When your end of line goes down, often times the unplanned downtime can cause a delay in production which leads to lost opportunities.
Fortunately for you, maintaining your equipment doesn’t always require a technician. Inspecting your equipment is like getting regular checkups at the doctor. They keep you healthy and give you (and the experts) a chance to catch anything serious before it becomes a major problem. That can save you thousands for your end of line.
Here are some tasks you can accomplish to make sure your equipment doesn’t fail on you.
- When the machines are not in-use, remove any dust, dirt, or debris that might cause jams and issues in the future.
- When the machines are running, listen for any unusual noises. If you hear the sound of metal grinding, your bearings could use some lubricating. Be sure to perform this monthly in order to make operations more efficient and more reliable
- Make sure you’re not forcing products into machines and aren’t packaging products that your equipment can’t handle. Sometimes Operators don’t want to have to purchase a separate machine for larger, heavier loads so they might be pressured to use a machine that doesn’t support those specifications. Doing so will eventually cost you more.
It’s easy to take PM plans for granted- until a problem arises. Hence, we can’t stress enough the importance of having your machines inspected in order to keep your line running smoothly.
Should your machines require a professional’s expertise, give us a call at 888-930-BEST. Either way, delaying preventive maintenance or obvious problems, or sounds will inevitably lead you to more expensive and time-consuming repairs down the road.
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One of the most common issues we’ve come across is that plants run into trouble when their conveyor belt isn’t aligned properly. A crooked conveyor belt can interrupt the process of transporting product across a plant, ultimately delaying production. Properly aligning a conveyor belt, also known as conveyor belt tracking, can be done in-house by following a few simple steps.
Here are a few factors to watch for.
- The majority of conveyor issues occur when the conveyor belt is either not level or the conveyor bed isn’t square which results in a faulty connection. To check if your conveyor bed is square, simply take measurements of each corner of the bed diagonally. If the measurements aren’t equal, the bed is likely not square. This fault can easily be resolved by acquiring squaring rods from the manufacturer. Attaching squaring rods to the bottom of the conveyor pulls the frame, thus re-aligning the conveyor.
- A common solution- yet poor mistake- to conveyor belt tracking is to manipulate the end pulley. Doing so only contributes to the problem, as any minor adjustments to one concentrated area could be too much. Instead adjust the smaller rollers underneath the unit to help re-align the belt. Another potential explanation for conveyor belt mis-tracking is debris stuck underneath the belt or at the end pulleys. Accumulated debris could raise the area around the pulleys resulting in mis-tracking to either side of the belt.
- Another tip that can help you get your conveyor belt on track is to make sure the belt was factory-cut properly. If a belt is not cut straight, it could cause a bend in the belt, which leads to mis-tracking. To check that your belt is straight, remove the belt and lay it on the floor.
Tracking a conveyor belt can be simpler than you think.
- Undo the bolts closest to the end pulley. Doing so will loosen the smaller rollers, also known as snub roller. The snub rollers are responsible for navigating the conveyor belt.
- Use a rubber hammer to softly pat on the bolts in the direction you want the belt to shift. Knocking on the bolts will cause the snub rollers to move. Repeat this step a few times until the middle of the belt is within a quarter inch of the middle of the end pulley. Longer conveyor systems may require more snub rollers to be adjusted. If so, begin with the rollers near the ends of the conveyor and work towards the middle.
- After the snub rollers are modified and the conveyor belt is aligned, tighten the bolts so the snub rollers remain in its new spot. It’s important not to adjust too much in a single attempt. Little modifications can make a significant difference.
If after following these steps you’re still having trouble, give Best Packaging a call at (888) 930- BEST. We’ll gladly help!
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With so many manufacturers misusing stretch wrap vocabulary, it can often be difficult to understand the true meaning of these terms. To help consumers understand the real meaning, we listed a few of the most commonly misused terms in the packaging industry. In doing so, we hope to educate consumers so as to not be fooled by deceptive terminology when evaluating stretch wrap options.
Pre-stretch is the process of elongated film to a percentage of its original length. The advantage of operating with pre-stretch is that it provides great load stability and allows you consume less film per pallet. Below are two different methods to obtain pre-stretch.
- Pre-stretched stretch film is film that is stretched during the manufacturing process prior to being wound up in rolls for stretch film application. The majority of pre-stretched stretch film is applied using hand wrap dispensers.
- Another means of obtaining pre-stretch film is by elongated it using the motorized pre-stretch capabilities of a wrapper. The film passes through two film carriage rollers running at different speeds that stretch the film prior to being applied to the load.
A common misconception within the packaging industry is that stretching the film activates its elastic memory, triggering the film to return to its original state. Another mistake is assuming the two methods of obtaining pre-stretch produce the same outcome- although that’s not necessarily the case.
Suppose you have a roll of pre-stretched stretch film at $5 per roll that gives you 15ft of surface area to work with and 15ft of regular stretch film at $8 per roll. Naturally, the $5 already pre-stretched film would appeal to most plant managers. However, when operating under the correct settings, there could be more to gain from producing pre-stretched film using a stretch wrapper.
If your stretch wrapper is operating at 250% stretch, the regular stretch film at $8 per roll could potentially give you 25ft, as opposed to the pre-stretched film coming in at 15ft. Despite the regular stretch film coming in at a higher cost, it’s winds up more valuable because you’re getting more use of that film while consuming less. By choosing to stretch your film using a powered stretch wrapper, you save money on film and overall lower operating costs.
Force-to-Load is a measure of how tight the film is being pulled as it exits the carriage and is applied to the load. Force to load plays a key factor in maintaining a percentage of prestretch. Although force-to-load does not hold your pallet, the amount applied does contribute to all around containment force.
Containment force is the amount of load retention created due to the film’s stiff properties. Containment force is the property that holds your pallet together during transit. Typically, for every 100lbs of product, you want to have at least 1 lb of containment force. Containment force and pre-stretch ought to be assessed on a regular basis to ensure the stretch wrap is being applied accurately. To evaluate the performance of your stretch film and application process, there are several testing methods that can be employed. These methods include using a film force pull plate, pull bar, double finger, or even replicating the delivery of a pallet via freight truck with a vibrations or tilt test.
Understanding this terminology can make a difference in terms of stretch film cost savings, ensuring that your load is held tightly enough, and avoiding film breaks that could potentially damage your product. Instead of buying more or new film, you may be able to simply adjust your stretch levels. Knowledge of these terms and how to correctly use them enables consumers to make more informed decisions when comparing options for your packaging line. For more information, contact us at 888 930 BEST.
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