Question:
How much does the Rapid Bander or Rapid Roper device cost?
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Answer:
There is no capital investment required to incorporate a RAPID system into your current stretch wrap operation.
We do an initial evaluation visit to understand the issues and opportunities for improvement. We then conduct a demonstration or trial, and provide initial operator training on the simple process of loading film. Follow-up visits for additional training, preventative maintenance, and all future RAPID System Performance Audits, are provided free of charge.
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Question:
How long does it take to install the RAPID device?
Answer:
We can install the RAPID device for a short demonstration in about 15 minutes. For the start up of a trial, we normally don’t need more than 45 minutes.
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Question:
Can I use my current full web film and just buy your banded roll?
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Answer:
The Rapid Bander and Rapid Roper each work as a patented system that includes the device we install on your stretch wrap machine, the machine settings needed to optimize load containment while using the least amount of film, and the ultra-high performance Rapid Film in both full web and banding web roll configurations. Our film has been specially formulated and engineered to laminate together in the pre-stretch zone of your wrapper. Regular film will not laminate properly to our banded film. In addition, it will not take the levels of Total Applied Stretch necessary to deliver the performance we provide, with the Rapid Bander or Rapid Roper System.
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Question:
I’m concerned the reinforced web will crush my product, boxes, etc. How do you prevent that?
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Answer:
The web is very strong and with high tension applied, it can provide much higher load containment force than seen with conventional film. We prevent crushing and still provide excellent containment by pre-stretching the film (by installing higher pre-stretch gears) to levels that aren’t achieved with conventional film. We may also adjust the bands and the applied tension to prevent crushing. With high total applied stretch, we can achieve much better load stability because the weight of the load will not cause the shifting that occurs with lower levels of total applied stretch %.
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So, even for light weight loads that require much less containment force and use minimal film to contain the pallet, we can achieve high total applied stretch in range of 275 – 320%.
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Conventional film often crushes boxes because the layers that are applied to the pallet will tend to contract because the film is so elastic at lower total applied stretch levels. When we apply Rapid Film at high total applied stretch, the stiffer film will not contract like it does when it is at lower total applied stretch and is much more elastic. So we can put on less film, achieve the minimal containment needed, and still prevent crushing.
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Question:
I’m not worried about crushing my products (bagged cement, brick and block, car batteries, etc.). How can you achieve high levels of containment without having to wrap the pallet so many times and put on a lot of film?
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Answer:
There are two parts to the dynamics of load containment.
First, we stretch our film much further than conventional film, achieving much higher total applied stretch %. At those levels, the film stiffens, is much less elastic, and will be much more resistant to shifting due to the lateral or front-to-back movement of the load in transit.
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The second part of load containment is how tightly you wrap the pallet to avoid movement of the load. Conventional film achieves targeted containment force by putting on multiple layers which each add more force to the load. But at the lower total applied stretch levels, the load is still much more vulnerable to shifting even when the targeted containment force is achieved. The reinforced Rapid Film web can handle much higher applied tension to achieve high levels of containment using fewer wraps and much less film​.
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Question:
You mention that Rapid Bander achieves a “reduction of at least 50% greenhouse gas emissions.” How do you calculate that?
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Answer:
There are complex greenhouse gas equivalency calculators that measure the amount of greenhouse gas generated by looking at how certain activities consume gallons of gas, kilowatt hours of electricity, cubic feet of natural gas, vehicles on the road, etc… Our own estimated calculation involves a number of factors including:
· Typical 40-60% reduction in plastic film usage and virgin resin production.
· Reduction in the freight, packaging materials (pallets, wrap, partitions) and handling of pallets
of the conventional stretch wrap that we replace.
· Fewer machine revolutions and the energy consumed to operate the equipment.
· While not included in these calculations, you should also consider the reduction of load failures,
the production and delivery of replacement goods, and the disposal of unrecoverable product.
Further, since Rapid Roper can also reduce or eliminate cornerboards, strapping, and tier sheets, a significant reduction in material use can also lead to additional reductions in waste. Please contact us to learn more.​
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Question:
I've heard that you are rolling out a no cost program for customers to have their film picked up and recycled. Can you tell me more about this?
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Answer:
We have partnered with a company that processes and recycles plastic waste and has agreed to pick up, free of charge, truckload quantities of baled clean, uncontaminated stretch wrap for recycling purposes. There should be no wood shards from pallets, or food waste or other contaminants. Labels need to be removed.
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If you have a customer interested in participating in this program, please contact us.
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