Cardboard balers for packaging waste and recycling

Cardboard balers on this page include vertical balers from 3 t to 45 t, two bin presses, two manual balers for film and paper, and textile strap for tying bales. The balers press cardboard, film and paper into bales for the recycler; the bin presses compact the waste inside the bin.

There are two main families: TONNA and HSM V-Press. Bale weights range from 30–50 kg up to 450 kg depending on the model and material. The category covers compact, medium and large cardboard balers for different volumes of waste.

Choose your cardboard baler by the waste you generate per week, the bale weight you can move, and the power supply available. A table of all machines with key figures follows below the products.

How a vertical cardboard baler makes a bale

To make a bale in a vertical cardboard baler such as the TONNA E60, open the upper door and load cardboard or film. Close the door and the press starts by itself, as it does on the TONNA E80 and HSM V-Press 503 eco, 605 eco and 610 eco. Repeat loading and pressing until the machine shows that the bale is full (TONNA E60 and TONNA E80).

Tie the straps with the platen down. Open the doors while standing to the side and take the bale out. The TONNA E60 makes bales of 70 × 50 × 70 cm and up to 50 kg for cardboard or 60 kg for film.

Each time you load the chamber and close the door, the platen presses the new material onto the last layer, so the bale grows in layers. Spread each load evenly across the chamber. The TONNA manuals warn that uneven loading can tilt or damage the press plate. On the HSM V-Press 504, 605 eco, 610 eco and 818 plus, the HSM TCS monitors the tilt of the plate for this reason.

Start every new bale with a large, flat sheet of cardboard placed on the chamber floor. This sheet catches the straps and small pieces and gives the bale a firm base. Load the material as it arises during the day rather than all at the end of the shift, so no loose boxes pile up next to the baler.

On the models with retaining claws, the HSM V-Press 605 eco and 610 eco and the TONNA20, the claws hold the pressed material down when the platen rises, so the next load is added on top instead of the material springing back. A bale tied after the platen is raised expands, and the straps sit loose. Standing to the side matters because a pressed bale can push a door open as it expands.

Finish the bale the same way you started it. The HSM manuals for the V-Press 503 eco, 504 and 818 plus recommend using a large piece of cardboard for both the first and last pressing. This keeps small pieces from falling off the top or bottom of the bale.

Uneven loading has a direct cost on the HSM balers with TCS. On the HSM V-Press 818 plus, if the press ram comes down tilted several times, the machine stops and reports the bale as ready. This means you must tie and remove a smaller bale than planned. On the HSM V-Press 504, a fault appears on the display asking for even loading.

Choosing a cardboard baler machine by pressing force and bale weight

Cardboard balers are grouped by pressing force: compact 3–5 t (TONNA E60 3 t, HSM V-Press 503 eco 3 t, HSM V-Press 504 4 t, TONNA E80 up to 4 t, TONNA5 5 t), medium 5.7–12 t (HSM V-Press 605 eco 5.7 t, TONNA10 10 t, HSM V-Press 610 eco 12 t), and large 18.5–45 t (HSM V-Press 818 plus 18.5 t, TONNA20 20 t, TONNA25 25 t, TONNA45 45 t). Bale weights range from 30–50 kg on TONNA E60 and HSM V-Press 503 eco up to 450 kg on TONNA45.

A small cardboard baler makes lighter bales that are moved on a trolley. An industrial cardboard baler produces bales up to 450 kg, which require a pallet truck or forklift. Heavier bales mean fewer bales for the same amount of waste.

Start by measuring the waste you generate per week and the bale weight your staff can safely move. For example, the HSM V-Press 503 eco and 504 make bales of up to 50 kg and 60 kg, which are taken out with a discharge trolley. On the other hand, the TONNA20, TONNA25, TONNA45 and HSM V-Press 818 plus make bales of up to 150–450 kg, which are handled on pallets.

A higher pressing force means more material fits into each bale. This reduces the number of bales you need to tie, store and hand over to the recycler. It also means fewer collections.

