Choose your language:

Language

+86 574 87305555 info@sinobler.com

Home | Blog |

Used Clothing Baler for Compact Textile Bales | 40'HC Container Loading Case Study

A used-clothing recycling company needed a high-pressure baler for loose used clothes and second-hand textiles, with compact and stable rectangular bales designed for export in 40-foot high-cube containers.

The customer initially targeted 400–500 kg per bale, but the most important requirement was the finished bale size, approximately 1,150 × 750 × 700–800 mm, so the bales could be efficiently arranged inside a 40'HC container.

SINOBALER recommended a customized SVBT2-L1-1000 Lifting Chamber Baler with 100-ton pressing force, with a customized chamber designed around the customer's required bale dimensions and container-loading method.

Customer Requirement

The customer specializes in the collection, sorting and recycling of used clothing and second-hand textiles.

After sorting, the material consists mainly of loose garments with relatively low bulk density compared with paper and cardboard.

The customer needed bales that were:

Compact and rectangular
Stable enough for stacking
Suitable for export transportation
Optimized for 40-foot high-cube container loading
Approximately 1,150 mm long
Approximately 750–765 mm wide
Approximately 700–800 mm high
Ideally 400–500 kg per bale

The customer specifically asked what pressing chamber dimensions and pressing force would be required to achieve the desired finished bale.

The Baling Challenge: Bale Size vs. Bale Weight

Used clothing behaves differently from materials such as cardboard.

Loose garments are bulky, compressible and relatively low in density. Therefore, bale dimensions, compression force and bale weight cannot be considered independently.

For this application, the customer's most important requirement was the final bale footprint:

Approx. 1,150 × 750 mm

The bale height could vary according to the compression result.

At the same time, the customer wanted to maximize the amount of textile loaded into each 40'HC container.

This created an important engineering consideration:

A larger bale weight does not necessarily mean better container utilization if the finished bale dimensions already reach the available loading space and container weight limit.

SINOBALER's Customized Solution

For this application, SINOBALER recommended the SVBT2-L1-1000 Lifting Chamber Baler, equipped with a 100-ton pressing force.

The machine can be customized with a chamber size of:

W1100 × D700 mm

The bale dimensions before expansion are approximately:

W1100 × D700 × H variable mm

After compression and natural expansion of the textile material, the final bale dimensions are expected to be no more than approximately:

W1150 × D750 × H 500–1000 mm

The expected final bale density is approximately:

430–450 kg/m³

Recommended Machine

Model: SVBT2-L1-1000
Machine type: Lifting Chamber Baler
Pressing force: 100 tons
Customized chamber: W1100 × D700 mm
Final bale width: ≤ approx. 750 mm
Final bale length: ≤ approx. 1150 mm
Final bale height: Variable according to compression
Application: Used clothing / second-hand textiles

What Bale Weight Can Be Achieved?

The final bale weight depends strongly on the finished bale volume and actual compressed density.

For example, with a final bale size of approximately:

1150 × 750 × 800 mm

and an expected density of approximately 430–450 kg/m³, the resulting bale weight is approximately:

290–310 kg per bale

This is an important finding for this project.

Although the customer's initial target was 400–500 kg per bale, achieving 400–500 kg while maintaining a final height of only approximately 800 mm would require a substantially higher bale density and/or a larger bale volume.

Therefore, the bale dimensions should be prioritized first when container loading is the key objective.

40'HC Container Loading Calculation

The customer provided a specific loading arrangement for the finished textile bales.

Based on the proposed final bale dimensions of:

1150 × 750 × 800 mm

the bales can be arranged approximately as:

15 bales × 7 bales = 105 bales per container

At an estimated bale weight of 290–310 kg, the theoretical total bale weight would be:

105 × 290 kg = 30,450 kg
105 × 310 kg = 32,550 kg

Therefore, the calculated bale weight would be approximately:

30.5–32.6 tons per 40'HC container

This is already above the customer's stated 28-ton maximum loading weight.

What does this mean?

It means that the customer does not need to increase the pressing force to 150 tons simply to achieve a higher bale weight.

With the proposed bale dimensions, the available container volume can already accommodate more bale weight than the stated container weight limit allows.

In practical export operations, the actual allowable payload must also be confirmed according to the specific container, carrier, route and applicable regulations.

Why a 100-Ton Baler Can Be Sufficient

The container-loading calculation changes the way the baler should be selected.

If the customer were to use a higher-force baler to increase bale density and bale weight, the resulting bales could become unnecessarily heavy for the available container payload.

For this application, the objective is therefore not simply:

“Make the heaviest possible bale.”

Instead, the engineering objective is:

Compact bale + stable shape + suitable density + efficient container loading + compliance with payload limits

The customized 100-ton SVBT2-L1-1000 provides the pressing force and chamber configuration required for this application while allowing the final bale dimensions to be controlled according to the customer's logistics requirements.

Used Clothing Baling Process

The Lifting Chamber Baler is particularly suitable for whole garments and used clothes because the material can be compressed without requiring a cutting or shredding process.

A typical workflow is:

Sorted Used Clothes → Feeding → Compression → Bale Formation → Bale Tying/Strapping → Storage → Container Loading

This approach helps maintain the integrity of the garments while producing compact rectangular bales for storage, transportation and export.

