Pallet Wrapper fault
Pallet Wrapper Running Slowly or Stalling
A pallet wrapper running below normal speed or stalling under load is usually a drive system issue — motor wear, inverter fault, drive chain tension or excessive mechanical resistance in the turntable or carriage.
Does this match your fault?
Common symptoms
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Turntable rotation is slower than normal
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Machine stalls when film tension is applied
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Cycle time has increased noticeably
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Machine runs fine unloaded but slows under a pallet
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Inverter or drive fault code appearing
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Machine audibly struggling — motor noise louder than usual
What causes this
Typical causes
Inverter fault or parameter drift
The inverter controlling turntable or carriage speed has developed a fault or its parameters have shifted. Often shows as a gradual slowdown before an eventual trip.
Drive motor wear
Motor windings or brushes (on older DC motors) have deteriorated, reducing output torque. The machine runs light loads fine but struggles under normal operating conditions.
Drive chain or belt overtension or wear
An overtightened or worn drive chain creates excessive drag. A chain running dry without lubrication generates significant friction and slows the drive.
Mechanical resistance — bearings or rollers
Turntable support bearings or load rollers have deteriorated, adding load to the drive. Often accompanied by noise and gradual worsening over time.
Before calling an engineer
What to check first
These are the practical checks worth trying before calling out an engineer. If none of these resolve the fault, or if the issue keeps returning, it needs a proper diagnosis.
01
Check for inverter fault codes
Look at the inverter unit display for any fault codes or warning lights. Note them before resetting — slowdown is often a precursor to an inverter trip.
02
Check drive chain or belt condition
With the machine isolated, inspect the drive chain or belt. Check for adequate lubrication, correct tension, and no obvious wear or damaged links.
03
Try running the machine unloaded
Run the turntable without a pallet and observe speed. If it runs normally unloaded but slows with a pallet, the issue is drive torque — motor, inverter or mechanical load.
04
Listen for unusual motor or drive noise
Abnormal motor noise (hum, grinding or intermittent cutting out) indicates an electrical or mechanical issue in the drive train that needs investigation.
When to call us
If any of these apply, call now
At this point, continued resets or workarounds are unlikely to resolve the underlying fault. A proper diagnosis is faster and cheaper than repeated call-outs for the same issue.
Inverter fault code present that will not clear after reset
Machine stalls completely under normal load — not just slowing
Burning smell or tripped circuit breaker associated with slowdown
Related faults
More fault support
Report a Breakdown
Include the machine make and model, the fault you are seeing and any error codes. A photo of the display helps us triage faster.