If you have received shipments on pallets, then you might have seen stretch wrap. Stretch wrap is a highly elastic plastic material made from low-density polyurethane. The wrap is thin, but quite strong and is designed to keep items on the pallet securely in place. You can find stretch wrap being used in several different industries, but they are mostly used by companies shipping products.
There are two basic types of stretch wrap, blown and cast. Each have their advantages when used in securing items to pallets.
Difference between Blown and Cast Stretch Film
Blown stretch wrap uses the blown extrusion method. Here, the plastic is melted and then blown up like a balloon providing considerable resilience and durability. Cast stretch wrap is made using the cast extrusion method. This allows the wrap to have exceptional clarity with increased resistance to tearing.
The main difference between blown and cast is the clarity of the blown stretch wrap, allowing you to see the products inside clearly. Plus, cast is generally more tear resistant as well. However, blown stretch wrap is more expensive compared to the cast version.
Why Stretch Film is Great for Wrapping Pallets?
Whether blown or cast stretch film is used, both are excellent for wrapping items to the pallets that carry them. This is mainly because it is a simple, effective means of keeping all the boxes or items together on one pallet, making it easier to move around when shipping.
Plus, with blown stretch film you can easily see the products inside. And, when they are ready to be separated from the pallets, all you need is a sharp knife which will easily cut through the stretch film. This makes it easy to use while still being quite strong and durable.
You can find stretch film available in clear, black, red, and blue which offer certain advantages.
Why Use Black Stretch Film?
The main reason to use black or any opaque stretch film is to keep the items hidden from casual viewing. Using black stretch film will let people know that something is inside, but not provide them with all the information. If you are shipping items in which you want to protect the information that may be on the boxes themselves, then black stretch film is a great choice.
How to Wrap Pallets Using Hand Stretch Film
For industrial purposes, stretch film is normally wrapping items on a pallet using a machine. An anchor point is set on the pallet and then the items are rotated as the stretch film descends from a machine above. As the machine or guide rises, the stretch film moves up the items until they are all covered.
The same process can be used when applying stretch film by hand. Set an anchor point on the pallet, then wrap the film around the items going from bottom to the top. Once the top is reached, the stretch film can be cut with a knife and secured.
Stretch film is quite strong, durable, and will hold items securely to the pallet when shipping. This makes stretch film invaluable when it comes to moving your products from one location to the next.