Key Technical Considerations

When selecting a baler for used clothes, several parameters should be considered together.

1. Finished Bale Dimensions

For export applications, the bale footprint can be more important than maximum bale weight.

The customer's target of approximately 1,150 × 750 mm provides a clear basis for chamber customization.

2. Bale Weight

Bale weight depends on:

Material type
Material density
Feeding condition
Compression force
Final bale volume
Compression ratio

A target such as 500 kg/bale should therefore always be evaluated together with the required finished dimensions.

3. Bale Density

For this project, the estimated final density is approximately 430–450 kg/m³.

Density is particularly important when the customer's objective is to maximize the amount of material transported per container.

4. Container Payload

Container loading is not determined by volume alone.

Even when there is enough physical space for additional bales, the shipment may reach its allowable payload before the container is completely filled.

This is why bale dimensions, bale weight and container payload should be calculated together before selecting the baler.

Final Solution Summary

Item	Customer Requirement / Solution
Material	Used clothing / second-hand textiles
Material condition	Loose, sorted garments
Machine	SVBT2-L1-1000 Lifting Chamber Baler
Pressing force	100 tons
Customized chamber	W1100 × D700 mm
Final bale length	≤ approx. 1150 mm
Final bale width	≤ approx. 750 mm
Final bale height	Approx. 500–1000 mm, variable
Example bale size	1150 × 750 × 800 mm
Estimated density	430–450 kg/m³
Example bale weight	Approx. 290–310 kg
Example loading	15 × 7 = 105 bales
Calculated total bale weight	Approx. 30.5–32.6 tons
Key consideration	Container payload can limit total loading before available volume is fully utilized

Need a Customized Used Clothing Baler?

If your company is exporting used clothes, second-hand garments or waste textiles, bale dimensions should be determined together with your container-loading plan.

SINOBALER can customize the pressing chamber, bale dimensions and machine configuration according to your required bale size, bale weight, material characteristics and transportation requirements.

To recommend the right used-clothing baler, please send us:

Material: used clothes, sorted textiles or other garments
Target bale size: L × W × H
Target bale weight: kg/bale
Required capacity: kg/hour or tons/day
Container type: 20'GP, 40'GP or 40'HC
Photos or videos of the loose textile material
Your preferred loading arrangement, if available

Send your requirements to SINOBALER for a customized baling solution and quotation.

FAQ

Can a 100-ton baler produce 500 kg used-clothing bales?

The achievable bale weight depends on the final bale dimensions and material density. For the example size of 1,150 × 750 × 800 mm and an estimated density of 430–450 kg/m³, the calculated bale weight is approximately 290–310 kg. A 400–500 kg target would require a different final bale volume and/or higher achieved density.

What chamber size is recommended for 1,150 × 750 mm textile bales?

For this project, SINOBALER proposed a customized chamber of approximately 1,100 × 700 mm, with the final bale expanding to no more than approximately 1,150 × 750 mm in length and width.

Why not simply use a 150-ton baler?

Higher pressing force is not automatically beneficial. For the proposed bale dimensions, the calculated weight of 105 bales can already exceed the stated 28-ton container payload. Increasing bale density further could therefore leave container space unused because of the weight limit.

Is the bale height fixed at 800 mm?

No. The final bale height can vary depending on the compression conditions and required bale weight. For this project, the proposed final bale height range is approximately 500–1000 mm.

Other Blogs

How to Export Used Clothes from Ningbo China to Nigeria | SINOBALER Textile Baler Guide

2026/07/24

Learn how to export used clothes from Ningbo, China to Nigeria. Discover sorting, packaging, shipping steps and SINOBALER hydraulic clothing balers for efficient textile bale export.

Second-Hand Clothes Baler in the Textile Recycling Industry

2023/07/24

The fashion industry has long been criticized for its massive waste generation. A significant portion of clothing produced eventually ends up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution and resource depletion. Addressing this challenge requires innovative approaches that extend the lifespan of textiles and divert them from landfills. One significant step towards reducing textile waste and […]

Double Chamber Clothes Baler

2025/07/30

A double chamber clothes baler is a specialized vertical baling machine designed to compress used clothing, rags, and other textile waste into compact, stackable bales. Its two-chamber design allows for continuous operation—while one chamber is compressing, the other can be loaded—dramatically improving efficiency and productivity in textile recycling centers, second-hand clothing exporters, and garment factories.

Clothes Recycling Baler

2025/09/04

A clothes recycling baler is a specialized machine designed to compress post-consumer textiles—such as clothing, linens, and curtains—into compact, manageable bales. Similar to balers used for cardboard or plastic, these devices use hydraulic or mechanical force to reduce volume by up to 90%, simplifying storage, transportation, and recycling.

Textile Baler for Sale

2026/01/22

At SINOBALER, we offer a complete range of textile balers for sale, designed to meet the needs of textile factories, garment manufacturers, recycling centers, and waste management companies worldwide.

Textile Bagging Press

2025/07/28

A textile bagging press is a specialized baling machine designed to compress textile materials—such as used clothes, rags, towels, fabric scraps, or fibers—into compact bales and automatically wrap them in bags. This dual function of pressing and bagging makes the machine particularly valuable for recycling centers, textile exporters, donation organizations, and second-hand clothing distributors.