With millions of gallons of milk sold daily in the United States alone, dairy plants must run very efficiently to keep up with demand. Ensuring products are quickly processed, packaged and out the door is essential to its shelf life. ‘Getting things done before the ice cream melts’ is no euphemism is the dairy industry. However, before products reach store shelves pallet loads need to be secured for transport. With the average dairy plant wrapping anywhere from 60-120 loads per hour, the ideal solution is Muller’s (mullerlcs.com) Octopus automatic rotary ring stretch wrapping equipment.

“The Octopus line of stretch wrappers offers the speed and reliability necessary in dairy operations,” says Ryan Womble, national account manager - equipment.
Any machine downtime in the stretch wrapping zone can cause a myriad of problems upstream and greatly effect product shelf life. Having a solution that can withstand harsh plant conditions is critical. The Octopus ring wrapper has proven it can withstand the cold environment and moisture from product splashing without interruption. Its aluminum frame structure further provides dependable construction with minimal maintenance required.

“Our Octopus machines have been successfully incorporated in? Do we know yet? plants across the country,” says Womble. “Most of those machines have operated continuously for years without major issues.”

Replacing the need for polyester straps, a common solution for securing loads in the dairy industry, Muller’s Octopus line is also available with multiple options like its Flexi-Rope. This patented device can also be retrofitted to existing equipment. It works by roping the film from both sides of the web as it wraps- creating pallet breathability while simultaneously securing loads. The recently designed Octopus “S” Series also features a load stabilizer, new load lift conveyer and the highly anticipated No Touch No Tail (NT²) seaming device- an effective and efficient alternative to heat seal pads or wipe down systems. The Octopus ‘S’ Series comes equipped with the new patented Easy S Film Carriage which enables simple film loading, maximizes pre-stretch performance and minimizes wear. In fact, all Octopus models are designed to provide roughly 25% in film savings. With plant real estate at a premium, the small footprint of the Octopus provides another advantage.
Dairy plants are unique in their needs. Most plants are packed tightly with product rushing through at high speeds. The sensitivity of the product adds further complications to the supply chain. With the Octopus line of stretch wrappers, Dairy producers can feel rest assured that products will be quickly and efficiently secured.