Vertical Baler: What It Costs, What It Bales, and Which Size Fits

By Hoosier Machinery Solutions – Wanatah, IN – July 27, 2026 – 8 min read

HMS sells new vertical balers from Marathon and PTR and refurbishes vertical balers in-house. Call (219) 733-2108.

The vertical baler is where baling starts. It is the lowest-cost machine in the recycling equipment world, it fits into the back corner of almost any building, and it turns loose cardboard, film, and containers into dense, sellable bales. For operations generating up to roughly 2 tons of material per day, it is usually the right machine. HMS sells new vertical balers from Marathon and PTR and refurbishes vertical balers from major brands in-house at our Wanatah, Indiana facility.

How a Vertical Baler Works

A vertical baler is a downstroke machine. The operator loads material through a front feed gate, closes the gate, and cycles the machine – a hydraulic cylinder drives the platen straight down, compressing material against the chamber floor. The cycle repeats until the bale reaches density. The operator ties the bale by hand, typically five or six wire ties per bale, then the bale door swings open and a chain-type ejector tips the finished bale out. The design trades speed for simplicity and cost: one cylinder, one motor, a cycle time under a minute, no automatic wire tier, no conveyor infeed. A vertical baler is right when baling is a task someone does a few times a day, not a process that runs all shift.

What a Vertical Baler Handles

Cardboard (OCC): the classic application. A 60-inch vertical produces mill-size OCC bales in the 850 to 1,300 pound range depending on model; a 72-inch machine pushes that to 1,200 to 1,600 pounds. Plastic film and stretch wrap: one of the vertical baler’s most important jobs – film jams standard horizontal auto tie balers, but a vertical handles it well, which is why warehouses and DCs often run a vertical for film even when a horizontal handles their cardboard. Plastics – PET and HDPE bottles and containers. Non-ferrous metals: aluminum cans and light non-ferrous at low volumes.

60-Inch vs. 72-Inch: The Size Decision

HMS typically sells 60-inch and 72-inch vertical balers. The 60-inch machine is the workhorse: OCC bale weights roughly 850 to 1,300 pounds by model, 10 HP motor, fits retail, grocery, warehouses, and small production. The 72-inch machine: OCC bale weights roughly 1,200 to 1,600 pounds, a 72-inch feed opening that takes larger boxes unbroken, 20 HP class motor – for larger boxes, higher volume, and heavier bale targets. Neither size is a hard rule; HMS looks at your material, space, and volume before recommending one.

The Vertical Balers HMS Sells New

PTR 2300HD: PTR’s most popular 60-inch high-density downstroke baler. OCC bale weight 850 to 1,000 pounds (up to 1,100), 56,538 lbs working platen force, 10 HP motor, 56-second cycle, 6-inch cylinder bore, 30 x 48 inch chamber, 54-inch feed height. Built with heavy structural steel for warehouses, retail chains, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants.

PTR 3400HD: PTR’s flagship signature series 60-inch vertical downstroke baler – the first high-density baler on the market, with over 10,000 units produced. OCC bale weight 1,000 to 1,300 pounds, 67,858 lbs working platen force, 10 HP motor, 56-second cycle. A fixture in supermarkets, retail centers, hospitals, hotels, and malls.

PTR 7200HD: the 72-inch machine. A 72 x 28 inch feed opening takes large-format boxes without breakdown labor. OCC bale weight 1,200 to 1,600 pounds, 100,041 lbs working platen force, 20 HP motor, 54-second cycle, 7-inch cylinder bore.

Marathon V-6030 HD: 60-inch heavy-duty vertical built for serviceability. OCC bale weight up to 1,100 pounds, 62,200 lbs platen force, 10 HP motor, 56-second cycle. Side-mounted hydraulic power unit with front-opening control panel eliminates the 48-inch side clearance most machines require, redundant feed-gate interlock system, smart relay control with diagnostics. Options include automatic bale ejector, front tie-off wire guides, Bale Made light, and lockable disconnect. Suited to shopping plazas, supermarkets, hospitals, schools, retailers, DCs, and manufacturing plants.

What a Vertical Baler Costs

New vertical baler: $15,000 to $40,000 depending on size, platen force, and options like automatic ejectors and front tie-off systems – the lowest-cost entry into baling equipment by a wide margin. HMS refurbished vertical baler: $8,000 to $20,000, rebuilt in the HMS shop in Wanatah with hydraulic service, cylinder and platen inspection, controls check, and wear component replacement, backed by the HMS 120-Day Parts & Labor Warranty.

Who Runs Vertical Balers

Retailers, grocery stores, and supermarkets – steady cardboard from daily deliveries. Warehouses and smaller distribution centers – OCC below the horizontal threshold, plus verticals dedicated to plastic film even at larger sites. Hospitals, hotels, schools, and malls. Small print shops and manufacturers with trim and packaging scrap at modest volume. Any operation starting to capture commodity revenue instead of paying to haul loose material.

When You Have Outgrown a Vertical Baler

The honest threshold is about 2 tons of material per day. Below that, the vertical’s low cost and simplicity win. Above it, the manual cycles and hand-tying labor start costing more than the price difference of a horizontal machine. Labor is the exception – if operator hours are needed elsewhere or labor is hard to staff, some operations step up to a horizontal machine before 2 tons a day. Signs you are there: bales stacking up untied, material overflowing while the baler sits full, or an operator spending hours a day at the machine. The next step is a horizontal baler – closed-door, manual tie, or auto tie depending on volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a vertical baler cost?

New vertical balers typically run $15,000 to $40,000 depending on size, platen force, and options. Refurbished vertical balers from HMS typically run $8,000 to $20,000, rebuilt in-house at our Wanatah, Indiana facility and backed by the HMS 120-Day Parts & Labor Warranty.

What materials can a vertical baler handle?

Cardboard (OCC), plastic film and stretch wrap, plastics including PET and HDPE containers, and non-ferrous metals such as aluminum cans. Vertical balers are one of the most practical machines for plastic film – a material standard horizontal auto tie balers do not handle well.

What size vertical baler should I buy?

The 60-inch vertical baler is the standard workhorse, producing mill-size bales of roughly 850 to 1,300 pounds on OCC depending on model. The 72-inch vertical baler adds a wider feed opening and heavier bales, roughly 1,200 to 1,600 pounds on OCC. HMS typically sells 60-inch and 72-inch machines, new from Marathon and PTR and refurbished from major brands.

When should I upgrade from a vertical baler to a horizontal baler?

The general threshold is around 2 tons of material per day. Above it, the manual cycle time and hand-tying labor start costing more than the price difference of a horizontal baler. Labor is the exception – some operations upgrade earlier because operator time is needed elsewhere.

Bottom Line

For operations generating up to about 2 tons of material a day, a vertical baler is the right machine: the lowest cost of entry, a footprint that fits almost anywhere, and dense sellable bales of cardboard, film, plastics, and light non-ferrous. The 60-inch machines from PTR and Marathon cover most applications; the 72-inch PTR steps up for bigger boxes and heavier bales. HMS sells new Marathon and PTR vertical balers, refurbishes verticals in-house backed by the HMS 120-Day Parts & Labor Warranty, and will tell you straight whether a vertical fits your volume. Call (219) 733-2108. Hoosier Machinery Solutions, 9450 W. US Highway 30, Wanatah, IN 46390.