Pack securely and automatically with BEUMER stretch hood

Economically, safely, and automatically pack pallets – the patented BEUMER stretch hood offers a tailored solution from the BEUMER Group. This prevents external interference, damage, or other influences during storage and transport. BEUMER customizes each system to the specific application, integrates it into the customer’s conveyor technology, or implements it as a standalone solution.

(Beckum) Jörg Spiekermann, Head of Sales Division Consumer Goods at BEUMER Group: “Stability, safety, and protection of goods are crucial for maximum profitability, minimal waste, and avoiding returns during inbound or outbound logistics. Wrapping a pallet with film is the easy part. Ensuring that the contents are centered, accurately weighed, and measured before final packaging requires repeatable accuracy and consistency that can only be achieved with automation. Thanks to our hood stretch process, an automated solution can be easily implemented at the end of the packaging line. Our solution minimizes the likelihood of human error in this critical phase and provides a stretch wrap that protects against spoilage, damage, or theft.”

Diverse Applications

The application range of the BEUMER stretch hood extends from packaging high-quality electronic items to food and beverages, as well as palletized building materials. It is used both before the high rack for securing incoming goods on pallets and for final packaging at the shipping and transport exit. The hood stretch process is equally suitable for transparent film, under which the palletized product is visible, and for opaque film to cover high-quality goods, where security is paramount.

The BEUMER stretch hood achieves maximum load stability through the vertical and horizontal restoring forces of the film. The film is highly flexible and adapts to various product dimensions. By using cold-stretchable films, the system does not require heat input, thus eliminating the risk of film adhesion. Additionally, the cooling of the film seal with blowing air is unnecessary, keeping the operating costs of the system low.

Once applied, the film hood protects against moisture and dirt intrusion and keeps the products firmly in place, allowing pallets to be moved and stacked safely without slipping. Furthermore, the hood reduces the likelihood of goods being “lost” during transport. Jörg Spiekermann explains: “Standard stretch wrap is tempting for unauthorized persons because it can be removed and reapplied. In contrast, any external interference with film hoods is immediately noticeable.” A customer of the BEUMER Group has reduced losses between the shipping point and destination from four percent to nearly zero (0.03%) through the recent introduction of the BEUMER stretch hood.

Individual Design of the System

The individual design of the system depends on the customer’s requirements, such as the use of forklifts and transport carts, manual lifting effort, and the height to which the pallets need to be raised. Depending on the setup, conventional or low roller conveyors and integrated lifting systems may be used. The BEUMER stretch hood can be designed as a linear system or set up around corners to fit into a smaller footprint. Third-party devices, such as labeling systems or platform scales, can also be considered. The design may also include a compressor if the customer does not have a compressed air connection.

Many More Innovations in Packaging Technology

According to Jörg Spiekermann, many more innovations are on the horizon in packaging technology. “While manual work is still necessary for labeling and loading/unloading, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), or driverless transport systems, will likely be used in the future for transport. BEUMER’s individual solutions are already working towards a fully automated scenario that will extend the principle of the Dark Warehouse to packaging as well.”
Photo: © BEUMER