Though the world of stretch film is vast, with more types than you can count, certain varieties are more common than others.
Are you looking for ways to securely pack and transport your goods? Look no further! In this article, we will explore 10 different types of stretch film that can help you keep your items safe and secure during shipping and storage. From traditional hand-wrap films to machine-grade films, there is a stretch film option to suit every need. Let’s take a closer look at the options available.
10 Types of Stretch Film
- Hand Stretch Film
- machine stretch film
- Color Stretch Flim
- Mini stretch film
- Bundling stretch Film
- Printed stretch film
- Stretch Film Jumbo Roll
- Pre-Stretch Film
- Plastic Pallet Cover
- Electrical Wire Film
One of the most important things to consider before purchasing a type of stretch film is your desired application. Some films are designed for high-strength applications, while others are designed for low-cost packaging or shipping purposes. Regardless of what you’re looking for in your stretch film, plenty of options can help you reach your goals!
Here are ten types of stretch film—all you need to know!
What is Stretch Film?
Stretch film is a highly elastic plastic wrap stretched around various products (such as pallets of boxes) for shipping and transportation. The elastic recovery or stretchability of the film secures the products and ensures they are tightly bound. The film is often used in unitizing products, but it can be leveraged for packaging bundles of small objects.
Stretch wrap or stretch film is a plastic wrapping material that sticks to itself and is reusable. The film has an elastic recovery load capacity, stretching as much as 50 times its length before returning to its original state. Stretch wrap is a highly flexible film with excellent gripping characteristics that can be used to package and protect objects of various shapes and sizes.
Many stretch wrap films are available in various styles, colors, and thicknesses that comply with worldwide regulations. They are produced to meet different demands in different regions of the world. Stretch wrap provides an excellent barrier to moisture, dust, dirt, and other contaminants. It can secure pallets or bundles of items and fragile package products by adding cushioning.
What are the specifications of the stretch film?
Hand stretch wrap film
Width: 4″ or 6″
Thickness: 30-100 microns (0.3mm – 1mm)
Length: 50m or 100m
Machine Stretch wrap Film
Width: 4 inches to 80 inches
Thickness: 0.75 mils to 3 mils
Weight: 2 pounds and 12 pounds per 1000 feet of roll length
Color Stretch Film
Width: 12 inches to 70 inches
Thickness: 0.9 mils to 2.4 mils (or 0.0009-0.0024 inches)
Weight: 1.5 and 4 pounds/2000 square feet (or 7-18 grams/square meter)
Mini stretch film
Width: 8″ to 18″, with 12″
Thickness: For lighter-duty applications like bundling paper products or other light items, a thinner gauge of 15 to 20 microns is usually sufficient. For heavier-duty applications like securing pallets or larger boxes, thicker gauges of 25 to 40 microns are recommended.
Weight: 1 lb. per 3000 sq ft (15 microns) for light-duty applications and 2 lb per 3000 sq ft (25 microns) for heavy-duty applications.
Bundling stretch Film
Width: 1-inch to 20-inch rolls (25mm to 500mm)
Thickness: 0.5mil (13 Microns) and up to 4mil (100 Microns).
Weight: 200g/m2 – 1800g/m2
Printed stretch film
Width: 12″ to 80″
Thickness: 15 to 50 microns, although higher thicknesses can be obtained with premium products.
Weight: 2 to 10 kilograms
Stretch Film Jumbo Roll
Width:500mm
Thickness: 18 microns
Weight: 5kg to 7kg
Pre-stretched films
Width: 8 inches (20.3 cm) up to 48 inches (121.9 cm).
Thickness: 0.75 mils (0.019 mm) and 1.5 mils (0.038 mm).
Weight: light as 2 lbs/m2 (9 kg/m2) or as heavy as 7 lbs/m2 (31 kg/m2).
Plastic pallet cover
Width: 1200 x 800 mm, or 48 x 32 inches
Thickness: 0.15 – 0.4 millimeters
Weight: 100 – 350 grams per square meter
Electrical Wire Film
Width: 0.25mm and 1mm
Thickness: 0.02mm to 0.08 mm
Weight: 8 g/m2 to 20 g/m2
What are the types of Stretch films?
1. Hand Stretch Films
Hand stretch film is a manual wrapping designed for hand-wrapping pallets. It is best for lower-capacity packaging operations and slower turnaround. Designed with a hand wrap method in mind, the hand stretch film rolls typically weigh about 10 pounds when full. Hand-wrapping pallets can cause injury over time for workers, and it’s best to reevaluate your needs continuously to see if your operation could benefit from a stretch-wrapping machine. These are much faster and apply the perfect amount of containment force every time to reduce the likelihood of primary packaging and product damage. Suppose you wrap less than ten pallets per day. In that case, hand wrapping might be an efficient method for you—but if you’re looking to increase output without increasing the risk of injury or damaging goods, then it’s worth considering an automated stretch wrapper.
If you’re looking for an affordable option that can help improve efficiency at your facility, consider upgrading to a hand-stretch wrapper machine!
2. Machine stretch film
Machine stretch film is a film that is specifically designed to be applied with a stretch wrap machine and is typically utilized in high-volume packaging operations. Some common types of machine stretch film include Blown Stretch Film– which is manufactured using a blown extrusion process and cast extrusion process.
Machine stretch film offers several advantages over hand-applied plastic wrap, including better puncture resistance, improved load security, and the ability to handle more weight per roll. The downside of machine stretch film is that it can be more expensive than hand-applied plastic wrap when used in smaller quantities.
