of tons generated whether daily or weekly or monthly.
3. How is material collected and moved such as carts or totes, conveyor, air scrap handling, etc.
4. What kind of power is available? Single phase, 3 Phase, Voltage and Amp Capacity

B. Select a Baler type.

1. Vertical Baler: Plunger or platen travels up and down. Different size balers are available from 24” wide 72” wide. Makes bales ranging from 250lbs- 1,500 lbs. Strictly hand feed only and good for production typically up to 4 bales per shift.

2. Horizontal Baler: Also known as Single Ram Horizontal Balers,the plunger or platen travels from front to back with an open top to allow for automated feeding. Machines are subcategorized into

a) Closed End Balers: This baler has a door on the end of bale chamber that material is compressed against and needs to be opened and closed each bale. Requires hand tying. Good for automated feeding by conveyor, cart dumper or trim system in low volume applications.

b) Open End Baler: Balers use a tensioning system to clamp down on bale being extruded. Requires hand tying. Better production than closed end as the steps in opening and closing door are eliminated.

c) Auto-Tie Balers: Same as Open End but equipped with Automatic Baling Wire Feeding and Tying System. These are the most popular balers used in distribution centers and the printing or paper industries. In feed hopper sizes range from 30”x30” to 83”X43” and production capacities up to 50 tons per hour

d) 2-Ram Balers: Also known as box chamber balers, these machines compress material against a fixed wall then push out completed bale out at a 90 degree angle to compression while automatically tying bale off with wires. Most commonly used in multi grade material recovery facilities, plastics and solid waste.

e. Upstroke or Pit Balers: Platten sits at the bottom of a pit inside aload chamber. Material is swept or pushed into the pit. When the pit is full, the doors above ground are closed and the platten is raised compressing the material into the bale chamber above ground. Most of these machines have been obsoleted by Auto-Tie Balers.