"We still do that manually – it's enough." We often hear this sentence from companies that package hundreds of profiles, mouldings, or doors daily. However, above a certain volume, manual wrapping is simply too slow, too expensive, and too prone to errors. So, when is it worth investing in an automatic packaging machine?
The cost side of manual packaging
Manual stretch wrapping costs more than you think:
– An employee needs 3–8 minutes for a typical pallet or profile bundle
– For 200 items daily, that's 10–26 hours of pure packaging work
– Added to this are inconsistent wrapping results, film waste, and injury risks
An automatic machine accomplishes the same quantity in a fraction of the time – consistently, reproducibly, without signs of fatigue.
The Return on Investment Calculation
A simple calculation example for a company packaging 150 units daily:
Manual: 1 employee × 8 h × 220 working days × 25 €/h = 44,000 € per year
Machine: Investment 15,000–25,000 € (used) or 30,000–60,000 € (new)
Amortization: 6–18 months
From approximately 80–100 units daily, a semi-automatic machine is worthwhile. From 200 units daily, a fully automatic solution is economically sensible.
Quality improvement as an underestimated factor
Automatically wrapped products arrive at the customer in uniformly protected packaging. Fewer transport damages mean fewer complaints, less rework, and a more professional image. This factor is often underestimated in ROI calculations.
Which machine for which volume?
– Up to 80 units/day: Semi-automatic orbital wrapper (e.g., Dynawrap Go 600, Joy 450)
– 80–300 units/day: Fully automatic orbital wrapper (e.g., Dynawrap Joy 1250, Pro 600)
– Over 300 units/day: Fully automatic inline solution (e.g., Dynawrap Pro 1700)
Our tip: Start with a used machine. The investment is manageable, the ROI is quickly achieved – and after 12 months, you'll know exactly which performance class you really need.
