Lantech Blog

Stretch wrap is a term used for the film used with stretch wrapping machines to secure a load of material to a pallet creating a unitized or single, solid, transportable object that arrives at it's destination in as expected condition. Stretch wrap film is typically made from LLDPE or linear low density polyethylene which has a good balance of weight, cost, and strength. Not long ago we wrote about the process of making stretch film in this post.

One of the inevitable challenges of a stretch wrapper operators job is stretch film breaks. Some customers find that stretch film will break as often 3 to 5 times per roll. At best these breaks are an irritation. At worst, they can lead to a cascading series of increasingly problematic challenges.

What are the trade-offs when trying to wrap my pallet load effectively? Not just any theoretical pallet load but the one sitting on the shipping dock floor in front of me?  

The simple answer is that quality machine stretch film typically stretches 3x or more.

The right answer is....it depends on the stretch film, the machine and most importantly, your product, loads and goals.

Here's the full answer

Confusing stretch with tight & secure

Sometimes you'll hear people refer to the plastic that they wrap around pallets as shrink film. You know what they mean of course, but the proper name is stretch film for a reason.

Modern stretch film formulations are made to stretch - but maybe not for the reason, or to the extent that you imagine.

When Pat Lancaster invented the first stretch wrapper in 1972 he used a 60” roll of plastic film designed for use in dry cleaning facilities. The idea was to lay the film against the rotating pallet and rely on a core brake to slow the film enough that it stretch a bit and compressed the load as a result. That invention rapidly evolved to the spiral wrap so popular today. The polyethylene stretch film we rely on now rapidly followed.

That's essentially the same process repeated thousands of times each day as workers hand wrap loads with 12 & 18" wide rolls of hand stretch film.

Sustainability in packaging

Everyone is concerned about source reduction and sustainability in packaging. Driven by cost reduction initiatives, general awareness, social pressure and supplier scorecards tracked by mass retailers, manufacturers have 360 degree motivation to reduce packaging.

Going green has other facets. The net impact of changes is one example - and sometimes increased damage resulting in unsalable product in landfills may actually outweigh some reduction initiatives. Post consumer recycled content is another - and that leads to a common question.

Can stretch wrap be recycled?

There's no single "best" film

Every application and company is different. Sure, there are commonalities, but there's a lot of detail that film experts and local reps consider when suggesting the optimal stretch film for an application. The "best stretch film" is relative - based on your goals, circumstances and expectations.

Film gauge, pre-stretch capability, puncture resistance, tear propagation and other performance characteristics are examples of the specs which the film experts will consider with you as they help to select a film.

There's a basic difference in how films are manufactured though that's interesting to understand as someone who relies on the "system" of stretch wrapping equipment and film to safely deliver your loads to their destination.

Films are either blown or cast.

Let's look at the difference in the manufacturing process. Please note - this is intended to be informative and not to specify one method or material or another. 

You’re driving home after work and your gas light is on…again. You notice a gas station selling gas for $3.50/gallon and another selling the same gas for $1.50/gallon. Which station are you pulling into? It’s a no brainer. You’re going to pay the least amount to get the most.

Since 1972, when Lantech invented stretch wrapping, there have been lots of improvements in the technology and techniques that help shippers send their loads from their facility to their customer’s, damage free and at the lowest cost. 

But stretch wrapping is not problem-free.  The No. 1 problem is film breaks.  And that's when bad things happen.  At best, you lose time and money in getting your product out and at worst, you end up with disastrous results, damaged loads.

The good news is because the most common causes of film breaks occur before the stretch wrapping even begins, you can limit the risk of breaks.  Here are some of the things you can do:

You’re driving home after work and your gas light is on … again. You notice a gas station selling gas for $3.50/gallon and another selling the same gas for $1.50/gallon. Which station are you pulling into? It’s a no-brainer. You’re going to pay the least amount to get the most.

When searching for the perfect stretch wrapper, you’re likely faced with an overwhelming amount of machine choices. For a lot of people, it’s important to buy a high-quality machine. High quality means the machine is safe, easy-to-use and requires minimal maintenance. But people shouldn't forget about getting the most value out of a machine and the features that make it efficient.