Unitizer Capacity Planning for Corrugated Container Plants, 1990 Corrugated Containers Conference Proceedings

Robert H. Randall--
There are two basic issues involved in every unitizer purchase decision:

1. How much strapping capacity do I need?

2. What kind(s) of system(s) will provide the needed capacity?

The method described in this paper is designed to provide objective answers to these questions.

The first step is to define your needs in terms of corrugator output, peak production capacity, and product mix variables (load sizes and strap patterns). A typical product mix contains 15 to 20 different size/strap pattern categories.

The second step is to determine the throughput capacity of each strapping system under consideration. This step can best be carried out in cooperation with your strapping equipment supplier(s).

Each size/pattern category involves a specific cycle time in a given unitizer, which affects overall unitizer capacity in different ways for different systems. As a result, the method identifies those systems which are particularly well suited for the product mix at the plant, and quantifies their performance capabilities.