Cast Machine Stretch Film
- Achieves higher tensile strength than blown stretch film, reducing film waste and making it an economical choice for industrial applications.
Extruded Stretch Film
- This type of film is also cast stretch film onto a roll but does not use the blown stretch film extrusion process.
The most common machine stretch film used for palletizing loads in the United States today is cast stretch film, which is manufactured using an extrusion process that allows it to be applied at lower temperatures than a blown stretch wrap.
3. Color Stretch Films
AAA Polymer offers colored stretch wraps in a wide array of colors, including blue, red, green, orange, and yellow. These colored films are transparent, allowing the pallet’s contents to be seen through several revolutions.
These films are straightforward to apply and remove from pallets. This makes them perfect for use in any environment where you need to see what’s inside your pallets but also want to protect them from damage. They are also straightforward to apply and remove, including plastic ones, from any pallet.
Colored stretch wrap is used for several purposes, including sealing boxes, covering equipment, and protecting items.
4. Mini stretch film
Mini stretch film is an excellent product for businesses that need to package small items. Perfect for small items such as jewelry, cosmetics, or electronics.
The mini stretch film is available in white or black, making it easy to match your packaging needs. It also has a matte finish which helps make the items inside the box look more attractive when they’re on display.
The mini stretch film can be used for wrapping gifts or storing documents at home or in the office. With its low price point and easy application process, this is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to protect their belongings but doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on packaging supplies!
5. Bundling stretch Film
Bundling stretch film is a popular method for protecting your products during shipping.
The stretch film helps secure your product, preventing it from moving inside the box and causing damage. It also helps to prevent theft by giving you peace of mind that your product can’t be removed from the parcel without tearing the stretch film.
6. Printed stretch film
A printed stretch film is a popular option for strapping and bundling products. There are many benefits to choosing a printed stretch film, including the following:
- High-quality print
The printed stretch film provides premium quality, clear, vibrant prints that are highly visible on the outside, allowing your customers to see the information you want them to see, whether it’s your brand, product name, or logo.
- Durable
Printed stretch film is very durable and long-lasting, so it won’t wear out over time or fade when exposed to sunlight.
- Versatile
Stretch film is a highly versatile product used for various applications. These include shipping, packaging, bundling, and strapping items together in warehouses or construction sites.
7. Stretch Film Jumbo Roll
Stretch film jumbo rolls are a great way to bundle and secure large items. They can be used in warehouses, retail stores, and on the road. These rolls are made from polyethylene and have a high-tension level of stretch.
The material is stretched over an object and then coated with a release agent that prevents it from sticking to itself when you pull it off. The tension created by extending the film creates a tight bond between your load and the film itself. This means that you can handle cargo shifting or damage during transit.
8. Pre Stretched wrap
Pre-stretched stretch wrap is a type of stretch film that comes in a stretch film roll and can be stretched before it is applied to a pallet. It is used to secure loads, prevent damage, and increase efficiency in the supply chain.
The Benefits of Pre-Stretch Film
- It is much easier to apply than conventional film because it requires no heating or special tools.
- It is more secure than conventional stretch wrap because it has been pre-stretched to fit around your load and reduce the amount of space between the film and your cargo.
- The pre-stretch film can be used on any sized load, while the traditional film may only fit specific sizes due to its thickness.
9. Plastic Pallet Cover
Plastic pallet covers protect the cargo from external damage and reduce the risk of spoilage. They are made of plastic, a highly durable material that can be used for multiple trips. The plastic pallet cover protects the product from dust and moisture, thus preventing it from being damaged.
Pallets are used widely in logistics and transportation industries as they help easily handle goods. When transporting fragile items like glass or perishables, a plastic pallet cover is essential as it helps prevent breakage. Plastic pallet covers are also used to protect against theft or loss of goods by covering them completely. They can also keep away insects and rodents that may otherwise damage products while transported.
10. Electrical Wire Film
Electrical wire film is a great way to protect your valuable electrical wiring. It’s also a good solution for hiding the wire and making it look like art. Electrical wire film can be applied to any surface, whether flat or curved.
You can choose between two different types of electrical wire film:
- Transparent
The transparent version lets you see the electric wires underneath while protecting them from damage.
- Opaque
The opaque version creates a solid layer over the top so that you can’t see anything underneath it—it looks like there isn’t even any wiring there!
It’s also easy to apply: peel off the backing, place it on whatever surface you want to cover (like walls), and let it dry completely before using the outlet again!
How do you choose the right type of stretch film?
- High-quality imported raw materials
The higher the quality of your raw materials, the better your result will be.
- High penetration, strong toughness:
A material’s toughness measures how resistant it is to fracture under stress. Other films with high toughness can withstand repeated loadings without cracking or breaking.
- Super tensile, high rebound:
The product will not be damaged when it strikes other objects.
- Good transparency, see the quality in thinness:
You can see the quality in the thinner films of your product.
- Super self-adhesive:
To make sure your products stay safe and secure. They’re also a great way to ensure your products are easily identifiable.
CONCLUSION
In the end, stretch film is available in multiple types and can be used for various applications around a warehouse or distribution center.
To ensure that you’re selecting the correct type of stretch film for your needs, it’s essential to consider the application, budget limitations, and other factors before choosing.
Whether you are using it to package a single bundle of products or various pallets, stretch film is an excellent choice for ensuring your items arrive at their destination without incident.
