CARDBOARD BALER / CARDBOARD COMPACTOR

A cardboard baler (sometimes also called cardboard compactor, cardboard baling machine, or cardboard press) is a hydraulic recycling equipment used to compress scatted cardboard scrap into dense cubic bales, reducing the waste volume and increasing your recycling rates and benefits.

Makabale machines are built to last. We build some of the highest quality cardboard balers in the industry. We use top quality parts and high-quality steel, and our balers design concentrates on both ease of use and streamlined operation. This ensures wear and tear is kept to a minimum. Balers lasting a decade or more are not uncommon.

The question of “how much is a cardboard baler?” is a question that every baler buyer will ask and consider whether it is worth buying.

The cost of cardboard balers differs a lot from baler types and sizes. In general, vertical cardboard baler cost is lower and more economical than horizontal cardboard baler cost. Horizontal cardboard balers are categorized into manual-tie balers and auto-tie balers. The cost of horizontal manual-tie balers is lower than auto-tie balers. And usually the cost of horizontal auto-tie balers will be several times higher than vertical cardboard balers.

We know that the purchase of a cardboard baler is to help you achieve your recycling goal. Therefore, choose a right baler best suits your business is crucial. It mainly depends on the daily volume of cardboard waste you need to bale, and then the bale weight and bale size you want to make, also you need to consider how big the space available for installation of the machine. With all the aspects considered, you will choose a most suitable baler.

In addition, you have to know what the baler will bring you. It can bring you many aspects of cost-savings:

• Labor cost reduced – because with a cardboard baler (mostly only need one operator), you don’t need a lot of manpower to handle and manage the waste.
• Collection cost reduced – The collection trips of the vehicles will be reduced because the cardboard wastes are compacted into manageable sized bales so that more materials can be collected once.
• Space cost reduced – with the cardboard compactor, the waste volume is reduced, so the storage space is freed up and can be used for other economical purpose.

Furthermore, with the right cardboard compactor, you can generate a revenue stream for your company by selling the compressed cardboard bales.

Contact Makabale today for a no-obligation quote of your interested cardboard baler model or recommendation based on your baling requirement.

Before start baling, we suggest preparing a rectangular piece of cardboard which is similar size with the chamber size and place it on the bottom of baling chamber. Then start feeding waste cardboard into the chamber and try to feed evenly. At the end of last cycle of a bale making, we also suggest placing a same size piece of cardboard on the top of the waste material. In this way, the final compressed material in the bale will be more secure and not likely to drop during handling and transportation.

It is no need to break down the boxes when feeding them into a baler as long as the size of the boxes is smaller than the feed opening size of the baler machine.

Yes, you can. Makabale cardboard balers are multi-material baling machines. They can not only process cardboard, but can also process plastics, such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, films, and other plastic packaging, etc. Just note that for recycling purpose, don’t mix plastic with cardboard in the baler.

It depends on your recycling business scale and your daily volume of cardboard waste need to handle. Makabale has all sizes of cardboard balers, from small size, medium size to big size, as well as horizontal cardboard balers for high productivity operation.

We have included the detailed guidance of a cardboard recycling baler regular maintenance in our Operation Manual Book. The operator of the baler machine should read the Manual Book carefully before carrying out any operation and perform the regular baler maintenance as suggested. Any machine with moving parts needs regular maintenance and it is a very important step to keep your baler machine always in good condition.

We also have included a part of cardboard baler troubleshooting guidance in our Operation Manual Book. It includes some most common issues, possible causes and suggested solutions. Here are some of the guides which can be for your check if your baler is down.

Machine does not start

• No electric power to the machine - Check main power supply or reset breaker
• Fuse is blown - Replace with new fuses
• Power switch is in “Off” position - Turn power switch to “On” position
• Voltage is incorrect - Check for correct voltage

Motor runs but platen does not move

• Motor may be rotating in the wrong direction - Interchange two of the three phase wires in the control box. Correct rotation direction is indicated on the motor
• No hydraulic oil or oil level is very low - Fill in sufficient oil (Best oil level is indicated on oil tank)
• Feeding door is not fully closed - Ensure door is fully closed so that sensor can detect it
• Travel switch may be broken - Check the switch and replace with a new one if broken
• No electric power to solenoid valve coils - Check wirings in electric control box
• Solenoid valve coil is burnt - Replace a new one

Pump makes noise in operation

• Motor fan cover is broken - Check for damages, repair or replace if necessary
• Pump cavitation - Check oil to be sure it is sufficient and with proper viscosity; Check intake pipes connection and tighten securely; Replace damaged intake pipes

Platen will not reverse

• Solenoid valve core is stuck - Use a small thin tool to push the valve core; Disassemble and clean; Replace a new one if needed

Bale weights are low

• Bale height setting is too low - Adjust the travel switch to a higher position
• Relief pressure setting is lower than recommended value - Adjust the pressure value setting of relief valve

Low compression pressure

• Pump is inoperative - Replace pump
• Cylinder seals are worn or damaged - Replace seals
• Cylinder rod is bent - Replace with a new one
• Oil leakage from hose fitting - Tighten fittings or replace seals
• Clogged filter - Replace with a new one

Cardboard baler troubleshooting should be performed by designated personnel who are well-trained.

In case your issue is not included in the cardboard baler troubleshooting guide, Makabale is always here to answer your any questions and give you remote assistance to get the problem solved. We are available via phone, email, and even videoconference to help walk you through any troubles.

In addition, we design our balers to be PLC controllable, if you have an internet connection, our engineers can log in remotely and diagnose (and perhaps repair) the issue. We’ve invested heavily in technology, and are able to use video, conferencing, email, WhatsApp, and other aspects of worldwide connectivity to be a helping hand, even if we are thousands of miles away. Making the cardboard baler troubleshooting easy for you. And in this regard, we offer lifetime technical support.

A mini cardboard baler takes up very small floor area, so it is flexible in many locations. It can not only be used at homes as a home cardboard compactor to compact general household solid waste. It can also be used in offices, campuses, restaurants, retail stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, and ships as well. The mini cardboard baler used in ships are also recognized as marine balers.

The industrial cardboard compactor works quite simple if you are well-trained of the machine and operating principle. Firstly, you feed the waste material into the feed gate of the baler, then press the buttons on the electric control panel, the ram plate will move to compress the material in the chamber, after several baling cycles and when the bale height reaches your set value, the bale will be ready for tying. After bale is tied off, it will be ejected out from the baler chamber.

You must be at least 18-year-old to use a baler. And the operator must be well trained before operating the machine. It is illegal for any child to use either cardboard recycling baler or any other type of balers.

OCC refers to Old Corrugated Containers in the recycling industry. An OCC baler is a hydraulic recycling baler used to compress the loose old corrugated containers/cardboard into dense OCC bales which are easier and cost-saving to handle and transport.