Stretch film: the constant companion of your pallet

Stretch film is not just a piece of plastic film, but a film that is absolutely indispensable in any warehouse! Why? Because stretch film is the most durable and cost-effective material to secure your pallets so that products or boxes stay in place during (uneven) transport or long-term storage.

If you already use stretch film in your business, then you are most likely using the transparent version. If the answer is yes, then you are far from alone. The transparent stretch film is in fact the best known of its kind. But there are actually many other variations, such as coloured stretch film. In this blog post, we take a closer look at the different variants and give you tips on how to use stretch film to identify your pallets, protect against theft and much more.

What is stretch film used for?

Stretch film is indispensable when transporting goods on pallets. By wrapping your stacked pallets with stretch film, you guarantee safe transport of your products: the products remain firmly on the pallet, as they do not slide around, and they are also protected against dust, dirt and moisture. At best, all pallets leaving your warehouse should be provided with a strong layer of stretch film for protection.

In the following article you can read everything you need to know about the correct use of stretch film.

The benefits of coloured stretch film

As mentioned, the most common stretch film is the transparent one. This means that you know immediately what the goods are, as you can of course see them through the film. This has its advantages, of course, but what if you don’t want others to see your goods?

Discreet wrapping with black stretch film

Stretch film doesn’t have to be transparent. It can also be black and therefore opaque. You can use black stretch film if you want to protect your products from theft during transport and/or storage. The dark colour of the film means that the contents of your consignments remain confidential and you attract less attention from thieves. The black film is also available in the form of a protective cover that storage owners can easily place over their products to conceal them.

Identification of contents with coloured stretch film

In addition to black film, our stretch film is available in blue. By using colours you can easily colour code your pallets.

► Another advantage: coloured stretch film prevents sunlight from penetrating to your goods better than transparent film, and therefore helps to minimise discolouration. UV rays.

Manual vs. machine stretch film

Stretch film is made from low-density polyethylene, which is a very smooth and lightweight material, and whether it is transparent or coloured stretch film, it can be applied in two ways: manually with a hand dispenser or mechanically with a wrapping machine. If you need to wrap more than 15 pallets a day, you should choose the mechanical option. It is important to note that there is a difference between stretch film for manual unrolling and machine stretch film, so it is essential that you buy the variant that suits your daily use.

Manual wrapping

Companies that only wrap a few pallets a day prefer to use a manual dispenser, and it’s also the most cost-effective solution for that need.

► How to: Place the roll of stretch film in the dispenser, making sure the sticky side of the film is facing your load. Wrap the top of the pallet loader with max. 3 layers of film and the bottom with min. 3 layers. Finally, make sure that the layers of stretch film overlap by 10-20 cm.

Machine wrapping

If you wrap more than 15 pallets a day, a machine is clearly preferable. Using a machine means that almost all the work is done for you, saving you time. But it also saves in your stretch film consumption because the machines are adapted to each package volume. So you never use more film than strictly necessary.

Stretch film and palletising go hand in hand

A pallet is not complete without a solid stretch wrap. As already mentioned, the film protects your products from dust, dirt and moisture and ensures that pallet and goods form a solid unit. But it is important to apply the film correctly. If you pack a lot, you’ll need more film, which will increase your costs. In turn, your film can tear and damage your goods if you don’t apply enough.

How do I choose the right stretch film?

To choose the right film, first consider the shape and weight of your pallet load. This is important to avoid the film collapsing under the pressure of the pallet load.

For pallets with a homogeneous and/or slightly protruding load, you can use one of the two following films:

► CAST stretch film: it is elastic in length, it is quiet during unrolling and it is a standard film for most pallet loads.

► Pre-stretched film: it is 30% more economical (up to 250% elastic: 1 metre becomes 3.5 metres), quick and easy to use because the film is already pre-stretched and products are not subjected to pressure.

For pallets with a heterogeneous and/or very protruding load, you can advantageously use:

► Blown stretch film: the film is elastic up to 150% in both directions (length and width) and is very strong, offering optimum resistance to tearing.

As mentioned, the weight of your pallet is also crucial. The heavier the load, the thicker the stretch film should be. The thickness of the film is calculated in my (1/1000 mm.) and the ratio between the weight of the pallet and the thickness of the film should be as follows:

Weight of pallet Thickness of stretch film

≤ 500 kg Less than 17 my

≤ 700 kg Between 20 and 23 my

≥ 800 kg Between 23 and 30 my

Stretch film at a glance

Stretch films are available in different types and colours. Transparent film on a roll with a width of 50 cm is the most common and almost everyone who works in a warehouse knows it. We’ve already covered some of the variants on the market, but of course there are more, and here at the end we’ll give you a quick overview so you can be easily guided towards which kind is best for your business needs:

► Mini rolls with stretch film: these rolls are between 9 and 12 cm wide. They are ideal for wrapping small parcels and wrapping light shipments.

► Anti-static stretch film: This film is suitable for wrapping electronic devices and components.

► Flexnet: If you have products that are sensitive to condensation, they can be packed together with a flexible Flexnet. The robust mesh has large meshes, allowing you to ventilate your goods through the holes in the film mesh, keeping your products dry.

► Stretch film: the film gives you significant savings on your consumption, as you use fewer metres to cover and protect the same surface.

► Coloured stretch film: available in blue, red, yellow, green and white, the film allows you to create easy and quick recognition through colour coding. It is ideal for creating structure and organising your pallet loads.

►Black, opaque stretch film: the film guarantees confidentiality of the pallet load contents and because your products are not visible, they are less attractive to thieves.

►Transparentstretch film: the classic and best-known type of stretch film that meets most needs and is perfect for building a solid pallet unit.

Checklist:

► Choose pre-stretched film for homogeneous pallet loads.
► Select blown stretch film for heterogeneous pallet loads.
► Use coloured stretch film for quick identification of pallet loads or protect against theft with black opaque film.
► Packing more than 15 pallets a day? A wrapping machine is faster and more economical than manual wrapping.

At Rajapack, our experts are ready to answer any questions and help you find the right stretch film for your business. You can contact us on tel: 44 58 77 00 Monday to Friday 8.00-16.30 or via info@rajapack.dk. You can of course view our entire range of stretch films and accessories at rajapack.com, where you can also order your items quickly and easily.

Need advice and help on how to pack your pallets?

– then this post will give you an easy and clear STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO PALLETISING – enjoy reading!