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Five Terms for Stretch Film Scholars

Unlike those of us in the packaging industry, most professionals hope to avoid (or at least find unnecessary) the unique details that go into designing the perfect unit load and packaging system. For many buyers, packaging lingo can be confusing, alienating or just plain frustrating. With a variety of pallet designs, stretch wrappers, shrink systems and stretch film, there's a lot to keep track of and many customers are too busy with their own business to find the opportunity to learn about the transportation of their goods.

That's where we come in! While pallets may be our bread and butter, we offer a wide variety of products to help products safely move throughout the country. Our job is not just to offer the best stretch film for the job, but to help you understand why. That's where our packaging lab comes in, where pallets, film and packaging equipment can be tested on your merchandise to determine that perfect balance between cost savings and protective thriftiness. 

Next time you need to talk with a film expert, be sure to ask if you don't understand! Sometimes knowing the right vocabulary is all you need.

Here are five important vocabulary words all stretch film scholars should know:

  1. Banding - The act of applying multiple wraps of stretch film to an area of a load that reinforces layers of a product. Banding is also a product that can be used for the same application.
  2.  Bottom Wraps - The film used to wrap the lower levels of a load; typically more revolutions are applied to the bottom area to increase load stability.
  3. Cling - Just as it sounds, cling is the bonding agent that gives stretch film its sticky quality. This allows the layers to adhere to each other. Film can have single or double sided cling.
  4. Overwrap - The film used over the top of a load. This creates a downward force on the pallet, which helps keep loads securely fastened. Top sheets are often used to lock loads in place as an alternative or support to overwrap.
  5. Wrap Parameters - The settings on a stretch wrapper machine that can be adjusted to meet the needs of your load and the ability of your film. Common settings include number of top and bottom wraps, your film carriage and turntable speed and the film force.

Did you enjoy this mini film lesson, or do you have bigger and bolder questions that need answered? Let us know in the comments and we'll do our best to address your questions as they come!

Author: Paige Greene
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