This method is widely used as it is suitable for automatic application with a wrapping machine. Stretch wrap film is a very thin film (from 10 to 30 microns) and usually supplied on reels. The effect of stretching is to consolidate and compact the load creating a rigid unit. To obtain a good result, various parameters must be set appropriately, including:
- overlap degree
- number of turns as a function of height
- winding speed
The percentage of shrinkage according to the type of film shall also be considered.
Use of stretch wrap film
This method is not suitable for manual application. Furthermore, the winding parameters vary for each type of load, making this solution suitable for mass production.
However, the use of stretch wrap film is not always sufficient to guarantee a correct securing of the load to the pallet. Therefore it is often used in combination with straps.
In some winding machines it is the reel that remains stationary, while the pallet, rotating on a turntable, unwinds it. In other solutions, such as the one shown in the video below, the pallet remains stationary and the reel rotates integral with a rotating arm. This allows higher winding speeds to be achieved.