Compare the models by their pressing force and the bale weights they produce. The HSM V-Press 605 eco, with 5.7 t of force, makes bales up to 70 kg. The HSM V-Press 610 eco, at 12 t, makes bales up to 100 kg. The HSM V-Press 818 plus, with 18.5 t, produces bales up to 200 kg. The TONNA45, at 45 t, makes bales up to 450 kg.

The TONNA45 makes bales with a base of 1200 × 800 mm, the size of a EUR pallet. The HSM V-Press 818 plus makes bales on a 1200 × 780 mm base. This means the bales can be handled like any other pallet load in your warehouse.

Before you choose, ask your recycler which bale weight and size it accepts. The requirements for bale size and weight decide both the machine you need and the equipment for moving the bales. For example, if your recycler only takes bales on pallets and with a minimum weight, a small baler may not be suitable.

Table of all cardboard balers and presses

The table below lists all cardboard balers and presses in this category with their type, pressing force, bale weight and power supply.

To use the table, first look for the power supply available where the machine will stand: single-phase 230 V, three-phase 400 V or no electricity for manual balers. Next, check the bale weight you can move and that your recycler accepts. Then compare the pressing force for each model. The type column shows which machines have a discharge trolley or a bale ejector and which press the waste in the bin. Where the table says to see the product page, the figure is given there.

Cardboard compactor or baler: bin presses for waste in bins

The TONNA bin press 240L (up to 2 t, for 240-liter bins) and TONNA1100 (3 t, for 1100-liter containers, pressing plate 660 × 1000 mm) compact waste directly inside the bin. Hold the ON button and move the lever down to press and up to raise the plate.

A bin press is enough when the waste goes into bins anyway and the aim is fewer emptyings. When you have enough clean cardboard or film to hand sorted bales to a recycler, a vertical cardboard baler is better. A cardboard shredder turns boxes into padding instead of pressing them.

The pressing plate comes down into the bin, compressing the contents. The collection company empties the bin as before, so there are no bales to tie, store or hand over to a recycler. This is useful in places where waste is mixed or where the goal is to fit more into each bin before collection.

The TONNA bin press 240L is made for standard 240-liter bins. The arms are set to the width of the bin, and each pressing cycle takes 20 s.

A pressed bin is much heavier than a bin of loose waste. Always check the weight limit of the bin and ask the collection company if it accepts pressed bins. The TONNA bin press 240L can press cardboard, paper, plastic, film, foam, soft materials and food waste, but not pressurized containers, cans, metal, wood, glass or other solid materials.

The TONNA bin press 240L can reduce the volume of waste in the bin by up to 80 percent. To use it, place the bin on the platform with the lid facing outwards, then hold the ON button and the lever down until the pressing plate stops moving. Add more waste and press again until the bin is full.

On the TONNA1100, always block the wheels of the 1100-liter container on the platform before pressing. If the pressing plate is already down, raise it first. The maker’s manual notes that keeping the plate down as long as possible between steps compacts the waste better. The TONNA1100 is made for indoor use only, in a room free of moisture, so plan a place for it inside and bring the containers to it. If the TONNA bin press 240L does not start, pressing the OFF button resets it. Slow or weak pressing on either bin press can be caused by low hydraulic oil, a clogged filter or a leak. The TONNA bin press 240L is fixed to a wall or concrete floor and leveled so it does not rock during use.

Cardboard and plastic baler: one material per bale

TONNA E60 and TONNA E80 have a separate operating mode for cardboard and for plastic film. HSM V-Press 504 and HSM V-Press 818 plus have a program for each material. Each bale contains only one material.

The manual balers, TONNA T-Portable and HSM V-Press 60, use no electricity. A lever compresses the material 5:1 and more. Each bale is up to 40 kg and tied three times with twine. These bales can be pressed again in a hydraulic baler.

A cardboard and plastic baler presses both cardboard and film, but not in the same bale. For example, after pressing a bale of cardboard, you must empty the chamber before switching to film.

Film springs back more than cardboard, so it is important to use the correct program or mode. On the TONNA E60, a cardboard bale weighs 30–50 kg, while a film bale of the same size weighs 40–60 kg. Keep stretch film and shrink film separate from cardboard at the unpacking station.

