From recycling companies to busy retail warehouses, many industries rely on baler equipment for their waste management efforts. By compressing cardboard, plastic, paper, aluminum, and other recyclable materials, the resulting bales can be stored, transported, and disposed of with ease.

For businesses that deal with a large number of recyclable materials on a daily basis, their recycling balers are in high demand. With regular usage comes general wear and tear, and it’s essential that balers are maintained on a continual basis. This ensures the performance and efficiency of the baler remains optimized. It also keeps employees safe while using this powerful piece of equipment.

If you’re unsure what steps to take with the maintenance of machines, this guide is here to help. Below are tips on keeping your recycling balers running smoothly.

Bale the right materials

By design, balers are made to handle specific materials. Recycling balers are fantastic for compacting soft materials like polythene, paper, and cardboard. Yet serious problems can arise if you attempt to bale materials known for their durability. It can lead to plate damage and other issues for your baler.

Regular cleaning and inspections

All machines, not just balers, work at their best when regularly inspected and cleaned. Regarding the latter, simply removing leftover materials and dust can improve performance and lower the chances of damage. As a result, cleaning outside and inside the baler should be part of your daily operations.

From lubricating hinges to checking electrical cables and for loose nuts, a monthly inspection schedule should also be part of your plans. By tracking the longevity and health of the machine, this will help to keep all parts of the baler as close as possible to factory standards.

Keep stocked up

As with any recycling programs, it’s important to stock up on the necessary equipment to carry out your recycling efforts. With recycling balers, you need to have an ample amount of baling wire available.

A tip is also to keep stock of certain baler components, which are known to wear down. This way, you can quickly replace the part and keep delays at a minimum.

Operator training

In the majority of cases, improper use of a recycling baler is the cause of accidents and damage. As a result, sufficient training should be provided to those that will be operating the baler. This is even the case if the machine is automated.

As for how to correctly service and run the baler, personnel should be taught about correctly operating the machine, cleaning and monitoring it, and inspecting and keeping a record of maintenance checks.

Know when to contact the experts

Even if your team knows how to carry out most maintenance tasks, there are likely to be occasions where only an expert can help. This is the situation if you encounter any complex issues or repairs that need completing.

It’s always important to know your limitations and when to contact the experts; otherwise, the problem could become even more serious.