Vertical Versus Horizontal Baler Machines
Compress cardboard & plastic waste into consistent mill-sized bales
Updated on Mar 23, 2022 | Authors: Pim Brouwer & Brent Nijssen
There are two main types of cardboard balers, a vertical baling press, and a horizontal baling press. What is the difference between these two baling machines?
Overall, a downstroke baler is intended for companies that want to have an easy-to-use heavy-duty baling solution. In contrast, a horizontal baler is designed for industrial use and compressing larger amounts of cardboard waste and is mostly used by recycling companies themselves or organizations with large quantities of waste streams.
Find the right baler for your business
Advice and information for horizontal balers
We believe that good advice is very important. Every month we help hundreds of businesses worldwide find the right recycling machine.
- Find the right horizontal baler for your needs
- Our global network of experts are ready to help
- Trusted brands that offer great service and maintenance
Request Expert Advice
Get free advice from trusted experts
Horizontal versus vertical baler:
A horizontal baler has unique features and proves more cost-efficient than a vertical baler when a company produces more than 20 tons of recyclable a/month. The benefits consist of:
- Horizontal balers machines can handle higher volumes than vertical balers because of their fast cycle times.
- Horizontal balers can produce mill-sized bales (60 x 30 x 42 inches) accepted by recycling facility companies, such as paper mills and plastic recycling facilities.
- Each bale gets produced consistently, e.q. Same size, same density, and same weight. The size, density, and weight of the bales can be adjusted by altering the machine’s settings.
- Auto-tie balers don’t need a dedicated machine operator who ties each bale.
- Horizontal balers are customizable to fit every site and can be operated with different machinery such as conveyor belts, hopper entry, shredder systems, air systems, dust extractors, shear blades.
- Overall the handling time and effort is decreased, which lowers labor cost at your facility.
Vertical versus horizontal cardboard baler
Vertical cardboard baler:
- For baling small to medium volumes of cardboard waste
- Ideal for businesses with limited floorspace
- Easy to operate by one person
- The cardboard is compressed vertically
- Relatively small footprint
- Produces one bale at a time
- Compressed cardboard needs to be wired manually by the operator
Horizontal cardboard baler:
- For baling high volumes of cardboard waste
- Ideal for heavy-duty industrial use
- Higher investment in comparison to a vertical baler
- More complicated to operate and maintain
- The cardboard is compressed horizontally
- Requires more floor space, especially open-end balers
- Produces multiple cardboard bales and (automatically) wires the bales during the baling process
Pros and cons of a recycling baler
Separating and baling your recyclables with a vertical or horizontal baler provides the following cost-saving and environmental benefits.
A vertical baler is meant for producing around 5-10 bales per day.
Main benefits:
- It optimizes transport by reducing the volume of your recyclable waste streams by an average of 80%, resulting in less “air transport,” thus reducing transport cost and emission.
- Your waste becomes a higher valued raw material because of its density and will prove an extra source of income for your business.
- It improves the recycling rates of your business, which diminishes the environmental footprint of your company.
A recycling baler increases density and decreases volume of your waste.
Disadvantages of a horizontal baler
- Horizontal balers require more floor space than vertical balers, making them less interesting for companies with limited floor space or high rent per square foot.
- Horizontal balers have a higher up-front investment cost than vertical balers. But this high cost can be alleviated by leasing or renting the machine from a producer, and the investment will be worthwhile by efficiency gains.
- Operating a horizontal baler machine requires more training of personnel. We advise making one employee an initial super-user who can diffuse their knowledge to the rest of the warehouse team.
- Horizontal baler machines are complex and will eventually have wear and tear, requiring specific maintenance. We advise getting a maintenance contract with the brand supplying the machine.
Find the right baler for your business
Advice and information for horizontal balers
- Find the right horizontal baler for your needs
- Our global network of experts are ready to help
- Trusted brands that offer great service and maintenance
Request Expert Advice
Get free advice from trusted experts
By Recycling.com/ 6 May 2022