The bales of the TONNA T-Portable and HSM V-Press 60 are 800 × 600 mm and up to 800 mm high. Because they need no socket, these manual balers can stand right where goods are unpacked.

On the HSM V-Press 504 and 818 plus, the film program has two settings. The press ram can return to the top after each stroke, or it can stay down on the pressed film, which is useful for material that expands. In the second setting, the ram is raised before the next load. Both models allow you to tie a bale before the display shows it as finished, for example when you need to change material during a shift.

For the TONNA E60 and TONNA E80, the maker’s manual says to leave the platen in the lower position between loads as long as possible, as this compacts the material better. The HSM manuals for the V-Press 503 eco, 504 and 818 plus allow only empty cardboard, dry paper free of solvents and single-ply film. Material that expands strongly, such as bubble wrap or foam, should only be loaded after consulting HSM. On the HSM V-Press 60, press the foot brakes, load a large piece of film first, spread the material evenly and pre-compress it by hand. The lever is worked with both hands: release the safety lever with the left hand and pull the handle down gradually. Keep the press closed. The HSM V-Press 60 takes plastic film, corrugated board and heavy paper sacks, but not household waste, newspapers, tins or bottles.

Power supply and bale removal on cardboard balers

Models running on single-phase 230 V (220–240 V) include TONNA E60, TONNA E80, HSM V-Press 503 eco, HSM V-Press 504, TONNA5, TONNA10, TONNA20, TONNA25, TONNA bin press 240L and TONNA1100. HSM V-Press 605 eco, 610 eco and 818 plus need three-phase 400 V, the TONNA45 three-phase 380–400 V.

Bale removal methods: HSM V-Press 503 eco and 504 use a discharge trolley. HSM V-Press 605 eco and 610 eco have a mechanical bale ejector that tips the bale onto a pallet or pallet truck. TONNA20, TONNA25 and TONNA45 have an automatic bale ejector.

Before installation, check that the correct socket is available at the place where the machine will stand.

The TONNA manuals warn that you must plug the baler straight into the mains socket, not an extension cable. Using an extension cable can raise the current and trip the breaker, stopping the machine. If there is no three-phase socket where a 400 V machine will stand, a qualified electrician installs one before the delivery. This is important in production areas where only single-phase power is available, as it may affect which model you can use.

Always keep the area in front of the doors clear when a bale comes out, and make sure nobody stands where the bale tips out of the machine.

When planning the installation, give your electrician the current each machine draws. The single-phase TONNA20 draws 16 A, with a 2.2 kW motor. The TONNA E80 draws 11 A, and its technical sheet recommends a C16 breaker. On a three-phase machine, the direction of rotation is checked at the first start. The TONNA45 manual asks for a motor that turns clockwise, and if it does not, the phase sequence must be changed. The HSM V-Press 818 plus shows a phase fault on its display until an electrician corrects the connection.

On the TONNA25 and TONNA45, the platen does the ejecting. After tying the bale, push the bale tilting lever on the pressure plate forward into the channels at the back, then press the two-hand button together with the up button to lift the platen and tip the bale out. Pull the lever back afterwards. Before a bale comes out of the HSM V-Press 503 eco or 504, open both the loading door and the bale door past 90 degrees so the bale can come out freely onto the discharge trolley. On the HSM V-Press 818 plus, tighten the hand wheel on the door only lightly, as the manual warns that a door tightened hard is difficult to open after pressing.

Tying the bale on a cardboard bale press

HSM V-Press 503 eco and 504 tie each bale twice with polyester tape and include 2 rolls of tape. HSM V-Press 605 eco ties three times with 3 rolls included. HSM V-Press 610 eco ties three times, and HSM V-Press 818 plus ties four times. The manual balers use twine, tied three times per bale.

The textile strap in this category is 16 mm wide, 340 m per roll, 4 rolls per package, and is tied by hand with a knot. No tool is needed.

