Tying One On

Wire tying equipment has a reputation for being somewhat temperamental in light of the number of moving parts and the commonly dusty working environment. According to Jim York, president of Carthage, Mo.-based L&P Wire Tie, a number of factors can affect the performance of this equipment, from housekeeping issues to the quality of the wire used.

As a 30-year steel and wire industry veteran, York sets the strategic direction for L&P Wire Tie and also serves as the president of Leggett & Platt’s Specialty Product Division. As president of L&P Wire Tie, he has managed sales, customer relations, production, purchasing and engineering for the $70 million business that has been serving the pulp and waste industries for more than 50 years.

York provides his advice for the smooth operation of wire tying units as well as his guidelines for the general attributes to look for in a system in the Q&A that follows.

Recycling Today (RT): When recyclers are looking to add or to replace wire-tying equipment, what general attributes should they look for in a wire-tie system?

Jim York (JY): The recycling business is a challenging business margin-wise. An efficiency improvement of just a few percent on the number of bales being produced per day can make the difference between making ends meet or not. For this reason, we work very closely with our customers in deciding which products will provide the best solutions in their facilities.

In general, the recycler should look for a machine that has the ability to transport the tying media effectively to and around the compacted bale, secure it and release it in the most efficent manner. In most cases this media is wire.

We also look closely at what types of products are being baled. Is it just plastic, for instance, or will the recycler be baling plastic, then corrugated, then aluminum? If there are multiple types of recyclables, the recycler will want a tying system that allows for quick changeovers to different wire gauges so that they can take advantage of yield gains in their process.

RT: How does the style of baler that will be used factor into the selection of wire-tying equipment?

JY: Aside from the baler type (single-ram vs. two-ram balers), our tying systems are compatible with virtually all styles or sizes of balers. The selection of a particular tying system is more determined by the media that is being baled.

RT: What factors do recyclers need to consider when selecting the appropriate type and gauge of wire for the materials they are baling?

JY: The single biggest factor for selecting the appropriate type and gauge of wire is the physical property of the media type that is to be baled—specifically the compression factor during baling and the expansion potential after the media has been compressed. These factors play an important role [in] determining the best choice for the diameter and tensile of the tying wire.

Another important factor is the availability of prime quality tying wire.

All wire is not created equal, and a low quality wire will tend to break and tangle more for the operator, leading to situations that can hamper productivity.

RT: Wire-tying equipment can occasionally hiccup, causing downtime. What factors can contribute to such incidents?

JY: There are a number of factors that contribute to the occasional hiccup, but they can generally be reduced into three groups:

1. Poor quality wire (brittle wire causing breaks or poor packaging causing tangles);
   
2. Excessively worn parts on the tying machine; [and]
   
3. Poor housekeeping creating excessive dirt, debris or media inside the knotter system and track.

Here are a couple of steps operators can follow to reduce the pain of wire-tying related baler downtime:

• Buy quality consumables. Quality baling/strapping wire will eliminate or minimize many of the headaches associated with unintended downtime. To the untrained eye, “wire is wire.” Unfortunately, this is not the case. Stringent mill specifications and constant quality control lead to consistent physical characteristics and chemical properties. This allows for consistent knot formability. Care of the wire once it is delivered to the plant is very important.
• Preventive maintenance programs are intrinsic to minimizing the effects of unforeseen downtime. As with any complex piece of equipment, regular maintenance and tune-ups are critical to optimum performance. Failing to adequately maintain the wire-tying system could cause the bale wires to improperly tie material, potentially resulting in bales breaking apart. Another added benefit of regular preventive maintenance: It will help minimize overall wire waste, which can save an organization a significant amount of money.

RT: What maintenance is necessary for trouble-free operation? Can recyclers expect their wire tiers to last as long as their balers with proper maintenance?

JY: Our wire tiers can and do last decades, given periodic attention. The key is to regularly inspect the working parts for visible signs of wear. Replacing a worn part before it creates a catastrophic event will add years to the machine’s life.

RT: Is there an aspect that operators tend to overlook when it comes to maintaining wire-tying equipment?

JY: In a word: housekeeping. A few minutes a day spent getting rid of dust and debris in and around the machine, followed by a bit of lubrication, goes a long way. An often overlooked item is the dust that accumulates on the wire. This can carry over into the tying head and cause a buildup of dirt and debris. We offer a wire cover that is to be used while the wire is consumed. Clean wire feeds better and is less abrasive on the machine wear parts.

RT: Have there been any recent innovations when it comes to wire tying equipment?

JY: Yes. Reducing non-related baler downtime is critical, especially when it comes to the wire-tying system. Unfortunately, in many instances, the market has come to accept downtime of the entire system while the wire-tie component is repaired. Leggett & Platt Wire Tie Systems introduced the Pinnacle line of products [in 2010]. Our flagship machine incorporates a modular design in which the CORE, which holds 80 percent of all the wear parts, is easily removed in as little as three to five minutes. It can then be replaced and repaired while the baler is back up and running. It also includes a four-twist knot configuration that allows for finer but stronger wire to be used in recycling applications, creating a yield gain and overall cost reduction.

Jim York is president of L&P Wire Tie, Carthage, Mo. He can be contacted at jim.york@lpwiretie.com.