Horizontal balers are designed for businesses that have moved beyond vertical balers and need to process higher volumes of cardboard and plastic packaging waste. They offer faster throughput, larger bale weights, and reduced labour costs.
We compared the Mil-tek E819 Horizontal Baler with the Compact & Bale CB40 Semi-Auto Baler to see which delivers the best long-term value for medium-volume waste producers.
Build Quality and Design
The Mil-tek E819 is an electric horizontal baler that uses compressed air and electricity instead of hydraulics. This makes it quieter, cleaner, and low-maintenance, as there are no hydraulic oils involved. Its compact footprint and plug-and-play design make it attractive for sites with limited space or where quiet operation is essential.
The CB40 is a hydraulic semi-automatic horizontal baler. Built from heavy-duty steel with reinforced press plates, it is designed for continuous use in tougher environments. It is slightly larger than the E819 but still compact compared to mill-size horizontals.
Verdict: The E819 offers oil-free, quiet operation; the CB40 is more robust and built for higher-force compaction.
Performance and Capacity
The E819 produces bales of around 300–400 kg, depending on material. This makes it a strong choice for retailers and medium-sized warehouses.
The CB40 produces similarly heavy bales, up to 300–400 kg, with dense compaction thanks to its hydraulic system. This helps reduce bale numbers for the same waste volume, lowering collection frequency.
Verdict: Both are mid-range balers and produce more or less the same results in bale weight, depending on the material.
Usability and Features
The E819 is designed for simplicity. It runs on a single-phase connection, with quiet operation and low servicing requirements. Bales are tied manually.
The CB40 offers true semi-automatic operation. Once loaded, the machine compacts the material and ejects finished bales automatically, with manual tying required. It is slightly more complex than the E819 but designed to reduce operator involvement and speed up processing.
Verdict: E819 is easier to install and quieter; CB40 saves more labour with semi-auto ejection.
Energy Efficiency and Running Costs
The E819 runs on a single-phase power supply, making it cheap to run and simple to install. With no hydraulics, it has lower servicing needs.
The CB40 requires a 3-phase power supply and uses more energy due to hydraulics. However, Compact & Bale offset this with their collection and rebate service, meaning users can generate income from recyclables and recover costs faster.
Verdict: E819 wins on energy use; CB40 wins on lifetime ROI thanks to rebates.
Specification Comparison: E819 vs CB40
| Feature | Mil-tek E819 | Compact & Bale CB40 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Electric horizontal baler (no hydraulics) | Semi-automatic horizontal baler (hydraulic) |
| Bale Weight | 300–400 kg | 300–400 kg |
| Power Requirement | Single-phase electric | 3-phase hydraulic |
| Cycle Time | Not specified | 40 seconds |
| Operation | Manual bale tying, bale ejection | Semi-automatic bale ejection + manual tying |
| Noise Level | Low (quiet, no hydraulics) | Moderate (typical hydraulic system) |
| Maintenance | Low (oil-free) | Standard hydraulic servicing |
| Suitable Waste | Cardboard, plastic packaging | Cardboard, plastic packaging |
| Aftercare & Service | Mil-tek service network | C&B servicing + collection and rebates |
Why Bale Weight Matters
The heavier the bale, the fewer collections are needed, lowering transport costs and improving rebate value.
With Compact & Bale’s rebate and collection model, businesses can go beyond saving money and actually earn from their recycling.
Wrapping Up
The Mil-tek E819 is a smart choice for businesses that want a quiet, low-maintenance baler that’s easy to install and suited to medium volumes of waste.
The Compact & Bale CB40 offers semi-automatic labour savings, and full-service support, including rebate payments. For medium-to-large businesses that want the best balance of efficiency and financial return, the CB40 is the best choice.