The TONNA T-Portable and HSM V-Press 60 are tied with twine, three times crosswise for each bale. A roll of the textile strap has an outer diameter of 180 mm.

Before ordering strap, check on the product page of your baler which type and width of strap it takes. Keeping a stock of strap at the baler is important, so a full bale never waits untied in the chamber.

On the HSM V-Press 503 eco, each tape is pulled about 400 mm over the bale door and cut. The end is then taken off the fixing hook and tied firmly to the tape at the top of the bale. After the bale is out, the tape ends go back on the fixing hooks, ready for the next bale. For the HSM V-Press 60, each of the three cords of twine is cut 3 m long and threaded before loading. When the bale is pressed, the upper ends are pulled tight and knotted.

On the TONNA E60 and TONNA E80, the straps are put in before the chamber is filled. With the platen at the top and the machine unplugged, the straps run down through the guides in the chamber and back through the holes in the door, secured with a loop and tightened with the hook. When the bale is full, they are passed over the top with the hook, cut to length and pulled out through the holes on top of the lower door. On the TONNA25 and TONNA45, the strap is threaded through the slots at the bottom and rear of the chamber before loading. When the bale is big enough, the tying compression button presses it and stops the platen in the position for tying, and the lower and upper ends of each strap are tied together. On the HSM V-Press 504, the tape is pulled through the channels in the press ram with the tape insertion needle and the loop is cut. The two cut ends must not be swapped, otherwise the bale cannot be tied.

When a baler pays off and what size to buy

A cardboard baler pays off when loose boxes fill bins quickly or take up too much floor space. If your waste per week fills several bins or containers, a baler reduces the number of collections. For waste that goes into bins, a TONNA bin press 240L or TONNA1100 compacts it inside the bin. For clean cardboard and film, a vertical baler makes bales for recycling.

The right size depends on your busiest week. Choose a baler that handles the largest volume you expect, not just the average. The chamber size fixes the base of the bale, and the pressing force decides how much fits in.

To see when a baler pays off, count the waste you generate per week by material: cardboard, film and paper. Note whether this waste goes into bins or piles up as loose boxes on the floor.

Calculate the current cost of waste handling. This includes the number of bin emptyings per month, the floor space taken by loose boxes and the time staff spend flattening and carrying cardboard. The cost of collections and the space used for waste are both reduced when the waste is baled.

Clean, sorted bales have a value to recyclers. Depending on the market price of cardboard or film, recyclers may collect bales free of charge or even pay for them.

The busiest week is often the one after large deliveries or during peak production.

The hourly output is rarely the limiting factor for a vertical baler. For example, the TONNA20 is rated at 6 to 8 bales per hour, the HSM V-Press 610 eco at 3 to 6, and even the manual HSM V-Press 60 at about 3 bales per hour. In daily work, the pace is set by how quickly staff can load the material by hand, not by the rated output. The makers place their models for different volumes: the HSM V-Press 503 eco is for low material volumes, the 504 is HSM’s entry-level model and the TONNA20 is a mid-range baler that is easy to load with large boxes.

Measure your waste by weight as well as by volume. Weigh one full bin or roll cage of loose cardboard and note its volume. HSM asks for these figures before recommending a press: the quantity of material per year, month or hour and its weight per cubic meter when loose. Expect the bale weight to vary. The HSM manual explains that it depends on the type, moisture and condition of the material and on the bale height, so your bales may be lighter than the figures in the table. The display of the HSM V-Press 504 and 818 plus counts the bales, separately for cardboard and film, together with the working hours. This helps you plan collections and track output.

Space, ceiling height and delivery route

Cardboard balers need a solid, level floor that supports the machine, the bales and a pallet truck. Leave room in front for loading, for the doors to swing and for taking the bale out. The ceiling must be higher than the machine. For example, HSM V-Press 503 eco and 504 need at least 2000 mm. The TONNA20 has a lower transport height for delivery.

Check the delivery route: doors and passages must fit the machine size. A covered or indoor place makes the machine last longer. The electrical connection must be made by a qualified electrician.

