Benefits of Pallet Stretch Film
- Most stretch wrap material is very strong and has high resistance to punctures and tearing. This is great for products that have to endure harsh shipping and stocking environments.
- Since stretch wrap is so efficient, a trend is to move toward wrapping items on a pallet in lesser time with the same amount of tightness.
- Stretch wrap is very versatile in that it can be used on any type of boxes, all shapes and sizes. Other methods of wrapping usually require a user to change methods if the product is too big, heavy, or a unique shape.
- The risk of the product being undone is minimized. Anyone who has used a clamper or strapping to unitize items knows that the straps with time lose their tensions and loosen. This would never be the case with stretch wrap, the wrap will stay tight until the user decides to remove it.
- Stretch film can be stretched to length ranging between 100% to 300%. Once the product is wrapped with the stretch wrap, the elastic memory of the wrap will keep the product tightly bound.
Stretch film usage on products is a leading approach to wrap the goods. Stretch wrap is a highly stretchable plastic film that is wrapped around items. The elastic recovery keeps the items tightly bound. In contrast, shrink wrap is applied loosely around an item and shrinks tightly with heat. The benefits of stretch wrap over other methods of unitizing items are:
Types of Pallet Stretch Film
- Orientated Pallet Stretch Wrap – Orientated film is a revolutionary concept in terms of environmental and economic efficiency. This new high stretch film is processed at a lower gauge and higher rates of pre-stretch than conventional films. High levels of cling are achieved as with the other films at a reduced cost because of the less film being used. This film is best applied by using a power pre-stretch applicator at a high gear ratio.
- Cast Pallet Stretch Film – Cast film is a more quiet and premium quality film. Lower gauge and higher pre-stretch capabilities characterise it as a lower cost film in use. The higher elongation of cast films make them the clear choice for products with sharp edges or for automatic application.
- Blown Pallet Stretch Wrap – Blown film is known for its high puncture resistance and is ideal for light, unstable or heavy loads. Because of its memory and aggressive unwind it is very noisy when being applied. It has a higher cost in use than the cast film because of the higher price point.
Understand each type’s relative performance based on the 4-step sequence will assist in cost effectively matching the film most suited to the application. The 4 steps are Load Containment, Transportation, Unload and Product Presentation. Load Containment is the film’s ability to hold a load on a pallet. Transportation is the film’s ability to hold a load for transportation in open or closed trailers and the duration the load is outside and subject to atmospheric conditions. Unload is the ease at which the film allows the load to be removed from the pallet. Product Presentation is the finished look of the wrapped pallet load and several customer arguments are strongly rooted in this step.
Best Practices for Using Pallet Stretch Film
Try to contain every load with a minimum of 3-5 revolutions at the bottom, middle, and top of the load. This is a general guideline and usually works very well. Nonetheless, it is always beneficial to apply much more film on any load, and combining different wrapping patterns has proven to be very effective for added load security. Using a combination of vertical and horizontal wraps will help to better stabilize the load and prevent it from shifting during transit. Time spent to train and educate employees on how to wrap pallets properly is time well spent. Workers should be instructed to apply the film with proper overlap and tension and to apply more film on heavier, larger pallets. It is a good practice to conduct periodic reviews of wrapping procedures and audit wrapped pallets to ensure that the techniques are being applied. It is recommended to check with your industrial packaging supplier to see if they offer a pallet load containment test. This type of test will accurately measure the force of the load and the effectiveness of the containment method. With the rising cost of film and the high costs of shipping damaged loads, the old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not apply more to the situation of pallet wrapping. Well-wrapped pallets prevent load damage, reduce worker injury, are more easily moved and stored, and provide a cost-effective means to deliver safe, quality products to the customer. Always remember it is far less costly to re-wrap a load than it is to have it damaged in transit. This will help add value to your product and demonstrate a high degree of professionalism to your customer.
Conclusion
In summary, the use of pallet stretch film is a large concept that is often underestimated. It plays a large role in moving goods around the world and has a lot of potential for the future. The right amount of stretch film used will greatly improve the quality of wrapped loads while reducing waste and cost.
In conclusion, the amount of stretch film used can be reduced while still improving consistent containment force, improving load stability, reducing cost, and reducing the environmental impact of the film. Accomplishing the lowest cost per wrapped load requires understanding the types of stretch film and their applications, and the interaction of the films with the wrapping equipment and the end user’s goals. There is much research needed in the field of stretch film optimization.
Pallet stretch film has provided a large benefit to the pre-stretch advantages. Due to the optimization of the film, stretch wrapping equipment, and seeking the help from industry professionals, a film savings will occur. There is also millions saved in indirect costs associated with stretch film. Without a stable load, many products are damaged in transit; film can help reduce the amount of damaged goods. This is better for the environment and also saves money. Film is always a cheaper alternative than strapping or taping. A stable load will also reduce workers’ compensation claims due to broken product and accidents while handling unstable loads.
