How Pallet Stretch Film Enhances Load Stability

Pallet stretch film also called stretch film or pallet wrap is a versatile product that can be used in covering and stabilizing products which are palletized for storage or transportation. Cutting edge pallet stretch wrap comes with several advantages when it comes to increasing load stability as well as reducing the risk of product damage.

How Stretch Wrap Works 

Pallet stretch wrap is created from polyethylene plastic, which can possess excellent cling characteristics and high elasticity. The term stretch film means it can be stretched to a maximum of 300% of its initial length before being wrapped under tension on a load. This opposition makes it possible to let the natural behavior of the film to shrink back to its original dimension to offer consistent pressures that compact and consolidate the load at the base. The cling properties then bond the successive layers of film with each other and also with the load underneath hence stabilizing the products on the pallet.

Increasing Load Containment

Using the correct quantities of quality stretch film to palletize goods creates a palletized load that has good stability and security of products will not drop off the pallet. The tensioned film effectively increases the load cohesiveness where it applies the force in two directions – downwards and inwards which effectively packages the load into a single block. It also ensures that those items at the edges or on top do not fall off or get crushed, broken or damaged in any way. The point is that with enough film layers (it is advised to use 2 to 3 layers at least) there is a formation of the powerful protection force around all sides of the load.

Maintaining Load Integrity

Further, pallet stretch wrap is not only able to sustain the packaged products on a pallet without shifting or slipping but also to keep the load intact through the supply chain. During transportation, movement and vibrations complicate the stability of loads by making them move or even become unstable. This is offset by stretch wrapping your pallet loads because it offers an exceptional holding force that ensures the load remains in the precise position it was packed until it is shipped, turned or bumped. This ensures that items stored in individual boxes and packaged items do not topple over, fall or burst open even if subjected to a lot of force while in transit.

Stretch wrap also ensures that pallet loads are completely encapsulated hence shielding them from adverse conditions such as moisture, dust and dirt. This assist in maintaining the cleanliness of food products, electronics, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products to prevent erosion as they are ferried in vulnerable environments such as warehouses and trucks.

Maximizing Load Strength

In addition to immobilizing load movement due to its physical design, stretch films also entail several layers of the film under tension that also enhance load stability through force absorption forces acting on the load. If covered pallet is hit or squeezed while being transported or during shipping, then the stretch wrap comes in handy through cushioning of that shock, vibration or pressure throughout the load. It eliminates point loads that may cause stress on other parts of the load that may be weaker since they are under extreme weight or any shock loads.

Thus, loads covered with the help of stretch wrap can sustain significantly more pressure from the top layers than when using other forms of unitization. Covers protect pallet loads to be very stable to carry several thousand pounds on top including when dynamic forces are applied. This makes pallet wrapping useful in securing loads especially in high stint stacks that may take a long time before they are dispatched.

Stretch Wrap – Choosing the Right One

While all stretch wrap enhances load stability to a degree, selecting the right film maximizes performance, security and savings:While all stretch wrap enhances load stability to a degree, selecting the right film maximizes performance, security and savings:

• Premium quality cast-stretch film with enhanced rotational memory enables improved adhesion, coefficient of friction, and elastic recovery for greater wrapping force and cargo security. As mentioned above, hand stretch wrap cannot offer this level of performance.
• If thinner stretch films are used such as a 60-80 gauge, this results to increased wrap circles hence promoting more contact and bonding of the film. Layers combine and cohere as they touch for a good adhesive quality that gives the wrap strength.
• Up to 300% pre-stretch wrap films are more economical than LDPEs as they require few rotations and less raw material to have the same containment level. This increases the number of units produced per time spent on the process while reducing the amount of material used.
• The proper film tension is obtaining to ensure that loads to be covered are held firmly under pressure without compromising the product by puncturing through the packages during the process of wrapping. These features include the control of tension of the dispenser, and training of the wrappers here.

When choosing stretch wrapping equipment and especially stretch films that suit your specific operation’s workload, you can optimize the stability and security of the load in storage and transportation through the supply chain. The characteristics and technicality of stretch wrap equilibrium = Studying the actuality that appropriate pallet load wrapping greatly enhances load stability increases throughput, minimizes product damage and decreases material costs.