by MARY M. COX
Manufacturer List
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that Americans generated over 262 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2015. Over 25 percent of that waste was paper and paperboard, and over 13 percent of it was plastics. As the aim of both the waste and recycling industries is to further reduce those numbers, baling equipment is a key component in helping to make that happen.
Excel Manufacturing has over 5,000 balers in 70 countries. The firm’s balers “complement individual facility requirements but all models offer simple, safe and effective operation,” said Chancey Becnel, vice president. He described how the “rugged chassis design of Excel balers, with unparalleled power and reliability are exactly what customers depend on when purchasing our machines, which feature the most advanced and durable components in the industry.”
“Our EX63 wide mouth baler was designed with smaller recyclers in mind. With high volume output, this baler is the perfect fit for paper and cardboard with a feed opening of 54 x 70”. Excel’s EX Series balers are designed not only with the largest feed opening in the industry, but to be the most durable, efficient and productive closed-end single ram baler available.”
Excel’s balers feature interlocking construction and “the most advanced control system in the industry, for an indestructible, automated two-ram baler. Our two-ram series balers can process up to 45 tons per hour. They are designed for mid to large size recyclers and high volume distribution centers. Our baler technology focuses on safety and maintenance and we offer the best expertise available for assisting clients in choosing the best baler for an operation. Throughput is key to determining the baler size and capacity required. Choosing the baler best suited for an operation first requires an examination of the types of materials that must be processed, and at what frequency, while also considering future growth and acquisition cost. Using the ROI analysis offered by Excel before making a purchase can help ensure that your new baler effectively serves your facility now and for years to come,” said Becnel.
He sees related markets leaning more toward cleaner operations and so a smaller carbon footprint. More recycled products are in production and there is an increase in diversion of recyclables from landfills. Becnel has also noticed how stringent laws and regulations imposed by local governments, especially in North America, are fueling demand for equipment, specifically balers. “With the changes regarding landfilling of plastic and the use of bioplastics, demand for our paper and plastic balers continues to rise. Several customers have seen tonnages increase for various recyclable materials received. Changes in container manufacturing practices, movement from glass containers to plastic and consumer spending habits continue to reduce newspaper and mixed paper content of recyclables, while increasing plastic and cardboard usage,” he commented.
International Baler (IBC) has been a leader in design and manufacture of commercial and industrial recycling equipment since 1946. “We offer over 200 different standard models of vertical balers, closed-door horizontals, open-end auto-ties, and two-ram balers for paper, plastic, scrap metal, and specialty materials. We also custom configure units to fit applications with special requirements, allowing us to stay at the forefront of baler technology and new and emerging markets,” explained Sean Usoff, sales and marketing director.
IBC is the first U.S. company to offer a 100 percent U.S. manufactured “euro-style” roller platen auto-tie baler for high-capacity fiber processors and “we also offer expertise in systems engineering, customer support services and application consultation. As a single source manufacturer, IBC is committed to providing leading edge technology, unsurpassed quality, and commitment to competitive prices, service and parts,” stated Usoff.
He noted how fluctuations in commodities pricing and the global market, and continued uncertainty with overseas exports of recycle goods has placed recycling sectors into a somewhat stagnant phase over the last year. “A strong U.S. dollar has also hurt the market as overseas buyers can’t buy what they could just a few years ago. With low commodity prices, buyers are somewhat leery of large capital investments in new equipment. Despite that, I think we’ll see a relatively low but stable market through 2019, with markets rising near year’s end then a positive 2020 for recycling in general and companies providing equipment and services in that sector,” Usoff said.
Maren Engineering has been producing high quality production balers for over 55 years. “We manufacture a wide range of equipment to meet the needs of our customers – from two ram balers to high production horizontal single ram balers and closed door manual tie balers. Some of our customers may process one ton of material per day and others, over 20 tons per hour. Our two ram baler offers a large variety of horsepower options and feed opening sizes with main cylinders as large as 12”. Our single ram, auto tie, horizontal open end balers have been placed in high production recycling centers, corrugated box plants and distribution centers. The balers are set up to operate at 42 to 4,500 psi, allowing for the use of smaller cylinders and more speed in overall user operation. We also produce shredders and floor sweep pickups for the corrugated and printing industry. The business climate for balers continues to be very active. We still receive requests to replace equipment that is 20 to 40 years old. In some cases this is because customers need equipment that is more productive, while others merely need to ensure that their equipment up to current safety standards,” Roger Williams, regional sales manager, commented.
He noted how it has become more difficult to find qualified candidates in the industry, for the jobs that are available. Williams also discussed how China’s recent decision to limit incoming recycled products has affected the industry, stating, “Of course, this opens up opportunities in the domestic market for entrepreneurs who discover new ways to use recycled materials.”
Sierra manufactures heavy duty high quality two-ram balers and conveyors for MRFs, recycling centers, waste processors, and scrap metal recyclers. Sierra two-ram balers handle between 200 to over 6,000 tons of material per month, depending on the model and other factors such as the type of material involved and hours baling per day. Sierra two-ram balers have standard features such as energy efficient flooded suction power units with standard kidney loop filtration, fully lined with .5” AR 450 liners with a tongue and groove floor, 1.5” thick tool steel shear blades with four cutting edges, shimless “hold down” adjustments, bale separation/oversize bale release door, operator’s platform, bale eject table, “and many other standard features that are options on other balers,” said Brian Mihm, director of sales.
“Sierra balers and conveyors are fully tested before shipment, to speed up the installation and start-up process. Other features that expedite the installation process are hard piping along the baler—with flexible hosing between the baler and power unit, a bolt on ejector assembly, plug and play electrical connections, and conveyors shipped pre-wired with the belt installed,” stated Mihm.
He expressed how he believes “this industry is trending toward cost savings with items such as power units that are more energy efficient, machines that run without an operator, programs that allow users to track electrical consumption, and materials that are baled per shift and average tons per hour per material, downtime, wire consumption, etc.”
“One of the most important things a potential buyer needs to look at when purchasing equipment is the company’s commitment to parts and service. We stock parts for all equipment and our service technicians are located throughout America. This allows Sierra to reduce customer downtime when problems arise,” he concluded.
Sierra provides material handlers for the waste, recycling and scrap metal industries, baler/loggers and shear/baler/loggers for the scrap metal industries, and is the exclusive North American distributor for Macpresse, high volume auto-tie balers, shredders and conveyors.
Published in the March 2019 Edition