At the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Define the terms, "OCC" and "bale"
- Describe the bale handling process
- Identify and describe the equipment used during bale handling
- List safety hazards and safe work practices associated with bale handling
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What does OCC stand for?
OCC is an acronym for Old Corrugated Containers.
Why are bales stored indoors?
The OCC in bales stored outside would be weakened and darkened by exposure to the elements.
How are bales "unpacked"?
Wire or straps holding bales together is usually cut all at once by putting the bale through a guillotine.
How should bales be stacked when they are stored?
Heavier, larger bales should be on the bottom of a stack. Avoid creating any stack of bales which could for any reason topple over.
What happens to the material in an OCC bale after it is unpacked?
Loose OCC is conveyed to a large mechanical pulper which breaks the OCC into individual fibers.
Below is a transcript of the video sample provided for this module:
OCC stands for Old Corrugated Containers. OCC plants convert recycled old corrugated containers into pulp that can be used on paper and board machines to make valuable pulp and paper products. This conversion is achieved through a series of pulping, screening, cleaning, and thickening. The raw material that the OCC plants use is OCC bales. An OCC bale is a bundle of recycled old corrugated containers that has been hydraulically pressed at a high pressure, usually several hundred pound force per square inch gauge. A typical bale size is 3.9 feet by 3.3 feet by 2.6 feet, and can weigh between 1,100 and 1,300 pounds. Since recycled OCC comes into the plant as bales, bale handling is the very first step in the pulp conversion process.
Use the additional resources and links below to learn more about this topic: