Stretch film is the most common, adaptable, and efficient packaging material for palletizing and unpalletizing loads for LTL, FTL, and rail shipment. Stretch film rolls are normally manufactured from polyethylene resins that are uniquely formulated to provide a film that is both very robust and highly flexible.
Stretch Film Optimizes Your Packaging Procedure
Stretch wrapping is one technique for keeping items safe while being transported. In contrast to shrink wrap, which is wrapped around carried products loosely and shrinks firmly by utilizing heat, it has a highly elastic recovery nature that keeps the things tightly bound.
You can optimize your packing procedures and save time and energy by using stretch film’s that are specific to your requirements. But when your pallets need to be wrapped to make them safe and secure, much more needs to be considered.
For example, if secure shipping, the best wrapping appearance, and effective packaging procedures are to be achieved, the proper technical performance settings must be made on your machines.
Thanks to our years of stretch film production experience, we can provide packaging solutions that will satisfy every product’s demand. Results that are especially suited to your needs and products are something we can deliver.
Best Features of Stretch Film Packaging
Economical
Compared to strapping materials or heat-shrinkable bags, stretch film’s is significantly less expensive to use. Films for hand stretching have a 25–35% stretching range. Stretching capabilities for machine-applied stretch film range from 75% to more than 200%. This means that your film roll investment will last a very long time.
Strong
Stretch film has a crucial characteristic called “memory.” Or the desire to return to its previous length, like a rubber band, is a crucial characteristic of stretch film. As a result, even after being stretched, the film continues to exert a significant amount of holding force on your weight, keeping objects firmly in place even during rough shipments. Stretch film can be damaged, but tears won’t spread, keeping your items secure yet again.
Opaque, coloured, or transparent
Stretch film clarity is important in a variety of situations, such as when it’s necessary to conduct visible inspections. However, tinted or opaque solutions are available if you want your product to be hidden, for example, to prevent theft or for color-coding in storage.
UV-inhibiting films
UV protection is essential for outdoor storage and food goods, and stretch film’s with UV additives are easily accessible to meet the demand.
Environmentally friendly
Stretch films are generally recyclable, and some are made partially from recycled resins. Furthermore, because stretch film can stretch so much, only a small quantity of packaging material is required.
Safe
Strapping, the primary substitute for stretch film, can be harmful when used or removed from a pallet. Utilizing stretch film is significantly safer.
Moisture resistance
Another benefit of stretch film over strapping is that a load that has been stretch-wrapped is moisture-resistant, which is important for outside storage, shipping on flatbed trucks, etc.
Stretch film’s packaging has various advantages, resulting in it being utilized in practically every area, such as general manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage manufacturing, warehouse and distribution, and agriculture. Also, they are puncture resistance.
Stretch Film Packaging Equipment
Stretch wrap equipment or hand-held wrappers can be used to apply the stretch film. The use of equipment has various benefits, including less material consumption, higher throughput, and more control over the unitization of loads.
With hand film, users can either apply an excessive amount—which is expensive and wasteful—or a deficient amount, which could result in damage during shipping. With machines, you can control the stretch percentage and number of wrap layers to best match your needs while knowing the precise amount of film that is applied to each pallet.
Stretch Film Packaging Equipment
Stretch wrap equipment or hand-held wrappers can be used to apply stretch film’s. The use of equipment has various benefits, including less material consumption, higher throughput, and more control over the unitization of loads.
With hand film, users can either apply an excessive amount—which is expensive and wasteful—or a deficient amount, which could result in damage during shipping. With machines, you can control the stretch % and number of wrap layers to best match your needs while knowing the precise amount of film that is applied to each pallet.
Most Important Uses for Stretch Wrap
Palletizing
One of the simplest and most affordable methods for securing a product on a pallet for shipping is stretch wrapping. Just arrange the boxes on the pallet in a cube and wrap the stretch film’s around them. Quick and reliable pallet wrapping, can be done by hand or with a specialized machine.
Stretch wrapping is also excellent for stacks of big beverage containers, heavy 55-gallon drums, or even heavy steel beams (think feed, fertilizer, soil, or mulch).
Bundling
For inventory management, sales, or transportation, loose products can be discreetly packaged together using light hand or bundling/banding techniques.
Stretch film’s can be used to bundle together items like tubes, rods, or dowels as well as to aggregate small products into bigger units (think of economy-size bundles of tissues or paper towels). Rolls of bundling wrap or mini-wrap are available in widths ranging from three to five inches for simple and quick manual application.
Securing with Rolls and Reels
Rolls of carpet or wire reels can be held in place using stretch film’s. This is a simple and affordable method to stop unravelling or unrolling during storage and transportation. Simply wrap the rolled or coiled material in a few layers of stretch film. Without connections or other fixings, the movie sticks to itself.
Protection of Products
Stretch film is often used to offer modest shelf protection for products. Instead of being sold in a cardboard box, picture frames and other consumer goods can be wrapped in a layer of stretch wrap.
Stretch wrapping keeps products visible while safeguarding them against moisture, grit, and scratches. Additionally, it’s fantastic for making sure that boxes of dry goods or buckets of liquids like paint don’t unintentionally open during distribution.
Moving
Stretch wrapping is excellent for securing and safeguarding bulky items during transportation.
Stretch film is frequently used by movers to shield furniture from scratches and scrapes while being moved. Additionally, it keeps drawers closed so that you can move items like file cabinets or dressers without removing the contents of the drawers.
Stretch film can also be used to protect industrial equipment. Moving parts are stabilized by a tight wrap, which also reduces the chance of expensive equipment being harmed. Anything that is too large for a carton or crate is an excellent choice for this alternative.
Want Assistance with Stretch Film?
Safe Packaging’s area of expertise is stretch film’s technology. Give us a call so we can assist you in locating the ideal stretch film solution. To learn more and talk about your application, contact us right now.
