Stretch film & pallet wrapping machines: an expert’s view on load stability
- Karine Morel
- [wpcode id="48710"]
Table of content
What an anti-slip paper manufacturer has to say about stretch film and pallet wrapping machines.
We manufacture anti-slip paper.
To reduce stretch film usage, our first piece of advice is simple: understand its role. Then check the settings of your pallet wrapping machine, also known as a stretch wrapper.
Stability depends on the products, how they are stacked, the interlayers and the wrapping process. Film and machine manufacturers share this view: choosing the right equipment must go hand in hand with testing the load.
1- Stretch film holds products together
The main benefit of stretch film lies in its containment force. This plastic film tightens around the products and helps secure them to the pallet.
Lantech recommends measuring this containment force at the bottom, middle and top of the load. A pallet may appear to be well wrapped while still having a weak point.
Simply counting the number of wraps around the pallet is therefore not enough. Using stretch film effectively requires checking its actual performance.
2- Which stretch film should you choose for your needs?
Manufacturers offer a wide range of products. Among these types of film, three categories are worth distinguishing:
Hand stretch film is applied manually.
Machine stretch film must be suitable for the pallet wrapping machine and its settings.
Pre-stretched film is stretched during the manufacturing process. Pre-stretched films are available for both machine and manual application.
Whether you wrap pallets manually or with a machine, choose products suited to your needs. Then measure the containment force achieved.
Black stretch film may meet specific requirements. However, its colour does not indicate its strength. Even when choosing from a comprehensive product range, you need to use films suited to the load.
3- Choosing and adjusting your pallet wrapping machine
How many pallets do you prepare each day? What throughput do you need during peak periods? Are your loads heavy or unstable?
These questions help determine which wrapping machine to choose. Rotary turntable wrappers rotate the pallet. With a rotary arm wrapper, the load remains stationary while the arm rotates around it, which can be suitable for unstable loads.
Machine settings matter just as much as the choice of equipment. Robopac highlights the importance of tension, the number of film layers and their overlap. Excessive tension can deform products. Poor film distribution can leave weak areas.
4- Pre-stretch and film thickness: two key factors to understand
Pre-stretch extends the film before application. Application tension determines how tightly the film holds the products together. A high pre-stretch ratio therefore does not prove that the pallet is stable.
Thickness alone is not enough either. In a test published by Manupackaging, switching from 23 to 17 microns initially reduced containment force. Another 17-micron film subsequently made it possible to achieve the required level again.
ERGIS also offers, through its ELSA centre, an approach that considers film selection and the wrapping pattern together. Comparisons should take into account both film consumption and the resulting load stability.
5- Anti-slip paper complements pallet wrapping
STABULON® anti-slip interlayers reduce slippage between layers. Stretch film holds the entire load together from the outside.
These functions complement each other. Improved grip between products can make it possible to reduce stretch film usage after appropriate testing.
Adding an interlayer does not automatically mean that several wraps can be removed. Load stability and the connection between the load and the pallet must be checked.
6- Reducing stretch film consumption through testing
To measure potential savings, we recommend comparing three scenarios:
The current wrapping method.
The optimised wrapping method alone.
The adjusted wrapping method combined with anti-slip interlayers.
Record the weight of film used per pallet, cycle time and containment force at several heights. Also check for any load movement or damage. Include the cost and quantity of any additional interlayers.
Tests should reflect the intended transport conditions. The Robopac TechLab tests loads under acceleration and vibration conditions, among other tests.
Film manufacturers, pallet wrapping machine manufacturers and anti-slip specialists each bring their own expertise. Their shared objective: to achieve verified load stability using only the packaging materials needed.
Looking to reduce stretch film usage? Contact the CGP Coating Innovation teams to plan a trial combining anti-slip interlayers with a wrapping process suited to your products.
Our team helps you find the solution that meets your needs.