Basics, Benefits & Buying Guides
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Tons of today&#;s shipping and warehousing tasks depend on a light, flexible innovation of the last 50 years: stretch wrap film. While shrink wrap and other plastic films were already popular for bundling goods, stretch film&#;s &#;s debut revolutionized a manufacturer&#;s ability to unitize, organize and transport pallet loads. Stretch wrap film could tightly encircle bulk cartons, maintaining enough tension to secure them for shipping, distribution or long-term storage.
Today, stretch-wrapped pallets are the material-handling standard for busy U.S. transportation hubs, distribution centers and storage facilities. The widespread use of pallet wrap has led to films with varying strengths, innovative features and turnkey application methods. With so many choices, Seattle shippers look to experienced packaging suppliers for guidance on selecting premium, cost-effective stretch wraps. For your convenience, PackageIt carries stock and custom stretch wraps that meet every business need, large or small. Consider these basic stretch wrap facts before you choose from our exhaustive inventory of stretch film and warehouse supplies.
Type & Quality of Stretch Wrap
Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), the plastic used in stretch wrap, has exceptional elongation and elastic recovery. Its ability to stretch long distances and return to its resting state creates a tension level that optimally secures wrapped cartons.
The two types of LLDPE manufacturing methods result in films with different characteristics:
Cast extrusion
produces a film with easier stretch, good tear resistance, a clear finish, two-sided cling, and quiet unwinding from the roll. Lower cost and more uniform manufacturing processes result in a broad range of available film thicknesses.
Blown extrusion
produces superior film with exceptional tensile strength, stretch capacity and tear resistance. This film is preferred for cold temperatures or loads with sharp edges. Blown film is more expensive, louder when unrolled&#;and opaque in appearance.
Additional Stretch Film Properties
Choosing a suitable plastic film to handle your shipping or storage load depends on several factors. Ask yourself these questions as you decide on the best shrink or stretch wrap solution for your business application.
Does your palletized load consist of uniform packages or a mix of different sizes and shapes?
Loads with varying sizes and weights require stronger stretch wrap for enhanced stability and minimal breakage.
Will the stretch wrap be applied by hand or machine?
The wrapping method determines the optimum roll size and film gauge (thickness) needed for best results.
What conditions will your pallets encounter in transit and storage?
The length of time in transit or storage, along with environmental factors like temperature, dust and weather exposure, dictate a wrap&#;s required tensile strength, gauge and special characteristics.
What film gauge yields the best load-holding profile for the lowest cost?
Selecting a thinner, cheaper film may seem wise at the time, but it could cost you money in the long run when loads shift and goods are damaged. PackageIt sales representatives assess your load profile and provide a cost-benefit analysis to help with your film choice.
Do your palletized products require stretch wrap with additional features like these? If so, PackageIt can help.
Reinforced layers
Venting
UV protection
Corrosion inhibition
Anti-static properties
Custom printing
Color or opacity
Pre-Stretched Wrap Saves Time & Money
Wrap machines provide consistent film stretch that results in better film utilization, lower material costs and increased load stability. Pre-stretched wrap delivers these benefits for handheld pallet wrapping, too.
Manufacturers extend blown or cast films to 80 or 90 percent of their full stretch potential in order to produce pre-stretched wrap. This film is then rolled onto an easy-to-manage core for hand application. Pre-stretch products have significant advantages over standard gauge, hand-stretched film. Benefits include:
Easier handling & less physical strain for workers
Fewer employee repetitive motion injuries
Reduced employee falls &
accidentsMore consistent wrap tension for better load stability
Greater application control and consistency with lighter-weight rolls
Up to 50 percent less film for load securing
& narrowing of film width
Decreased waste & material costs
Bottom Line Benefits of Stretch Wrap
Protecting your goods with versatile, effective stretch film is one of the best ways to unitize loads and palletize shipments. Today&#;s product innovations also reduce wrap cost, minimize waste and improve stretch film&#;s overall usefulness. Before you choose the best solution for stabilizing and unitizing your pallet loads, remember to weigh the stretch wrap benefits that also impact your bottom line. Examples include:
Damage & Loss Prevention
More products arrive at their final destination without breakage or loss.
Packages are safeguarded from the damaging effects of light, contamination, moisture or rough handling.
