The company required a pallet strapper to compress packs tightly, something which could not be achieved with the battery-operated hand strapping tools that Conversion Solutions had used previously. Introduction of the OMS 078 machine with the TR18 strapping head means customers can be supplied with stable, perfectly presented palletised product.

It also means that packs can be stacked securely on top of each other, making better use of space in the warehouse and in transit.  Moving from a manual to an automated system also provided an opportunity to redeploy labour.  

The 078 pallet strapping machine compresses and vertically straps each pack. Two straps are applied to the pack while it is being compressed. A built-in turntable then turns the pack and a further two straps are applied, again while the pack is being compressed. The machine includes automatic pack height detection and telescopic arch tracks that feed strap at any height (of particular importance when packs vary in height).

Features of the TR18 head include precise, repeatable strap feeding that avoids jams and increases up-time, and a ‘strap in place’ confirmation meaning that a pack cannot leave the machine without being strapped. Furthermore, OMS TR series heads only require a full service every 200,000 cycles.

Alex Ledbury, operations manager commented: “It is of paramount importance that all our packs are strapped in a stable manner. If they move during transport, our customers cannot feed them consistently into their printing presses. The Gordian OMS pallet press has eliminated the pack movement issues that we were experiencing.”