Paul Peachey, owner of Quality Pallet, was hesitant when Pallet Machinery Service LLC recommended both electrical and hydraulic upgrades to his 1997 Viking 505 Turbo Max. But now, months after the upgrades, he couldn’t be happier with the results.
Solution: “We can nail for 8 hours straight and not have one nail in the chuck. We went from jams 20 times a day to basically zero.”
Established in 2003 in Greensburg, Kentucky, Quality Pallet produces approximately 4,200 pallets daily at full capacity, depending on the footprint of the pallet. It is strictly a new manufacturer and relies heavily on its two nailing machines for building 98-99% of its pallets. The company builds approximately 1,500 truckloads a year, with only 14 loads built on a hand table.
It builds pallets ranging in size from 30’x30’ to 60’x60’, three-runner and four-runner pallets, four-way and two-way pallets, pallets that are flush or have wings built to customer specifications.
After ongoing problems with its Turbo Max, Peachey took the advice of Greg Wine and Mark Brizendine of Pallet Machinery Service (PMSL), who installed their electrical and PLC upgrade kit in July-August of 2016. Training was easy and within just a few days, the machine was running at full capacity.
“We went in and we stripped the machine down to the frame, stripped off the computer components, the chuck parts, the hydraulic line system and the wiring. All the wiring was changed, the computer components and controls, and we went back to the larger style chuck body,” Peachey said. “Anything that had to pertain to moving parts was replaced. We also replaced both hydraulic power units.”
Peachey said he wasn’t sure about the hydraulics upgrade at first due to costs. “I was contemplating putting a used rebuilt hydraulic pump and tank on this machine, but was advised by PMSL to go over and above the demand of oil. Having done so with the aid of PMSL’s oversized hydraulic kit, we are very well pleased. The hydraulic system runs cooler, has plenty of power – those things people are looking for in machines.”
The upgrade has eliminated the worry typical of many machines – that it’ll have to be shut down when the oil runs hot, he explained. “The machine will now run an 8-hour shift at top capacity. It’s kind of like pulling up next to your buddy in a Camaro. You can show him you’ve got a little extra power.”
Another big advantage with the upgrade is that the new hydraulic units are located in a separate room from the machinery. That makes it safer and easier to maintain, and also provides a more comfortable working environment for his employees, Peachey said.
His employees also no longer have to struggle with being productive while coping with an older worn machine.
“The new electrical drive on the star turner also increased our nailing capacity and speed, and is also very accurate and adequate,” he said. Previously the old drive would overshoot its home starting position.
The electrical upgrade also provides new data storage and reporting capabilities, Brizendine said. Pallet boards and nails can be placed more accurately, and the machine can store more pallet recipes and provide valuable data. For example, the number of pallets produced in a shift and how fast they were made.
Peachey said Pallet Machinery Service is outstanding because “their engineers and designers are field trained men with years of experience…hands-on experience building a wooden pallet. They understand the pallet manufacturing needs and have the ability and expertise to solve the problem.”
“We have built and structured our company with the main focus on our customers to build a quality product and PMSL has helped us achieve this,” Peachey said. It’s also helped with another priority – creating a comfortable work zone for employees.
“I was hesitant at the time of rebuild…but when I observe the machine now and what it’s doing for our company and our employees, I expect it to provide years and years of service.”
Machinery Service LLC is a division of Pallet Machinery Group, located in Tappahannock, Virginia.
For more information on the company or its services, visit www.palletmachinery.com or call 540-644-9220.
