Stretch wrap is a highly versatile plastic film used to secure and stabilize boxes, pallets, and crates. It is a very affordable packaging solution that can greatly reduce shipping damage. This type of damage costs businesses money, causes product loss, and can harm their brand. Investing in high-quality stretch wrap can save companies time, money, and headaches. In this article, we will review the different types of stretch wrap available and how to choose the best one for your company’s needs.
There are many different types of stretch wrap films, ranging from general purpose standard gauge to heavy duty and even specialty films. When selecting a film you will want to consider the following factors:
The most common stretch wrap is LLDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene). This is a low-cost and environmentally friendly plastic that offers excellent clarity, good puncture resistance and high load-holding energy. This film also provides great two-sided cling, making it ideal for wrapping heavier or taller loads. In addition, LLDPE is FDA approved for use with food products.
Blown stretch wrapBlown stretch wrap is a film extruded using the blown balloon type inflation system. In this process, beads of heated resin are fed through a circular die and air is pumped in, creating a thin-walled tube of film. This film is then cooled and stretched to form it into rolls of stretch wrap. Blown film tends to be a little more expensive than cast film, but it is stronger and thicker, and often has better tear resistance.
A specialty type of stretch wrap is a UV stretch film, which has been designed to protect goods from harmful UV radiation during transit and storage. These films can be either transparent or opaque, and are typically applied to fragile goods like carpet and delicate fabrics. In addition to UV protection, these stretch films can have added anti-static properties, which help to reduce static electricity build-up that may occur during transport or storage.
There are also many different colors of stretch wrap available, which can help to distinguish and organize your goods. For example, colored wraps can be used to identify hazardous goods or mark for easy identification in a warehouse. In addition, colored stretch wraps can help to reduce pilferage by concealing the contents of a shipment.
There are also oxo degradable stretch wraps, which have an additive that helps to dramatically accelerate the rate at which the film breaks down in direct sunlight or oxygen. Oxo degradable stretch films can be recycled, which is a good choice for most customers since they are less damaging to the environment than traditional plastics.
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