*Updated 05-18-18*

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Choosing Stretch Wrapping Equipment

When it comes to stretch wrapping equipment, make sure you don't lose sight of the most important reason why you're wrapping in the first place; to get your load from its origin to its destination in the same condition in which it left. Stretch wrappers do the job better than people, but they are not capable of making decisions as they work. You'll need to understand a few things about what you want the machine to be able to do, so you can make the right choice. Lucky for you, we're going to list them out.

It's time to upgrade to machine grade stretch wrap, the hand film you've been using won't work with stretch wrapping equipment. You've got to consider the gauge, the pre-stretch ability, and the material of the film.

How much load containment force do you need?

The top, middle, and bottom layers of your load all need to have the correct amount of containment force. The right amount of containment force depends on the type of load you're wrapping. Heavy loads may require more containment force and lighter loads may require less. With stretch wrappers, you'll get the right containment force needed for each load.

Containment force- The wrap force multiplied by the number of film layers.

How will you wrap the pallets and how many wraps will be necessary?

The way the load is wrapped depends on your settings. You need to choose the number of top and bottom counts. You must also decide the wrap force setting and how much overwrap you want applied on the top of the load.

Stretch wrappers are justified with a positive ROI if you're wrapping 15 or more loads per day.

Stretch wrappers are justified with a positive ROI if you're wrapping 15 or more loads per day.

What will you do to limit breakage?

Breaks are more than just an annoyance. They're the biggest problem in stretch wrapping. Often, they lead to a chain of disastrous consequences. To limit your risk for breaks, there are a few things you can do.

• Keep your products from overhanging the pallet and try to eliminate sharp corners.
• Train operators to properly handle film. Improper film threading is a main cause of film breaks. Film breaks can occur when the film roll experiences nicks. These nicks happen when the film roll has been dropped or mishandled.
• Don't buy 'cheap' film, which has higher risk for flaws (gels, nicks, tears). Cheap film doesn't have the ability to stretch as far as performance films.
• Don't set the wrap force too high. Depending on your film and product, play around with the tension of the film to determine the best setting.

How much load containment force do you need?

How much load containment force do you need?

Do you need additional reinforcements?

You may need to secure partial layers with the roping technique or you may need to band. Sometimes your load may even call for steel or polyester strapping. Stretch wrap can't solve all your potential issues, especially if your load is heavy and/or unstable.

What type of stretch wrappers are best suited for your specific application?

Think about the size, weight, and variability of the loads you will be wrapping. Highly variable loads would benefit from certain types of machinery, such as orbital, horizontal wrappers that secure the load most securely to the pallet. Stable, light-weight loads of consumer goods would do well with a turntable style wrapper, while unstable or heavy loads would do better with a rotary arm machine.

What kind of production speed to you require?

Contact us to discuss your requirements of paper roll wrapping machine. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

If you're moving from a hand wrap application to simple automation, a semi-automatic stretch wrapper may be all that is required. Although stretch wrappers still require a person to manually attach the film to the load at the beginning of the wrap cycle and cut the film at the end of the cycle, they can achieve rates as high as 35 loads per hour.

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*Editors note. This post was originally published on March 13, and has been updated with the most up to date content.

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The biggest cost driver in stretch wrapping is in-transit damage incurred by loads that were stretch wrapped ineffectively. One of the best ways to stretch wrap well is with a stretch wrapping machine. In fact, we've talked about some of the problems with hand wrapping pallets before, and often the biggest issue with hand wrapping is that machines are just better at wrapping loads than people are.

However, as much as machines are capable, they're not as smart as you. They can't decide:

WHETHER YOUR FAVORITE FILM WILL WORK.

More than likely, film used for hand wrapping won't work as well on a machine. You've got to consider the gauge, pre-stretch, and material of the film. Talk with a distributor in your area, who knows as much about machines as he does film.

HOW TIGHT TO STRETCH WRAP YOUR LOAD.

The top, middle, and bottom layers of your load need to all have the correct amount of containment force, which is the film tension multiplied by the number of film layers. Containment force is what holds the load together. The right amount of containment force depends on the type of load you're wrapping. Is your load heavy, light, or unstable? Heavy loads may require more containment force and light loads may require less.

WHAT THE WRAP PATTERN SHOULD BE.

The top, middle, and bottom layers of your load need to all have the correct amount of containment force, which is the film tension multiplied by the number of film layers. Containment force is what holds the load together. The right amount of containment force depends on the type of load you're wrapping. Is your load heavy, light, or unstable? Heavy loads may require more containment force and light loads may require less.

WHY THE FILM JUST BROKE.

The way the load is wrapped depends on your stretch wrapper's settings. You need to choose the number of top and bottom wrap counts. You must also decide the wrap force settings and how much overwrap you want applied on top of the load as well film delivery system's speed and the rotation speed of the turn table or wrap arm.

• Keep your products from overhanging the pallet and try to eliminate sharp corners.
• Train operators to properly handle film. Improper film threading is a main cause of film breaks. Film breaks can occur when the film roll experiences nicks. These nicks happen when the film roll has been dropped or mishandled.
• Don't set the wrap force too high. Depending on your film and product, adjust the tension of the film to determine the best setting.

If the load needs special attention or reinforcement at some spot.

You may need to secure partial layers with the roping technique or you may need to band ' apply multiple layers of film to one spot on the load.

STRETCH WRAPPING MACHINES GIVING THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Stretch wrapping machines have the potential to greatly increase a pallet load's chances of arriving in as made condition. They simply do a better job than people at consistently wrapping loads to wrap standards. However, human beings do have a place in the stretch wrapping process. With a bit of research and practice people can work with their stretch wrapping machines to make sure their loads have the best chance of reaching their destination in as made condition.

Make sure the machine you buy will get the job done. A good rule of thumb is always not to guess, but to test. Get help if you're not sure.

Interested in learning more about our stretch wrappers? Check out our stretch wrapping fundamentals today!

For more information, please visit Paper Roll Stretch Wrapping Machine.