Achieve more with less film
Thousands of pallets are wrapped in stretch film before they leave production facilities and warehouses around the world. And that's a good thing - because compared to other means of securing pallets,high-quality stretch film is not only very strong, but also extremely efficient. And if the quality of the film and the correct application are perfectly orchestrated, you are guaranteed to achieve more with less film.
Why use less film?
In many places, packaging and wrapping is done according to the motto "the more, the better". However, this is not only a financial burden for companies (more consumption equals more costs), but also has a significant impact on the environment. And of course it also takes a lot of time to wrap a pallet with a lot of film - not to mention the extra work involved in repackaging. In almost all cases, at least the same pallet stability can be achieved with less film. And in an overwhelming number of cases, an improvement can even be achieved, as high consumption and inadequate pallet securing are often linked and have the same cause.
How can I achieve more with less film?
As mentioned at the beginning, two factors play a key role in the optimization of stretch film consumption:The quality of the film, and the correct application. Many people are not aware of the variety of different qualities and types of film.
The use of stretch film is optimal when it is fully stretched. This means that the stretch potential is exhausted and the film is stiffened. This minimizes consumption and there is no remaining stretching capacity in the film, which could lead to deformation of the pallet during transport. Furthermore, film in this stretched-out condition achieves high containment force, i.e. very good pallet stability.
When do I use a pre-stretched film?
In manual application, the full stretching potential of a standard film is never fully exploited. It would be extremely strenuous and space-consuming to stretch the film by several hundred percent while manually wrapping it around the pallet.
This often leads to excessive consumption in the area of hand stretch film and, at the same time, to inadequate pallet stability. If the film can still be stretched after being applied, this poses a risk during transportation, as the film gives way to sliding goods.
We therefore recommend pre-stretched film for manual application. This film is already stretched in production before being rolled up and therefore allows effortless wrapping with low film consumption and maximum pallet stability.
The same of course also applies to stretch wrappers, which don't have the capability to pre-stretch.
When do I use a non-pre-stretched film?
If you have a stretch wrapper with a pre-stretch function, you do not need pre-stretched film. In this case, it is important to know your stretch wrapper well so that you can choose the right film.
Different machine types differ significantly in how much they can pre-stretch a film and how flexibly the operator can adjust the settings and parameters. It is therefore not possible to make a general statement about which film quality is suitable for stretch wrappers.
In most cases, it makes sense to ask a packaging optimizer or stretch film technicianfor advice.
Thanks to many years of practical experience with various types of stretch wrappers, they can help you choose the right film. And if you then use the film that your stretch wrapper gets the most out of, you will achieve more with less film.
Summary
In the vast majority of cases, significantly more can be achieved with less film. The key here is that the qualityand type of film are perfectly matched to the application. Whether hand or machine stretch film, our packaging optimizers will be happy to assist you if you want to achieve more - with less film.
