When speaking to customers about their pallet wrapping machine, one thing we always need to check is the loading method. One of the most difficult methods of loading is the common walkie stacker. 

The issue with walkie stacker and pallet wrapper:

• The walkie stacker has front support legs which are generally 1400mm wide
• A pallet wrapping machine will have 1650mm wide turntable
• The walkie stacker cannot get it supports around the machine and the supports prevent you dropping the pallet onto the machine.
•  A walkie stacker with “reach” capabilities will not have this issue if the pallet can rack beyond the front supports. This is why their isn’t an issue with using reach stackers to load pallets

Options to load pallet wrapper where walkie stackers are in use. 

 So there are many ways to have a walkie stacker than load the machine, some are more costly, some are not ideal for everybody.

Turntable pallet wrapper with ramp

So to use the actual walkie stacker with a turntable machine you would need a ramp that’s about 5 METERS long due to the poor inline of the walkier stacker, you then have to drive the stacker onto the turntable, so Not ideal. Most people who use walkie stackers simply load the machine using a ramp, but with a pallet jack. This is the cheapest option typically.

Pallet wrapper with pit frame

A solution not done that often anymore is the use of a pit frame, the pallet wrapper is put into the ground. In a pit but it requires a concrete modification of the warehouse floor, very few people do it anymore.

Diagram below of Atlanta pallet wrapping machine on pit frame.

 The walkie stacker can then simply drive onto the turntable to load the pallet.

The pallet lifting frame

So the above options maybe not be ideal for everybody, with the pit frame being costly and impractical for everybody, the long frame or using a pallet jack may not be ideal for peoples process. The most ideal solution we have found while not blowing peoples bank account.

What we do is supply a pallet lifting frame

• The stacker supports go under the turntable
• This allows the pallet to be placed on top
• The below machine is an Eva we installed with a lifting frame.

The frame uses our heavy duty scale frame with extended legs, we then balance on feet to insure the machine can be leveled perfectly on the clients concrete.

MPS Packaging is the importer and distributor for Atlanta Stretch, we have overcome many obstacles in dealing with the various pallet, loading and process requirements for customers, Please call us if you have require custom engineered solutions to meet your needs.