At MPS Packaging Australia, selling a pallet wrapper isn’t about moving a machine out the door. It’s about making sure the machine you purchase is 100% suited to your goods, your workflow, your operators, and your environment.
Too often we see businesses buy a pallet wrapper based purely on price, only to discover later that the turntable is too small, the ramp is too short, the sensor can’t see their black pallets, or the machine simply doesn’t perform as expected.
That’s why we use a comprehensive pre-sale pallet wrapper checklist before confirming any machine sale.
This checklist ensures the machine we quote is correct for:
• Your pallet size and weight
• Your product shape and stacking method
• Your loading method
• Your wrapping volume
• Your working environment
• Your long-term expectations
Let’s walk through why each section matters.
Pallet & Product Dimensions – Getting the Size Right
The first thing we confirm is the true size of your goods on the pallet.
We assess:
• Minimum and maximum pallet width
• Minimum and maximum pallet depth
• Maximum height
• Maximum weight
If your goods exceed a standard 1200mm x 1200mm CHEP or Loscam pallet, or overhang the pallet (for example 2000mm wide product sitting on a standard pallet), this becomes critical.
In these cases, you may require:
• A larger diameter turntable
• An extended base
• A different mast height
• Higher weight capacity
In many cases when a pallet is 2400 x 1200mm we would recommend an oversized pallet wrapping machine, with a larger turntable and extended base.
Buying a machine with a 1500mm turntable when your load footprint exceeds that can result in instability, vibration, or unsafe wrapping.
Pallets Per Day – Matching Output to Production
Volume matters.
If you are wrapping over 30 pallets per day, we often recommend stepping into a power pre-stretch (PPS) pallet wrapper rather than a basic friction brake model.
Why?
- Higher volume applications benefit from:
- Film savings through controlled pre-stretch
- Consistent tension control
- Increased Load stability
If you’re wrapping occasionally, a friction brake machine may suit perfectly. But if you’re wrapping continuously, machine selection becomes a performance decision.
Shape of Goods – Sharp Corners, Drums & Setbacks
Not all pallets are square cartons stacked neatly to the corners.
We ask:
• Are your goods sharp or irregular in shape?
• Are goods stacked flush to the pallet corners?
• Are you wrapping 200L drums with setbacks?
• Are smaller cartons stacked on larger cartons?
Why this matters:
If goods are set back 250mm from the layer below, wrapping can become unstable.
If corners are sharp, film may tear.
If bottom layers are vulnerable, too much tension can crush product.
In these cases, we may recommend:
• Stronger machine stretch film
• Power pre-stretch carriage for better film control
• Electromagnetic brake to reduce bottom wrap tension
• Advanced model above the EVA series
This ensures stability without damaging goods.
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Wrapping Modes – Do You Need Flexibility?
Some warehouses wrap only one pallet size all day. Others wrap mixed heights and footprints.
If you require:
- Multiple wrapping programs
- Different tension settings
- Separate top and bottom wrap counts
- Variable film force
- Nameable programs
You may require a higher model machine rather than entry level.
— Sensors – Can the Machine See Your Product?
Modern pallet wrappers use photoelectric sensors to detect pallet height.
But if:
• Your goods are black
• Your pallets are dark
• Your warehouse lighting is poor
A standard sensor may struggle.
In these cases we recommend:
• Black photo logic sensor upgrade
In some other cases such as wrapping chairs or items with very little product for the machine to see a sonic sensor maybe required.
It’s a small detail that prevents constant height detection issues.
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Weighing Pallets – Do You Need Scales?
If you expect your pallet wrapper to weigh goods, the machine must be quoted with:
• Scale kit
• Integrated weighing system
Important: scales and ramps are not compatible together.
This must be decided at quotation stage — not after installation.
Loading Method – Ramp Selection is Critical
One of the most common mistakes in pallet wrapper purchases is incorrect ramp selection.
We confirm how you load the pallet wrapper:
Counterbalanced forklift
Reach stacker
Walkie stacker with reach
Manual pallet jack
Electric pallet jack
Tugger or pallet mover
Walkie with no reach
Depending on your answer, you may require:
• Standard ramp
• 1500mm heavy duty ramp
• 2m long ramp
• Custom longer ramp
• Lifting kit
For example:
Manual pallet jack – standard ramp may suit
Electric pallet jack – requires 2m long ramp
Combo forklift and pallet jack loading – may require heavy duty 1500mm ramp
If this is not specified correctly, you risk damaging the ramp or machine.
Electrical Requirements – Will It Reach?
All standard pallet wrappers require:
• 230V
• 10 amp standard Australian plug
• Machine supplied with 2m power cord
Environment – Where Is the Machine Installed?
Location matters more than most people realise.
• Warehouse?
• Outside under awning?
• Cool room?
• Freezer room?
• Wet washdown area?
Important note:
Operation outside, in cool rooms, or freezer rooms can void warranty on electrical components. Recommended operating temperature is above 5 degrees Celsius.
For those that go below that, a machine such as a galvanised, or stainless in wet or cold envirments maybe recommended and with silicone cables and added layers of protection for water in electrical circuits.
If the machine is in a rough forklift environment, we also recommend:
• Forklift guards
• Bumper guards
Turntable damage is expensive — prevention is cheaper.
Why We Use This Pallet wrapper Checklist
This checklist protects:
• Your investment
• Your warranty
• Your operators
• Your production output
It ensures the pallet wrapper you purchase from MPS Packaging Australia performs exactly how you expect — from day one.
Whether you’re looking at a friction brake machine, EVA series, or a power pre-stretch Atlanta Stretch system, we make sure the machine matches your real-world application.
If you’re considering purchasing a pallet wrapper, speak to our team and run through the checklist with us. It only takes a few minutes — and it can save years of frustration.
Contact MPSpack Australia today to make sure you buy the right pallet wrapper the first time.
