Russell Plant
7 August 2018
Pallet wrap can often be mistaken as the same as shrink film, it is, however, slightly different. Unlike shrink wrap, pallet wrap has the same qualities as a rubber band, as it is able to stretch out and then pull back in, making it unique to other types of plastic wrapping.
The most common use for pallet wrap is to secure goods during transport which can be stretched on to goods on a pallet, either by hand or by a machine.
Blown pallet wrap offers the benefit of a high level of stickiness or tackiness as well as excellent puncture resistance and a strong and secure wrap. In colour, it is clear as standard but can also be supplied with a coloured tint for product identification or opaque offering security and protection to valuable goods. This particular type of pallet wrap is manufactured using the blown film extrusion process. The process involves extruding a tube of molten polymer through a die and inflating to several times its initial diameter to form a thin film bubble tube. The bubble is then slit and reeled into manageable widths to be used as pallet wrap.
Cast pallet wrap has less stickiness inherent in the film meaning it is much quieter and smoother to apply. It offers great stretch and puncture resistance and can also be produced with a tint or opaque colour. The manufacture of cast pallet wrap film begins with the extrusion of heated resin. Once melted and at the correct temperature for the necessary viscosity, the resin is pushed through a die to create a continuous layer of plastic.
Hand pallet wrap is designed specifically to be applied manually and is typically used in low to medium volume packaging operations or where pallets are wrapped in multiple locations. For this method of wrapping it is vital that the correct hand stretch applicator is selected. For most businesses it is usually worth investing in a pallet wrap machine to add consistency and save time, however hand wrapping is ideal for flexible location of packing lines.
Machine pallet wrap is the ideal wrapping solution for high volume packing lines. This method of wrapping offers time saving benefits, efficient and standardised packing, reduced managerial costs, enhanced security and a safer packing line.
Coloured pallet wrap offers a number of benefits, the first being to quickly and visually identify different ranges of products – ideal for items that may be stored high up in warehouse facilities. It can also disguise valuable and sought-after items during transit to deter tampering of the packaging. Blue pallet wrap is often used for edible goods as it is food industry approved.
Printed pallet wrap can also be used to stir up interest when launching a new product. Allowing customers to continue guessing what it might be or to build the brand awareness.
The obvious benefit of using pallet wrap is to secure palletised products during transit, ensuring that they stay together. Other advantages include the protection it offers from harmful elements such as dust, rust and moisture. Our pallet wrap is also 100% recyclable – something highly important to today’s consumers and very important to abiding with the Government’s plastic packaging tax. Using pallet wrap is also a cheaper alternative to strapping, the equipment needed is cheaper and it requires less manpower.
If you would like to learn more about pallet wrap, what product would work best for you or even to discuss the best alternatives to pallet wrap, contact one of our expert advisors today and they will be happy to help. Get in touch with our team via email [email protected] or by phone 01743 242900.
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