Standard vs. pre-stretched stretch film
Stretch films can be already pre-stretched or or they must be stretched directly before stretching. Only films that are sufficiently stretched can provide load securing. So what is the difference between a stretch film that has already been pre-stretched and one that has not been pre-stretched?
With standard stretch film, no pre-stretching takes place during production. The film is only stretched by the machine while being wrapped around the pallet. Stretch machines are precisely adjusted in advance to the stretch film used and can thus optimally extract the maximum stretch from the film. A film that is not pre-stretched generally has a higher thickness. This means that the amount of material used is also significantly higher and more film waste is produced. Processing - especially by hand - is more difficult and more strenuous.
This compares with the pre-stretch film that is frequently used today. A pre-stretched film can be made from cast film or blown film. The film is already stretched to the optimum in the longitudinal direction during the manufacturing process. This has the advantage that the film has to be applied to the pallet with less force. The pre-stretching that has already taken place also reduces material consumption and thus film waste. Less effort also means faster work.
The already pre-stretched STRETCH MAX hand stretch filmcan withstand even heavy loads. It is extremely tear-resistant due to the edge reinforcement and gives every pallet the necessary hold. The film is made from the highest quality raw materials and is pre-stretched in a special stretching process. With Stretch Max, you reducematerial consumption and savecosts at the same time.
It is important that a pre-stretched film is only fixed to the pallet with slight tension. With the stretching that has taken place in advance, the film has reached the so-called strain hardening limit. The strain hardening limit represents the maximum stretching capacity. Once the film has reached this limit, it can only be stretched further with particularly high force. However, further stretching is absolutely not advisable in order to avoid tearing.
Similarly: If a film is not stretched to its full potential, it can result in unsafe cargo units. An insufficiently stretched film can lose its stability even with small impacts. As a result, the packaged goods lose their holding force and can quickly slip during transport. This means that the load units can no longer be adequately secured.
IS A PRE-STRETCHED STRETCH FILM BETTER THAN A NON-PRE-STRETCHED FILM?
To answer this question, it is necessary to distinguish between machine and hand film.
With hand film, a much more stable result is achieved with the use of a pre-stretched foil. In addition, the processing of pre-stretched film is easier and the force required is less.
When using machine film, it very much depends on whether the device has a pre-stretching capability or not. If the device cannot pre-stretch, a pre-stretched film can certainly be advantageous.
WHEN SHOULD I USE A PRE-STRETCHED MACHINE STRETCH FILM?
Pre-stretched film should only be used if the wrapping machine does not have a pre-stretching facility. Without the necessary pre-stretching, the stretch potential of the film cannot be realised and cannot form a safe load unit. Only with a sufficiently stretched film can the packaged goods be transported safely.
In the hand film sector, the pre-stretched film is ideal for achieving a stable loading unit with low application of force and material consumption.
