What you really need to know about stretch film
4min read
17/08/2018
Stretch film is not just a plastic film, it is an indispensable element in every warehouse! But why? Stretch film is the perfect, reliable and inexpensive element to secure your pallets, so your products or crates stay in place during transport, even when agitated, and during long-term storage.
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1. Stretch film: essential in every warehouse
Here at RAJA, we can’t do without it.A pallet is certainly not complete without a good layer of stretch film.It protects our (and your future) products from dust, dirt and moisture.It’s important to apply the film correctly.If you wrap too much, you’ll need more packaging material and thus increase your own costs.If you wrap too little, your stretch film can tear and your goods will be damaged.Read here how to avoid it!
2. How to choose the stretch film best suited to your needs?
When choosing the right stretch film, you need to consider
the
shape and weight of your pallet. You surely don’t want the stretch film to tear under the pressure of your pallet. Make the right choice!
► For homogeneous pallets or pallets with small angles
| CAST film .  |
. – Used to wrap most pallets– Stretchable lengthwise. –the adhesive layer is on the inside. – Glossy and transparent. –silent–stretchability from 120 to 300%, depending on the model. |
| The pre-stretched film . |
. – More economical and faster to use– Extremely strong: optimally pre-stretched, so it can be applied effortlessly– Your products are not deformed under pressure–stretchability up to 250%: 1 m becomes 3.5 m |
► For heterogeneous pallets with sharp corners and very sharp edges
| Blown film .  |
. –Highly tearresistant. – Suitable for freezing temperatures. –stretchable in width and length. –a layer of adhesive is added separately which makes the film somewhat matt. –the adhesive layer is on the outside. –stretchability up to 150%: 1 m becomes 2.5 m. |
As mentioned earlier, the weight of your pallet is also a determining factor. The heavier your load, the thicker the stretch film should be. The thickness is expressed in microns (1/1000 mm)
.
| Pallet weight | Film thickness |
| ≤ 500 kg | ≤ 17 microns |
| ≤ 700 kg | Between 20 and 23 microns |
| ≥ 800 kg | Between 23 and 30 microns |
3. Manual or machine film application?
There aretwo ways to apply stretch film: either manually with an unwinder or mechanically with a wrapper. If you are wrapping more than 15 pallets a day, we recommend you opt for one of our wrappers. But be careful, not all stretch films are machine compatible, so check this before you buy yours.
► Manually
Fit the film reel onto the unwinder and ensure that the sticky side is facing the pallet. Wrap the top and bottom of the pallet a minimum of 3 times. Also ensure that there is a 10cm to 20cm overlap in the width.
► Machinally
Obviously you will have a lot less work if you use a banding machine. There is a suitable machine for every volume of packaging. Download your guide to packaging systems and machines here and then use it to choose the right banding machine. It will save you time and money.
4. Stretch film: from transparent to all colours of the rainbow
Des bobines de film d’une largeur de 50 cm sont le plus souvent utilisées et les plus connues parmi les magasiniers, cependant, il existe quelques cas particuliers :
► Le film étirable antistatique: ce film est parfait pour filmer des produits électroniques.
► Les mini-bobines de film étirable: ces bobines ont une largeur de 9 à 11 cm. Elles sont idéales pour filmer des petites paquets et emballer des colis légers.
► Le filet étirable Flexnet: nous vous conseillons d’entourer vos charges palettisées peu résistantes à la condensation avec le filet étirable Flexnet. Ce filet solide a des grandes mailles, ce qui permet à vos produits d’être aérés et de rester au sec.
► Le film étirable cast couleur opaque: ce film est disponible en bleu, rouge, jaune, vert et blanc et veille à ce que vos palettes soient visibles et reconnaissables. Utilisez ce film pour structurer votre entrepôt.
► Le film étirable cast noir opaque: ce film étirable noir garantit la confident
- Opt for cast or pre-stretched film for homogeneous loads.
- Choose blown film for heterogeneous loads.
- With coloured cast film, your pallets are easily identifiable and protected against theft.
- Do you film more than 15 pallets a day? With a stretch wrapper you can work faster and spend less money. Download our e-book here and find out which machine is right for you.[/su_box]
