Regarding packing and protecting products for transportation and storage, there are two main options: traditional stretch film or PE Stretch Film. This article will compare the two and help you decide which one best fits your needs. With a focus on practicality, cost-effectiveness, and protection levels, you can decide which option is best for you.
It depends on your needs. Traditional stretch film is cheaper, but PE stretch film offers more protection and durability. If cost isn’t a factor, PE Stretch Film may be the better option.
With so much to consider when selecting the best stretch film for your product packaging, this article will give you the facts and figures to help you make an informed decision. We have all the information you need to get the perfect packing solution, from cost comparisons to protection levels. Get ready to learn all about traditional and PE stretch films!
What is stretch film?
Stretch film, also known as stretch wrap, is a highly elastic plastic material used to cover and protect various types of items tightly. It is mainly composed of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and can be applied manually or with the help of a stretch wrap machine. Its main properties include high tensile strength and puncture resistance, making it an ideal choice for protective packaging applications.
Unlike other types of plastic films, the stretch film does not shrink film when stretched due to its elastomeric nature. This allows it to be stretched up to 300%, allowing it to conform around any shaped item being wrapped quickly. Additionally, it’s superior cling properties will enable it to securely stick together so that the load remains secure during transport or storage.
Stretch wrap is available in various thicknesses and sizes, including pre-stretched film, hand stretch film, and machine stretch filmrolls. Pre stretch film are manufactured with more outstanding elongation capabilities than cast stretch film or blown stretch film, allowing users to save on labor costs associated with manual application. Hand stretch wrap is typically applied using a dispenser such as a handle applicator without special equipment or machinery. Lastly, Machine Stretch Film consists of a stronger material designed explicitly with automated wrapping equipment.
Overview of Traditional Stretch Film and PE stretch film
A. Composition
Traditional stretch film, also known as Cast stretch wrap, is an ordinary plastic packaging material. It is usually composed of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Traditional stretch film is created by casting one side of a polymer film onto a rotating chill roll. This process allows for thinner and longer stretch production than traditional blown films.
Blown stretch wrap, also known as Blown Film or PE stretch film, is another plastic packaging material made from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Unlike traditional cast stretch film, it is manufactured through an extrusion process in which melted LLDPE resin is forced through an extruder die, forming a sheet or tube that can then be cut into pre stretched film rolls.
B. Properties
Traditional cast stretch wrapping has excellent strength and puncture resistance while maintaining high elasticity and clarity. Its thin profile and long length make it ideal for wrapping large and irregularly shaped items. Pre stretched film offer superior load containment due to their greater elasticity and clung than un-stretched films. Blown stretch wraps offer higher tensile strength than traditional cast film with excellent puncture resistance and good optical clarity, making them suitable for demanding applications that require additional protection against moisture, dust, dirt, and other contaminants.
C. Uses
Traditional machine stretch film is mainly used for manual pallet wrapping applications. In contrast, blown and pre-stretched films are commonly used in automated equipment due to their superior performance characteristics and cost savings advantages over traditional wrap films. Traditional machine wraps tend to be more economical than blown or pre-stretched wraps but offer much less protection against damages during shipping or storage due to their lack of durability when wrapped around corners or edges of products. Shrink wrap is another type of plastic packaging material that is often used in place of traditional machine wrap or polyethylene (PE) stretch films where extra protection against moisture, dust, oil, or other contaminants is needed during shipping or storage periods such as food packaging applications where spoilage must be avoided at all costs.
Comparison of PE Stretch Film and Traditional Stretch Film
A. Performance
Stretch and Recovery:
PE (Polyethylene) Stretch Film is an enhanced form of traditional stretch film, which offers a broader range of performance characteristics than the traditional product. Standard Polyethylene film is manufactured by an extrusion process that results in a firm yet highly stretchable plastic film. The unique properties of PE stretch film enable it to provide superior holding power, exceptional load stability, and excellent clarity and transparency for easy product identification and barcode scanning. It also provides a significantly higher ultimate break point stronger than the traditional cast and blown extrusion process used to manufacture standard stretch wrap, allowing it to hold more weight while using thinner stretch film than traditional products. This enables users to use less material and increases puncture resistance from sharp edges on pallets or boxes being wrapped.
Clarity and Transparency:
PE Stretch Film offers excellent clarity and transparency for easy product identification and barcode scanning. In contrast, most traditional stretch films could be more precise and more transparent, making them harder to identify on the pallet or stocking shelves. Additionally, compared to traditional stretch films, multi-layered technology in PE Stretch Films offers an equivalent amount of strength without sacrificing clarity or transparency.
Environmental Impact:
PE (Polyethylene) Stretch Film is made from recyclable materials, making it a much more eco-friendly option when compared with traditional choices that are made from non-recycled materials such as polypropylene (PP). Additionally, because you can use less material when wrapping with PE stretched film due to its higher ultimate break point prior to the plastic meltdown, this equates to fewer emissions generated by the production process itself and less waste produced by users when wrapping their products before shipping them out.
B.Cost
1. Initial Cost:
As a result of its advanced manufacturing capabilities, PE Stretch Film is initially more expensive than most traditional forms of stretching films; however, the lower cost per shipment due to its increased performance offers higher levels of cost savings in the long run based on how much less material needs to be used for it to achieve the same level of load stability as standard stretching films and wraps would require typically twice as much material for the same job without any guarantees on adequate tear resistance or load stability even with double the amount wrapped around each pallet being shipped out.
2. Long-Term Cost:
When considering adjusted cost over time against other types of stretching films, including those that offer anti static stretch film properties for faster line movement along conveyor belts, ultimately, You will find PE Stretch Films to provide better value for money over time due its the ability to reduce costs associated with packaging materials while providing improved performance such as higher ultimate breakpoints before plastic meltdown thereby significantly improving load stability while reducing overall weight per shipment which further reduces overall fuel costs associated with distribution expenses over time thereby maximizing your return on investment in terms of packaging materials used versus performance gains realized through each shipment sent out with fewer returns or damaged goods received back resulting from inadequate load security during transit in comparison against products shipped using other stretching films available currently in the market today.
When selecting the best stretch film for your product packaging, it is important to compare the benefits of both PE and traditional stretch film. Traditional stretch film offers great cost savings, while PE stretch film provides higher protection and durability. Whatever option you prefer, this article has all the information you need to make an informed decision!