Opaque and reinforced films can deter loss from theft and tampering.
Improved Operational Productivity
Visible but protected labeling and color-coding features help with inventory management.
Unitized loads that are easier to move, shelve, stack and maintain.
Stretch film can be applied by hand or machine with ease and safety.
Cost-Effective Option
Securing loads with stretch wrap costs less than using strapping or
Link to YH Package
shrink-wrap machines
.
Pre-stretched film and films with reinforced tensile strength further reduce material costs and stretch wrap waste.
Easy handling eliminates product waste from load failures or do-overs.
Securely unitized loads require fewer employee hours for handling, transport and storage.
Sustainable Stretch Wrap Solutions for Your Business
Using stretch wrap to palletize shipments combines cost containment and environmental stewardship efforts. New film innovation produces stretch films that achieve superior strength and load control with lower gauge films, reducing wrap waste. In addition, recycling facilities accept many stretch wrap films. But the greatest environmental savings comes from stretch films&#; effectiveness in preventing product damage and eliminating re-shipping costs. By ensuring products arrive at their destination intact, inexpensive stretch films relieve overburdened landfills.
PackageIt VMI Services
An unexpected shortage of pre-stretched wrap or custom printed cartons is no longer a worry when you put PackageIt&#;s Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI) services to work for your company. Our VMI specialists chart, manage and replenish your packaging, shipping and warehouse supplies&#;so you&#;ll always have the materials you need. Trust our dedicated PackageIt inventory team will:
Visit your facility at regular intervals.
Take stock of available supplies.
Restock packaging materials as needed.
Assess future supply demands.
Educate you about packaging innovations that improve business operations and ease your budget.
And throughout the VMI process, you will receive customized inventory reports from your assigned sales team member, resulting in ultimate peace of mind.
Order Stretch Wrap Today
Since , Seattle businesses have turned to our Pacific Northwest packaging supply experts for quality supplies, competitive pricing and unmatched customer service. Call 888.743. to schedule a VMI consultation&#;or request a quote for pre-stretched wrap film online&#;from the convenience of your home office.
Shrink film is a clear film that is used to wrap a variety of packages. This type of film shrinks when it is exposed to heat via a shrink tunnel or a heat gun, adding a tight and flawless seal to any package. Shrink wrap or shrink films add tamper resistance and protective layer of material to perishable foods on retail shelves and many other applications. Shrink films are often referred to a shrink wrap or occasionally stretch film although stretch film is a completely different packaging product; check out our Stretch Film FAQs as well!
There are a lot of variables that determine the width of the shrink film you should be working with. If you don&#;t buy the correct width shrink wrap film, you could experience increased breakage and have issues with the shrink films sealing. For optimal seal and shelf-appeal, choosing the correct shrink film to work with matters.
The first thing you should think about is the shrink film equipment you are working with. Some shrink wrappers have limitations to the size and gauge film you can use. The shape and size of the product you are planning to shrink wrap also matters. Irregular, sharp, or otherwise unique products require a larger width and thicker gauge shrink film to prevent breakage during the shrinking process. While regular, smaller, and less jagged products might not require a gauge polyolefin shrink film that is as thick. More uniform products come with a lesser risk of puncture resistance especially if you&#;re using a cross linked shrink film as your primary shrink wrap.
The specific equipment you are working with and the speed at which you are planning to shrink wrap your products also affects the size of the film. If you want to run your shrink wrapper at a higher speed, you will need to choose a shrink film with a thicker gauge to prevent breakage of the film. Sizing your shrink wrap with the more efficient machine direction in mind ensures you are shrink wrapping in a manner that moves products to the shrink tunnel as quickly as possible getting product out the door more quickly.
Purchasing the wrong-sized polyolefin shrink film can be a costly mistake. If you are unsure of which film to choose, our shrink wrapper parts and service department can review your specific packaging needs as choosing the right shrink film helps make your operation more efficient. They are here to help you choose the correct width and gauge film (whether pvc shrink film or pof shrink film) that keeps your products protected and looking great on retail shelves. Contact us for more information.