Measure the ceiling height where the machine will stand, and check for beams, pipes or sprinklers that could reduce the usable height. The HSM V-Press 818 plus is 2370 mm high and the TONNA20 is 2600 mm.

The HSM V-Press 504 needs 1825 mm of depth including the swing of its door. In a packing area, make sure there is enough room for a pallet truck or trolley to move bales away from the machine.

The machine is leveled so it does not rock during operation.

The TONNA20 is 1955 mm high for transport, which is lower than its working height. Measure all doors, corridors and lifts on the way in. Check if the truck can reach a loading ramp or if it needs a tail lift, and whether a forklift is available on site. The TONNA E60 is made for a closed, dry room. Outdoors, a waterproof plug and socket are needed. Good light and ventilation are also required.

A baler is moved only with the platen lowered and the doors closed and locked, otherwise it can tip over. The TONNA25 and TONNA45 have grooves in the base that take the forks of a forklift or a pallet truck. The TONNA5 and TONNA10 manuals recommend placing the machine in a corner, with the side and back against the walls, and adding a protective barrier at the back and sides if this is not possible, to keep the baler out of forklift lanes.

Before the first start of a TONNA5 or TONNA10, replace the oil plug fitted for transport with the breather cap supplied. The manual warns that running without the breather cap damages the machine. Outdoors, the HSM V-Press 503 eco and 504 may run only under supervision and never directly exposed to rain. Their maintenance intervals are then shorter, and in frost they need a hydraulic oil suited to the cold. The HSM V-Press 610 eco needs 2 to 3 m² of floor space, so it can stand where the material arises. The HSM delivery checklists also ask whether the truck must pass a gate or a pedestrian zone, whether delivery hours are limited, and whether the place of installation is above a basement, which matters for the floor load.

Safe work at a cardboard baler

Only trained operators may use a cardboard baler. The TONNA manuals set a danger zone of 1 m around the machine and the finished bale. Never load glass, aerosol cans, metal, wood, solid objects, cardboard cores or complete bales of newspapers or cardboard. The press runs only with the door closed.

Stand to the side when opening the doors, as a pressed bale expands. Never lift bales by hand: use a trolley, pallet truck or electric pallet stacker. Wear safety shoes, safety glasses and gloves. Walk around the machine every day before use and unplug it before any maintenance. Do not use a machine with damaged cables, hoses or an oil leak until it is repaired.

Only trained people who have read the manual work at the baler, and only one operator stands at the machine at a time. Everyone else stays outside the 1 m danger zone during operation and when a bale is being removed. This reduces the risk of injury from moving parts or from a bale expanding as it comes out.

The TONNA manuals exclude the materials listed above because they injure people and damage the machine.

On the HSM V-Press 503 eco and 610 eco, a safety switch stops the pressing if the door is opened. Ear protection is recommended.

Before every start, check that there are no people, children or animals inside the chamber or the bin. The TONNA manuals and the manuals of both bin presses require this check to prevent accidents. Nobody under 16 may operate the TONNA E60, TONNA E80, TONNA1100, HSM V-Press 60, 503 eco, 504 or 818 plus, according to their manuals. At the start of every shift, check the safety devices as the HSM manuals ask. On the HSM V-Press 504, the press must not start with the loading door or the bale door open, and the locking lever must snap in when the loading door is closed.

Lock the baler doors when the machine is not in use. At the end of the day, switch the main switch off, secure it and pull the plug. On the HSM V-Press 504 and 818 plus, the main switch can be locked in the off position with a padlock. Open and close the doors slowly so that nobody is hit or trapped. Lift only comfortable amounts when loading, and take off loose clothing and jewelry before working at the baler. An oil leak is also a fire risk, as the manuals of the TONNA E60 and TONNA E80 point out.

What decides the price when you buy cardboard baler equipment

The price of a cardboard baler depends on pressing force, bale size, bale ejector type and programs for cardboard and film. Installation may require a three-phase socket and delivery arrangements. Running costs include strap and service. The price is shown on each product card. A cardboard box baler with a higher pressing force and automatic ejector will cost more.

