Stretch wrap, also known as stretch film, is a form of plastic film that can be stretched and used to wrap around objects to keep them safe and in place. Most commonly, stretch wrap is used on shipping pallets to lock down boxes and/or products during transit and storage. Stretch film may seem like it serves a straightforward purpose, but there are numerous varieties on the market today, and choosing the right one for your products can be challenging. This article will discuss many kinds of stretch wrap and the circumstances in which you should use each stretch film mini roll and jumbo roll stretch film.

To begin, the stretch wrap can be apply in one of two ways, each of which requires a certain type of stretch wrap. Let’s compare and contrast hand wrapping with machine wrapping.

Wrap Your Hands Around This

Hand wrap, as the name suggests, is a type of film that is meant to be applied by hand. Hand film is also known as hand stretch wrap, manual pallet wrap, and manual stretch. Wrapping in this manner is labor-intensive and time-consuming, therefore it’s best reserved for low-volume operations where investing in a machine applicator would be impractical.

To Enclose Within a Machine

But machine wrap refers to a film that is applied by a machine. Although the stretch wrap machines themselves can be pricey, there are several advantages to using them. It’s great for high-volume operations that demand consistent quality wrapping, and it’s more efficient and safer for workers to apply than hand wrap. In a nutshell, using a machine to wrap your goods instead of hand-wrapping them saves you time and effort, makes your packing safer, ensures your loads are more secure and cuts down on your material expenses.

Wrapped in a Blown-Up

The manufacturing method that results in the blown wrap is called “blown extrusion,” hence the name. The newly stretch film is inflated with air in this method. Air is then progressively released, lowering the plastic’s temperature. In the end, you have a wrap that is both tough and difficult to rip. The blown wrap is more expensive than conventional packaging since making it requires more effort and time. On top of that, the blown wrap is more difficult to stretch since it is denser and has a greater stretch memory.

Wrapping a Cast

The cooling process is where blown and cast wrap really diverge throughout manufacture. As we’ve already established, blown wrap gradually loses heat as air is sucked out of it. Cast wrap, on the other hand, is extruded on much cooler rollers, thus it cools considerably more quickly. Thus, the production process becomes more economical and efficient, benefiting the end user. Although less expensive than a blown wrap, this variety of stretch wrap falls short in terms of holding power and tear resistance, making it unsuitable for the heaviest-duty applications.

Wrapping Before Stretching:

Pre-stretch wrap, as the name implies, is a stretch wrap that has already been stretched and pre-wound onto rolls for sale. Since the film is already stretched out, this facilitates application and reduces labor intensity. Furthermore, the pre-stretch wrap is very economical in terms of its raw material use; as each roll is pre-stretched, the user is able to extract the greatest quantity of material from each roll.