Soft Polyolefin Shrink film is a highly durable, smooth shrink film that can be used in a variety of settings. If you are going for that perfect look on retail shelves, soft shrink is the shrink wrap you want to work with. This film decreases wrinkles, or dog ears, in smaller, more difficult to wrap products in addition to having higher puncture resistance and being more forgiving to applying too much heat in the shrink tunnel. Ask our parts and service department if soft shrink is right for your packaging needs as there are &#;soft&#; shrink films in both pvc shrink film and pof shrink film each of which are cross linked films but used on widely different products.
The short answer to this question is that polyolefin shrink wrap is a great fit for everything. You can find polyolefin shrink wrap on any single item wrapped in a retail store, including food items. Examples include gels, soaps, pizza, and more. These shrink films are versatile and easy to work with, making it the most common shrink film out there. If you are looking for a clean, retail look with an incredibly easy shrink film to work with, then polyolefin shrink films are the right choice for you. We always recommend a cross linked shrink film as opposed to non cross linked films which make the shrink wrapping process much more difficult on your shrink wrapper and shrink tunnel operators.
There are many factors to think about when choosing the right gauge shrink film that is best for your products. The first thing to consider is the size, shape, and type of product(s) that you are planning to shrink wrap. Some products with jagged or sharp edges might require a thicker gauge to prevent tearing during or after the shrinking process.
Another factor that affects the gauge of the shrink wrap is the equipment and the speed you are running the shrink film on. Higher speeds require thicker gauge shrink wrap for better results without frustrating tears in the shrink film.
Choosing the right gauge shrink film is very important, and often difficult without some trial and error. That is why we offer our customers in person consultations, where our parts and service department will assess your specific needs. Our technicians perform a shrink film test for our customers where we trial different gauge shrink films to ensure that you are working with the best shrink wrap to meet all your needs. Our cross linked shrink film offers 29 microlayer technology ensuring you are getting the absolute most of our your shrink wrap. Contact us for more information.
When it comes to perforation, shrink film comes in two different forms: Perforated and nonperforated shrink wrap. Perforated shrink film comes with tiny, uniform holes in the film. These holes allow the film to shrink evenly, for a smooth and uniform look. Shrink film can also be nonperforated. Non-perforated shrink wrap requires the consumer to perforate the shrink film themselves, with the assistance of a specific roller that is integrated into their shrink wrapper. When deciding which option is best for your packaging needs, it all comes down to the goals of the consumer.
Most customers prefer to work with perforated shrink film. Perforated shrink wrap comes with evenly spaced perforations for a smooth look. There is less chance of the shrink film tearing with perforated film. If not used in the correct manner, manually perforated shrink films can have irregular, and larger perforations causing increased tearing of the film during the shrink process.
While 90-95% of our consumers purchase pre-perforated shrink films, there are still some customers that prefer nonperforated film. These customers use a perf wheel to make manual perforations into the product. Some very small or delicate products do require customized perforations, so it is important to think about the products you are working with.
There are some challenges to working with manual perforated shrink wrap. The first one is the increased time needed to add the perforations to the shrink wrap before your products can be wrapped. Another challenge is the additional shrink film part that is housed in the packaging equipment, requiring ongoing maintenance and takes up space in an already crowded warehouse.
Determining the correct shrink film to use is a very important decision. That is why our service department is available for consultation on your shrink wrap and shrink wrap equipment. Our technicians will come out to your warehouse to test different forms of shrink wrap until we find the best fit for your products. In the most difficult of cases, we can even add manual perforations to our pre-perforated film, adding customization to your packaging process. Contact us for more information.
The change between single wound and centerfold shrink film is simple. Centerfold shrink films come already folded and ready to go when it arrives at your door. Single wound shrink films require folding prior to loading this on the machine. Choosing between the two depends on a few simple factors. The first one is convenience. If you are looking for a film that is ready to use the day it arrives, cutting out labor costs and getting more products packaged in less time, centerfold shrink wrap is the way to go.
The next factor is that single wound shrink wrap requires you to have additional parts to create the centerfold shrink wrap in-line.
One thing to be aware of when it comes to single wound shrink film, is that this film can often come from overseas. When products are shipped overseas they are exposed to a number of different elements. This exposure can lead to damaged film, especially if it is exposed to high temperatures.
There are several levels of automation that are available when purchasing a shrink wrapper. The decision on which shrink film equipment to use depends on the customer&#;s goals and the products that they are planning to shrink wrap. Some products require more hands on from operators, while other more uniform products would be a perfect fit for a fully manual shrink wrapper.
