In the process, Cousins points out, the new A-ARM mechanism replaces a host of mechanical components found on semi-automatic stretchwrappers—including the clamp mechanism, hot wires and hot-wire transformers, the wiper brush, under-the-turntable wiring, the slip ring and the rotary air union—considerably lowering the overall design and assembly costs.
“Because of the design’s simplicity, we can manufacture these stretchwrappers without adding a lot of cost, while ensuring superior reliability in every machine,” he adds.
Says Cousins: “The traditional market for a platform automatic machine is probably less than one per cent now, but because of our technology, we feel it has the potential to become the largest portion of the machine market, perhaps in five to 10 years, with most semi-automatic stretchwrapping machines giving way to the automatic A-ARM types of machinery.”
Based on the machine’s performance at Brown Packaging so far, he has a strong case.
“Prior to our purchase of the Cousins A-ARM stretchwrapper, we had a worker standing by the stretchwrapper, on as-needed basis, to attach the film to the skid, start the machine, watch it run, and cut the film at the end of the cycle,” recalls Murdoch.
“But this new, fully-automatic stretchwrapper has definitely provided us with a better way to save ourselves both time and money, while offering our customers the added value of receiving much cleaner and a more securely packaged product from us.”
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