IPS--Dynamic Duo

With hundreds of tons of material coming through SP Recycling’s facilities every day, the company needed a baler that could keep up. What the company found from IPS Balers Inc., Baxley, Ga., was a machine that not only keeps up with, but also surpasses its expectations.

The difference in productivity since two IPS TRBT-1388-200 Model 2-Ram balers went to work at SP’s Atlanta and Louisville, Ky., facilities is like night and day, according to Stan Chesson, VP of operations for SP Recycling, which is headquartered in Atlanta. "In Louisville, especially, they could never catch up. Now, at the end of the day, the floor is clean," he says.

Darrin Hardy, the general manager of the Louisville plant, says that the production rates have been impressive for all the materials SP Recycling handles. For the main materials baled, Hardy says the IPS 2-Ram is achieving rates of about 18-20 tons per hour of OCC, 25 tons per hour of mixed paper and anywhere from 10-14 tons per hour of PET and HDPE.

Hardy also says the IPS 2-Ram produces extremely dense bales, which is particularly useful when baling the PET for export. "We’re able to cube out an export container at 42,000 pounds," he says.

Part of what makes the IPS TRBT-1388-200 among the fastest 2-Ram balers in the world is the patented bale tie system, which essentially allows for continuous baling. The machine creates a bale in the baling chamber, and once it’s complete, it is moved into another chamber where it is tied. The machine then begins making another bale while the first is being tied and ejected. "You’ve got two bales being made at the same time," says Hardy. "It’s non-stop."

Hardy also has high praise for the pre-compression lid. "You can make bales of plastic with as few as five strokes a gather," he says. "The plastic production is just out of this world."

In addition, the TRBT-1388-200 2-Ram is entirely automated—no baler operator required.

Ford Chambers, SP Recycling’s regional manager, says while maintenance issues have been few and far between, IPS has excelled when parts are needed. "They also follow up, make sure you received [the part], got it installed and that it’s up and running."

Hardy has also been impressed with IPS’ commitment to service. "I’ve called those guys as late as 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., and we’ll still have [the part] by 6 a.m. the next day," he says. "They’ve even offered to drive a piece up—you don’t get that kind of service just anywhere."