Manual shrink film wrappers require the most amount of human labor to operate. These wrappers require an operator to put the product in the seal area, manually pull the seal head down to create the bag. Once the bag is created the operator then manually takes the product to be sealed. Additional automation can be added to these machines, such as adding a conveyer to move the product if desired.
A semi-automatic film wrapper requires an operator to place the film in the bay, then seal head is placed down over the product. Once the bag is created, the conveyor then takes the product out of the bay and brings the panel to the seal panel to complete the process.
An automatic shrink wrapper is fully automatic. The operator places the product on a conveyer and the equipment does the rest. This is by far the easiest and safest machine to operate, as it does not require any operators to manually operate any of the elements of the shrinking process, including the seal head or the shrink film panel.
Which style shrink wrapper to purchase is determined by the needs and goals of the customer. If you are unsure which option is best for your products, reach out to our sales department for a consultation.
Our service department answers many calls from customers with shrink wrappers not working properly. Any shrink wrapper and/or product that is not sized correctly with the correct gauge, perforation, and width shrink film will likely result in increased tears to the film and increased frustration on behalf of the consumer. That is why we spend a great deal of time ensuring that our customers are working with the film that best fits their needs first to avoid these issues.
In order to properly shrink film, it requires a clean and dry environment. If humidity gets into the air dryer, then the shrink film will be compromised and will not package products correctly. Installing and properly maintaining the dryer and surrounding environmental conditions will keep your shrink wrapper running smoothly longer.
Some additional shrink wrapper frustrations are related to the power voltage available to the machine. Many shrink wrappers require a 220 volt outlet to operate properly. If the customer attempts to plug the shrink wrapper into an outlet with less voltage it will result in shortages to the circuit and the machine won&#;t be able to operate.
Finally, our service department receives a number of calls from customers stating that their shrink wrappers are no longer working or have damaged parts. A lot of damage to shrink wrappers can be avoided with proper cleaning and maintenance on a regular basis, especially upon installation.
Maintenance issues that occur with polyolefin shrink films are typically related to cleaning. Shrink wrappers should be cleaned after every shift to keep them free of dust, debris and carbon deposits. However, customers should not use anything except a rag to clean this equipment. Any chemicals will cause the bars to corrode and result in increased issues and damage to the shrink wrapper.
Another misconception seen among customers is the use of metal to clean the seal bars. The metal can be a metal or wire scrub brush. The bars are Teflon coated to prevent shrink wrap and products from sticking to the bars, but the metal will scrub this Teflon coating right off. Resulting in a hot, sticky mess for our customers.
Always make sure to schedule preventive maintenance on your shrink tunnels and shrink wrapper. It is best to catch any issues before they become larger problems.
If you have any issues with your shrink film not creating a good seal, there could be any number of issues going on. The issue could be related to the type and size of the shrink film that you are working with. Or the issue could be related to the equipment itself. At times, the issue could be related to the environment, for example, increased humidity in the dryer, or a really warm warehouse resulting in damage to the shrink wrap.
If your shrink wrapper is not working properly and not getting a great seal, the best thing to do is contact our service department for a consultation. If the issue cannot be handled over the , our technicians are available to come out to your warehouse to assess the issue.
If you shrink film isn&#;t getting a great seal, there are a few things you could check ahead of calling our service department. Take a look at the temperature the shrink wrapper and shrink tunnel are set at. Low temperatures will cause the shrink film not to get a great seal, as will temperatures that are too warm.
Another factor that could be affecting your shrink film seal, is the time the seal bar is around the product. If the seal bar is not down long enough the product will not get a good seal, same is true for a seal bar that is engaged for too long.
Lastly, the pressure the shrink sealer is deployed to can also affect the seal the shrink film gets around the product. All of the above issues can be addressed over the , calling our service department can help you determine which kind of issue you are having along with whether the issue is shrink wrap or shrink equipment.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Shrink film is an excellent film that is used around the world to seal and wrap many different products. It is a versatile film that leaves products looking great on retail shelves. However, choosing the correct polyolefin shrink film to meet your needs is the most important step. Contact us for a consultation to ensure that you are working with the best film for your product&#;s unique needs.
For more Wholesale Shrink Wrap Filminformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.