Baler Guide -- Welcome

If there is one piece of processing equipment central to a recycling operation, it has to be the baler. Without its ability to compact material into dense, easily stacked packages, recyclers simply could not move their material cost effectively. It is also a piece of equipment that crosses nearly all secondary commodity markets, including paper, cardboard, plastic, used beverage cans, and ferrous and nonferrous metals.

This guide is intended to help recyclers make a more informed decision about what type of baler best suits the needs of their businesses. Included in the guide is a detailed overview of each type of baler, including how it works, expected operational considerations, capacities and general price ranges.

While processors and manufacturers who contributed to this guide had a wide range of comments, the editors of Recycling Today tried to include only those that represented a consensus of opinion or that were based on fact. For instance, in the area of baler capacity, nearly all recommended buying more baler capacity than currently required. By doing so, the processor can ensure room for growth, and also pick up volume to help weather depressed markets.

The last article in this guide is an overview of baler options, including conveyors, fluffers, pre-press devices and more. These items are all designed to make the baling process more efficient.

Following that article is a glossary of baler terms we hope you will find useful.

In the back of the guide, you will find a directory of all the known baler manufacturers and exclusive distributors operating in North America. These listings indicate the types of balers each company makes or sells, along with addresses, phone and fax numbers and Internet and E-mail domains.

Finally, we would like to thank the numerous baler companies and processors that provided input to this guide. Special thanks go to Badertscher Communications, Marion, Ohio, for providing the cover photo of a two-ram extrusion baler in operation at the recently built E.L Harvey & Sons Inc. material recovery facility in Westboro, Mass. Badertscher also provided the line diagrams of the various balers used throughout this guide.

We hope you find this guide useful, and we welcome your comments.

These comments can be mailed to: Recycling Today, 4012 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44113; by calling (800) 456-0707 or (216) 961-4130; or by faxing to (216) 961-0364.