Getting the right blend of product protection and productivity in a packaging system depends on a number of factors. And at one paper manufacturing company, chain-driven, live-roller pallet conveyors are essential to the success of its new packaging system for pallets of paper sheets.

The paper manufacturer previously wrapped pallets by hand, much like wrapping a gift box. By installing a fully automatic shrink film line fed by the conveyors, the company was able to reduce its labor force by 12 employees and increase throughput. In fact, the new packing line has a capacity rate of 60 pallets per hour.

From the beginning of the conveyor line, pallets of paper stop first at the weigh station. Then they continue on through the various packaging stations—the shrink wrapper, the heat shrink oven and the cooling press.

Once wrapped, pallets are on the go again—to the operator label station, next to the pallet lift station and through the turntable, and finally to the end of the line.

Packaged pallet loads are fed by conveyor to automatic guided vehicles that take the loads directly to shipping or to a high-rise storage system.

In addition, the system's controls are tailored for the conveyor-fed packaging system. It ultimately provides the paper manufacturer with controls uniformity, allowing the company to service the system locally, which also cuts costs.