Are you wasting up to half of the stretch film you buy without even realising it?
An optimised and efficient packaging operation is about more then speed and cost,ensuring you are using the right product in the right way is more important then you may realise.
Pallet stability is a vital consideration in any shipping movement. However we have found many users are not using their stretch wrap effectively. One of the most common reasons being they are not applying the right amount of pre-stretch required to create the right film force and tension needed to hold their products together effectively. This is then compensated for by applying more film than is necessary to protect and strengthen the hold.
If you are only using hand applied film for a few pallets a week this may not be a big problem for you, unless your pallets are not holding securely enough of course. However if you are wrapping upwards of 100 pallets a month this could be costing your business much more than it should, not to mention generating double the waste and taking more the time to wrap.
You probably know from experience that pallet wraps vary significantly in specification and performance. Different applications and pallet load profiles require different amounts of wrap to secure the load. Also technology in these fields is advancing quickly with pressures to minimise damage and waste, so it is important to ensure you are using the best type of stretchwrap for your application and review it regularly. However, given all the different options available this is often not an easy task, it can be confusing and assessing the cost of wrapping can be deceptive.
Your film supplier should be able to check your film application and advise on the right film for your application, the exact amount of pre-stretch needed to optimise the performance of your wrap, check your machines are set up correctly for your film and give you a good estimate of cost per pallet wrapped.
If you are not sure about the optimisation of your stretch wrap usage get in touch and we will be happy to come and assess your pallet wrapping process, product and machine setup to see if we can save your company time, money and waste.
For more information on the different types of films see our guide to understanding the different types of films here.
Swiftpak is a packaging supply company with over 30 years experience in choosing the right packaging supplies if you are looking to improve your packaging operation or need advice on the right packaging supplies for your products please get in touch and we will be happy to advise.