Installation costs can include a new three-phase socket for a 400 V machine, and delivery may require a forklift or a truck with a tail lift for larger balers.

Running costs include strap or tape for every bale, electricity and the yearly service with an oil change that the TONNA manuals recommend. The product cards have a Get offer button for a quote, for example for a baler together with strap, and an Add to inquiry button to collect several products into one request.

Electricity is a small item in the running costs: the TONNA E60 and TONNA E80 use 0.008 kWh per pressing cycle. For the yearly oil change, the TONNA bin press 240L takes 14 liters of hydraulic oil, the TONNA1100 takes 8 liters and the TONNA E80 also takes 8 liters.

Plan the installation of the HSM V-Press 818 plus as well. It arrives with its hydraulic cylinders retracted for transport, and trained staff move them into the operating position and bolt them before the first bale is made.

Checklist before you order a cardboard baler

Check what your recycler requires: materials, bale size and bale weight. Measure your waste per week and compare the largest boxes to the loading opening of the baler. The floor must be level and strong enough for the machine and a pallet truck. The ceiling must be higher than the machine.

Check the power supply at the place of installation. Decide who will load the machine and where the bales will wait for collection. The table above shows the figures for each model, including pressing force, bale weight and power supply.

Start by asking your recycler which materials it accepts, the bale size and weight required, whether bales must be loose or on pallets and the smallest quantity per collection.

The HSM V-Press 504 has a loading opening of 700 × 470 mm, the 605 eco and 610 eco 800 × 495 mm and the 818 plus 1195 mm wide. If a box does not fit, it must be folded before loading. Make sure a socket of the right kind, single-phase 230 V or three-phase 400 V, is within reach.

Decide where the strap will be kept. In some cases, one baler may not take all materials, so a bin press for mixed waste and a baler for cardboard may fit better.

When you ask for an offer, describe the material: whether it is dry or wet, loose, in stacks, already pressed or shredded, and the size of the smallest and largest pieces. HSM asks these questions before recommending a press. Anything other than cardboard, paper and film is clarified with the maker first. HSM may ask for a compression test.

Check the loading height against the people who will load the machine. The HSM V-Press 610 eco has a loading height of 655 mm, and the HSM V-Press 818 plus has a filling height of 958 mm with a door that folds down. Note the working time and the conditions at the place: the working days per week and the shifts, whether the place is protected from the weather and which temperatures it reaches.

Questions about cardboard balers

How heavy are the bales from each cardboard baler?

TONNA E60 bales weigh 30–50 kg with cardboard and 40–60 kg with film, HSM V-Press 503 eco bales 30–50 kg and TONNA E80 cardboard bales 40–60 kg. HSM V-Press 504 makes bales up to 60 kg, HSM V-Press 605 eco up to 70 kg, HSM V-Press 610 eco up to 100 kg, TONNA20 up to 150 kg, HSM V-Press 818 plus up to 200 kg, TONNA25 up to 250 kg. TONNA45 bales weigh up to 450 kg, TONNA T-Portable and HSM V-Press 60 bales up to 40 kg; for TONNA5 and TONNA10, the bale weight is on the product page.

Which cardboard balers run on a normal 230 V supply?

TONNA E60, TONNA E80, HSM V-Press 503 eco, HSM V-Press 504, TONNA5, TONNA10, TONNA20, TONNA25, TONNA bin press 240L and TONNA1100 all run on single-phase 230 V (220–240 V).

How long does one pressing cycle take on a cardboard baler?

Cycle times are 20 s for TONNA bin press 240L, 27 s for TONNA E60 and TONNA E80, 21 s for HSM V-Press 605 eco, 22 s for 610 eco and 27 s for 504 and 818 plus (HSM idle cycle, without material), and 40 s for TONNA20.

How much ceiling height does a cardboard baler need?

HSM V-Press 503 eco and 504 need a ceiling of at least 2000 mm. The ceiling must be higher than the machine: the HSM V-Press 818 plus is 2370 mm high and the TONNA20 2600 mm, and the TONNA20 is lower for transport.