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Wood Pellets

Discover how the right packaging process and materials can reduce your wood pellet costs. Package smarter with these insider tips.

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Wood pellet packaging is hot

Packaging has a significant impact on the final price and quality of popular wood pellets. The right packaging materials and equipment can create a competitive advantage.

The popularity of pellet stoves continues to rise, as does the demand for wood pellets. Fluctuating energy prices and increased attention to environmental friendliness make heating with pellets more attractive.

Pellets are a relatively inexpensive product, so manufacturers seek ways to maximise margins while staying competitive. The packaging of wood pellets offers many opportunities in this regard. At the same time, quality packaging is essential to ensure the fragile wood pellets reach their destination safely, presenting challenges during the packaging process.

Below, we explore the main challenges and share useful tips. Discover how to optimise your pellet production and stay ahead of the competition!

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Obstacles and Tips

Pellets: A Challenging Business

The delicate nature of wood pellets requires a careful packaging process that protects the product during packing, transport, and storage.

Here are the key challenges in the pellet industry and how to optimize each aspect of the packaging process with some advice.

Maintain the Shape of Your Pellets

Pellets are fragile and can easily crumble during packaging and transport. This damage leads to product loss and reduced efficiency in combustion, as broken pellets generate less energy and affect the performance of the end product. Additionally, the perceived quality of your product diminishes.

Invest in a packaging method that firmly supports the pellets and minimises shock. This can range from using sturdy packaging materials to implementing gentle product handling.

Keep Your Wood Pellets Dry

Exposure to moisture, such as rain or high humidity, can cause pellets to swell and lose their integrity, rendering them unusable for combustion.

Avoid contact with moisture by using waterproof packaging and ensuring a controlled storage environment with low humidity. Consider using moisture-absorbing materials in the storage area.

Dust Considerations

Dust formation is a common issue when packaging and transporting pellets. Product loss not only causes economic damage but also poses health and safety risks. Wood dust is flammable and harmful when inhaled.

Choose a packaging machine with minimal dust development and integrated dust extraction systems at machine extraction points to improve air quality and safety. By reducing dust formation, you protect the health of your customers and employees and save costs by avoiding the need to install in an ATEX zone.

A pile of wood pellets on a wooden table

Fire Hazard

The risk of fire increases when storage spaces are not properly ventilated and temperatures rise too high.

Regularly monitor the temperature to detect fire hazards early. It is essential to take precautions, such as installing effective fire detection and extinguishing systems, to stay safe.

Sustainably Packaged

Sustainability is an important motivation for choosing wood pellets. The pressure to operate more eco-friendly continues to grow. Customers expect manufacturers to choose green packaging materials that not only protect the pellets well but are also sustainable and safe.

Opt for a green approach by using recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials without compromising on protection. This not only saves costs but also reduces your ecological footprint and enhances your positive image.

Transport and Logistics

The transport of wood pellets requires strong packaging that protects the load during long hauls. The weight and volume of the packaging must be optimized to minimize transport costs.

Use robust yet lightweight packaging to achieve both protection and cost savings. It’s also important to design packaging that is stackable and makes efficient use of storage space.

Feeding and Dosing

The Ideal Packaging Line for Wood Pellets

Your pellets packed from A to Z.

Pellet Feeding and Weighing

For efficient feeding and weighing of your wood pellets, it’s best to use a closed system, such as a conveyor belt or bucket elevator. This closed system minimizes dust development when transporting pellets to the packaging machine.

For weighing the pellets, a belt scale is recommended. This type of scale is ideal for the low density of pellets and minimizes product damage.

Wood Pellet Filling

At Maxpac, we offer various solutions for packaging wood pellets. We work with premium packaging machines from Italian brands like VAI and Concetti, providing customers with options for low, medium, and high-capacity needs.

Wood pellets can be packaged using three different technologies, depending on location, market, and specific packaging requirements:

Technology Application
Flat Film Most commonly used due to the simplicity and reliability of the machines. Flat film is relatively inexpensive and offers a high recycling rate. However, flexibility in packaging formats is limited.
Tube Film Similar to flat film machines but offers more flexibility and higher capacity. Suitable for a wide range of formats and larger production volumes. Comparable in material cost but more complex and often more expensive to maintain.
Paper Packaging For companies seeking a sustainable image, paper open-mouth bags are an option. Although these offer an eco-friendly image, they have lower capacity and higher costs compared to other materials.

Flat Film Machines

Flat film machines start with a wide roll of flat film, which is transformed into tube film via a forming shoulder. The VFFS flat film machines from VAI are available in capacities ranging from 360 to 1,500 bags per hour.

Flat film is 20% thinner, resulting in 20% lower purchase costs and 20% less waste. Additionally, PE is highly recyclable, offering a sustainable packaging solution.

Tube Film Machines

If you prefer tube film for your pellets, Concetti’s FFS-E machines are a great choice.

These machines deliver a maximum throughput of over 2,000 bags per hour, ensuring the highest processing capacity. The commonly used polyethylene (PE) is highly recyclable, contributing to a more sustainable packaging solution.

Filling Machines for Open-Mouth Bags

Paper open-mouth bags are increasingly used for wood pellets. Concetti offers efficient filling machines for these bags as well.

Transport and Storage

Stack, Secure, and Protect Pellet Packaging

Maxpac provides various machines to ensure the safe transport and storage of your packaged pellets.

For this final stage, different machine types are available, each with its own specific features and advantages.

Palletizing with a Robotic Arm is a budget-friendly and easy-to-operate solution. This machine can handle up to 1,800 bags per hour and is low-maintenance, making it ideal for those seeking an efficient but less complex solution.

For higher capacities, conventional palletizing machines are the perfect choice. These machines can process more than 2,000 bags per hour and offer the most stable stacking results. While they require more space and more complex maintenance, they deliver the best results for high-capacity requirements.

After stacking, there are two options for securing and protecting the pallets:

  • Stretch Hood Machines provide high capacity, more efficient film usage, and completely waterproof packaging. They have fewer wear-sensitive parts but are the more expensive option.
  • Wrappers are a more cost-effective alternative, offering excellent security during transport. Waterproof packaging is available through the use of two rolls of film.
Tubular Film Bagging Machine (FFS)

Tubular Film Bagging Machine (FFS)

Concetti

Machines for forming, filling, and sealing packaging with volumes from 5 to 50 kilograms. Suitable for both free-flowing and challenging-to-flow products.

More information
Vertical Form Fill Seal Machine (VFFS)

Vertical Form Fill Seal Machine (VFFS)

VAI

Form, fill, and seal machines for flat film. Capable of handling up to 1,500 bags per hour and offering a wide weighing range from 100 grams to 50 kilograms.

More information

Consult with our experts

Our packaging specialists are ready to assist you with the design, installation, startup, maintenance, and optimization of your packaging line.

Consult with our experts today, free of obligation. And see how you can achieve more reliability, efficiency, and return from your packaging line as soon as tomorrow.

Contact us

Sales Manager

Alex Govaert