If you wrap pallets regularly, the right pallet wrapping machine can save you time, reduce film waste, and improve load stability. But with so many types available—turntable, rotating-arm, and robot pallet wrappers—how do you choose?
At Agritel, we believe the best place to start is to think about three things:
- Shape of your pallets – Are they uniform and stable, or irregular and top-heavy?
- Weight of your pallets – Light enough to spin on a turntable, or too unstable to rotate on a turntable?
- How many pallets you wrap each day – Is it a few pallets now and then, or a steady high-volume operation?
Here’s how each wrapper type works, with examples from our range, and which business they suit best.
Turntable Pallet Wrappers
For many businesses, a turntable pallet wrapper is the natural first step away from hand-wrapping. The pallet sits on a rotating platform while the film carriage moves up and down. Simple, reliable, and compact, these machines are ideal for businesses wrapping stable, evenly-stacked loads such as boxes, trays, or crates.
At Agritel, our Robopac Ecoplat is a great entry-level model for lower-volume operations, offering consistent wraps and easy operation. If you need more performance and advanced control options, the Robopac Masterplat delivers faster cycle times and enhanced durability for busier warehouses.
Turntable wrappers work best when your pallets are under around 2,000 kg and your wrapping volume is moderate—say, up to 30 pallets a day. They take up little floor space and are straightforward for operators to use, but very tall or unstable pallets may not be suitable.
Rotating-Arm Pallet Wrappers
If you regularly wrap heavy, unstable, or unusually shaped loads, a rotating-arm pallet wrapper is often the better choice. Instead of the load spinning, the arm moves around the stationary pallet—keeping delicate or tall stacks from toppling and removing weight restrictions.
Our Robopac Masterwrap HD Plus XL is designed to cope with awkward or very heavy pallets. These machines are often found in busy warehouses or manufacturing plants wrapping 50+ pallets a day. They can achieve faster cycle times than turntables and handle almost any load shape.
Robot Pallet Wrappers
When flexibility is key, nothing beats a robot pallet wrapper. These self-propelled machines move to the pallet, wrapping it in place without the need for a fixed installation. That means no turning pallets on a forklift to get them onto a turntable and no need to dedicate floor space to a wrapping station.
Our Robopac Robot Master FRD M80 can wrap up to 150 pallets on a single battery charge, making it perfect for businesses with multiple wrapping areas or changing warehouse layouts. They’re also ideal for oversized or very long pallets that wouldn’t fit on a turntable.
Comparison Table – Which Wrapper Fits Your Needs?
| Wrapper Type | Best For… | Typical Daily Volume | Pallet Shape & Weight Suitability |
| Turntable | Stable, uniform loads; small-medium businesses | Up to ~30/day | Evenly stacked, < 2,000 kg, standard shapes |
| Rotating-Arm | Heavy, unstable, or irregular pallets; high volume | 50+/day | Any shape, any weight, including very tall loads |
| Robot | Flexible, multi-location wrapping; oversized loads | 20–300+/day | Any shape, any weight; great for awkward or extra-long |
Cost vs Efficiency – The ROI of Switching to a Pallet Wrapper
Let’s take a typical example:
- Hand-wrapping uses around 300g of film per pallet, and each wrap takes 4 minutes of labour.
- A Robopac Masterplat turntable with power pre-stretch can cut film use to 180g per pallet and wrap in just 90 seconds.
For a business wrapping 50 pallets per day:
| Factor | Hand Wrapping | Machine Wrapping |
| Film per pallet | 0.3 kg | 0.18 kg |
| Film cost (per kg) | £2.50 | £2.50 |
| Film cost/day | £37.50 | £22.50 |
| Labour time/day | 200 mins (3h 20m) | 75 mins (1h 15m) |
| Labour cost/hour | £15 | £15 |
| Labour cost/day | £50.00 | £18.75 |
| Total cost/day | £87.50 | £41.25 |
Savings:
- £46.25 per day = over £11,000 per year in film and labour costs.
- Faster wrapping improves productivity and reduces operator fatigue.
Final Thoughts
The right pallet wrapper depends on the loads you wrap, how often you wrap them, and your working environment.
- For standard, stable pallets and moderate volume, the Robopac Ecoplat is a dependable and cost-effective entry point.
- For heavy, irregular, or unstable loads at high speed, the Robopac Masterwrap HD Plus XL keeps things safe and efficient.
- For maximum flexibility, the Robopac Robot Master FRD M80 is hard to beat.
Whichever you choose, Agritel can help you find the right fit—and keep it running smoothly for years to come.
Call Jack on 01691 671496 to answer any and all questions about the wrappers and service plans we have.
