Does your company have multiple balers, or do you rely on one to help manage waste?
Balers are often seen as the heart of a successful recycling system. However, many industry experts have found that balers are often overlooked when planning and designing material recovery facilities (MRFs). One expert from MRF Operations Forum recently referred to balers as an afterthought.
This lack of attention is alarming for many industries. This concern has become known as baler redundancy.
Operators often view a second baler as a secondary piece of equipment, especially if they are only baling a few tons per hour.
But what happens if one breaks down? Can one baler pick up the load?
Two Balers Can Prevent Slowdowns
If companies can fit two balers in their workplace or plan for two in a new warehouse, they can be protected if one baler breaks down. Even with proper baler maintenance, it can happen. Often having a second baler is a low priority, but slowdowns can be prevented if businesses aim to have two balers of the same capabilities and capacity.
How To Establish Baler Redundancy
It’s easy to have two balers, but the crucial factor is having both with identical functions. If one machine moves slower compared to the other, the business and materials will slow down, especially if one machine breaks down.
To create baler redundancy, operations should consider the following:
- Balers must have the speed to handle the entire system capacity.
- The system design must include conveyors to work efficiently between each baler.
- All balers should be capable of baling each type of commodity the facility produces.
Also, consider comparing single-ram and two-ram balers to achieve optimal efficiency. Aim to have the same equipment on-site.
What Operators Should Consider
While you are planning to add additional balers to your workplace, consider speaking with your team, especially the operators, on the following questions:
- Will the business slow down or face problems if one baler breaks down? If so, how much will it slow down?
- How can a second, or third baler, prevent any slowdowns?
- Is it better for the budget to have another baler or face the issues of a broken baler?
- What are other businesses in your industry doing? Do they have more than one baler on-site?
Whether your company uses a vertical baler or a horizontal baler, it’s worth considering having a second machine to achieve baler redundancy.