You can run the best sorting line in the region and still lose money if the recovered material stays a loose pile. A horizontal baler is the machine that closes the economic loop: it turns sorted cardboard, paper and plastic into dense, uniform, sellable bales.
The reason is simple logistics. Loose material takes up several times the space of baled material, and transport is paid by volume, not by weight alone. On top of that, a bale of standard size and density is a commodity recyclers buy at market price, not a lot negotiated from scratch every time. See the full range of waste sorting equipment and where each machine sits in the flow.
Key Advantages of a Recycling Baler
• It cuts the volume drastically, loose material takes up several times the space of baled material, so the baler pays for itself out of the transport and storage cost you save.
• A bale is a standard commodity, uniform size and density make the bale a product bought at market price rather than a lot negotiated separately each time.
• Automatic steel wire tying, once the pre-set length is reached, the machine ties the bale by itself, so the full cycle needs no operator intervention.
• Pressure pre-set per material, cardboard, film and PET need different pressures, and the setting delivers consistent density without damaging the material inside.
• Automatic feeding, the chain conveyor takes material straight into the hopper, reducing manual handling and increasing safety.
• Continuous throughput, the cycle of feeding, compression, tying and ejection is managed entirely by the hydraulic and control systems.
Technical Specifications, Horizontal Baler
| Parameter | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Feeding system | Chain conveyor and metal hopper |
| Compaction system | Main hydraulic piston, compression tunnel |
| Pressure setting | Pre-set to the desired value, per material |
| Bale tying | Automatic, steel wire, at pre-set length |
| Work cycle | Feeding, compression, tying, ejection, automatic |
| Materials baled | Cardboard, paper, film, PET, rigid containers, textiles |
| Premium component option | Siemens or Schneider PLC, Rexroth or Parker hydraulics |
| Position in the line | Final stage, on each recovered fraction |
Compression force, bale size and throughput are set from the dominant material and from the monthly volume you process. Electrical and hydraulic components can be specified from recognised manufacturers, and that is worth requesting explicitly in the quotation.
Applications for Baling Recyclables
• Waste sorting plants, baling each recovered fraction, the final stage before sale.
• Cardboard and paper recycling, the most common application, with the best resale market.
• Plastic recycling, baling PET, film and rigid containers, in separate fractions.
• Retail and distribution, stores and warehouses generating large volumes of cardboard packaging.
• Industrial production, baling packaging offcuts and production materials.
• Textiles, compacting collected textiles for efficient transport to recyclers.
How It Works
Sorted recyclables are delivered by a chain conveyor and discharged into the baler's metal hopper. The hopper acts as an accumulation zone, gathering a set volume of loose material. When the hopper is full, a signal triggers the next phase: a metal plate pushes the material from the hopper into the main compression chamber, known as the tunnel. Here the main hydraulic piston comes into action, advancing with great force and compressing the material against a fixed wall inside the tunnel. The working pressure has been pre-set to the right value for that material, which gives consistent density from bale to bale. Material accumulates in the tunnel with each piston stroke, and when the compressed length reaches the pre-set value the tying mechanism engages automatically and binds the bale with steel wire. The tie fixes the bale's shape and integrity. The last step is ejection, also hydraulic, which pushes the finished bale out of the tunnel. The whole cycle, from feeding to ejection, is managed by the hydraulic and control systems with minimal operator intervention.
Selection Guide
The first criterion is the dominant material. Cardboard compacts easily and needs moderate pressure. PET, especially undeformed bottles, needs considerably more, and film behaves differently from both. If you bale several materials on the same press, it must be sized for the most difficult one, not for the average. The second criterion is monthly volume, which sets the required throughput and whether you need fully automatic or semi-automatic tying. The third, and often decisive in the long run: the components. A baler works under high hydraulic pressure in repeated cycles, so the quality of the pump, the valves and the control system directly determines how many years it runs without stoppages. Ask explicitly for the version with PLC and hydraulics from recognised manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pressure do I need?
It depends on the material. Cardboard compacts relatively easily, PET in whole bottles needs considerably more, and film behaves differently from both. If you bale several materials on the same machine, the press is sized for the most difficult one rather than the average, otherwise you will get weak bales on precisely the material that matters.
Is the tying fully automatic?
Yes, on the automatic version. When the compressed material reaches the pre-set length in the tunnel, the mechanism ties the bale with steel wire by itself, with no operator intervention. Semi-automatic versions also exist, cheaper, where tying is done by hand, suitable for small volumes.
What density do the bales have?
It depends on the material and the pre-set pressure, so we cannot give a single figure. What matters is that density stays consistent from bale to bale, because the pressure is pre-set rather than estimated. That consistency is what turns a bale into a standard commodity with a predictable price.
Why do the hydraulic components matter?
Because a baler works under high pressure in repeated cycles, thousands of times a month. The pump, the valves and the cylinders are the parts that decide whether the machine runs ten years without trouble or stops every few months. It is worth asking explicitly in the quotation for the version with hydraulics and automation from recognised manufacturers.
Is the equipment supplied new?
Yes. We supply new units only, made to order for your application, with complete technical documentation.
What maintenance does a baler need?
Checking the level and condition of the hydraulic oil, which is the most important point, inspecting the cylinder seals, checking the shear knife and the tying mechanism, and inspecting the feed conveyor. Dirty or degraded oil is the leading cause of hydraulic failures.
Why URSTAG?
URSTAG is a premium brand of recycling equipment, with over 15 years of experience. You don't just get a machine, you get a solution engineered by specialists, built from top-tier components and backed by a team that supports you from design through commissioning.
• European engineering, every machine and every complete line is designed by our engineering teams in Europe, with a focus on reliability, safety and energy efficiency.
• Premium components, we build on motors and automation from industry leaders: Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli.
• Over 15 years of experience, we know how materials and machines behave in real-world operation, and we configure each solution for your flow and volume.
• New equipment, configured for you, we supply new units, made to order for your application, with complete technical documentation.
• Delivery, installation and training included, we handle transport, commissioning and operator training, with support throughout the equipment's life.
As a premium brand, URSTAG relies on European engineering, top-tier components and experience. You choose a partner that supports your production long term, with equipment built to run reliably in demanding industrial environments.
