When your business ships pallets every day, choosing the right stretch film can make the difference between secure deliveries and costly product damage. Two of the most common options are hand stretch film and machine stretch film. Both are designed to keep pallets stable and protected, but knowing when to use each one can save time, reduce costs, and improve efficiency in your shipping operations.
At A&R Box and Packaging, we supply businesses across Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside with the right packaging solutions for their needs. Here’s a breakdown of hand stretch film vs machine stretch film to help you decide which is best for your operation.
🤲 What Is Hand Stretch Film?
Hand stretch film (also called manual stretch wrap) is applied manually by workers walking around the pallet with a roll of film.
✅ Best For:
- Small to medium shipping volumes
- Companies wrapping under 50 pallets per day
- Operations without stretch wrap machinery
👍 Advantages:
- Low startup cost (no equipment needed)
- Flexibility for odd-shaped or smaller loads
- Easy for quick, occasional pallet wrapping
⚠️ Considerations:
- Labor-intensive for high-volume operations
- Can lead to inconsistent wrap tension
- More prone to worker fatigue and injuries
⚙️ What Is Machine Stretch Film?
Machine stretch film is applied using a stretch wrap machine, which spins the pallet or the film roll to apply consistent tension.
✅ Best For:
- High-volume shipping operations
- Businesses wrapping 50+ pallets per day
- Distribution centers and warehouses
👍 Advantages:
- Consistent load containment → fewer damaged shipments
- Faster wrapping = reduced labor costs
- Higher stretch yield → lower cost per pallet
- Reduced risk of employee strain or injury
⚠️ Considerations:
- Requires upfront investment in a stretch wrap machine
- Less flexible for occasional or irregular loads
🔑 How to Choose Between Hand vs Machine Stretch Film
Ask yourself these questions:
-
How many pallets do we wrap daily?
- Fewer than 50 → Hand stretch film
- More than 50 → Machine stretch film
-
Do we need consistent load security for long-distance shipping?
- Yes → Machine stretch film is more reliable
- No → Hand film may be sufficient
-
Do we want to reduce labor costs and worker fatigue?
-
If labor efficiency is important → Machine stretch film
🚚 A&R Box and Packaging: Your Local Stretch Film Supplier
Whether your company needs hand stretch film for light operations or machine stretch film for heavy shipping volume, A&R Box and Packaging has the right solution. We supply wholesale stretch film rolls at competitive prices to businesses across Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside.
📞 Call us today at 714-520-5200 or email info@arboxpackaging.com to get a quote and make sure your pallets ship safely every time.
