Stretch wrap (not to be confused with shrink wrap) is a plastic film that secures loads using its high-elasticity. Once stretched around a pallet, the wrap will try to return to its original state, securing the load in the process.
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What are the different categories of stretch wrap?
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Cling type can either be 1-sided or 2-sided. Opting for 2-sided cling increases how secure the load will be.
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Typically clear, unless you opt for a special category of stretch wrap, such as Ultraviolet (UV) or product concealing.
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Core size is the inner diameter of the roll.
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How the stretch wrap is applied to the product.
What is the difference between hand and machine grade stretch wrap?
The differences relate to how the stretch wrap is applied:
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A measure of shrink wrap film thickness.
What is film gauge?
Gauge is the measurement for film thickness. One gauge is equal to .254 Microns.
What gauge stretch wrap do I need?
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Used to aid unrolling without interfering with the stretch wrap film.
Stretch wrap can be purchased with or without a handle. There are 3 common options:
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Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) is the most common type of stretch wrap, though there are different forms of Polyethylene (PE) available.
What is PE shrink wrap?
PE commonly comes in three forms:
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The thickness of the stretch wrap film. One micron is equal to one millionth of a meter. One gauge is equal to 0.254 microns.
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The total length of the stretch wrap when unrolled.
How much shrink wrap do I need?
The answer will ultimately depend on your usage rate, but if you’re looking to wrap a pallet, you can use this calculator to get a quick estimate.
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The horizontal width of the roll.
How wide should stretch wrap be? What size stretch wrap do I need?
Similar to Overall Length, the answer will depend on the products being wrapped and usage rates
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You can purchase rolls in either separate sheets or as a single continuous roll.
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Cast stretch wrap and blown stretch wrap are two different methods of manufacturing stretch wrap.
What’s the difference between cast and blown stretch wrap?
Both cast and blown stretch wrap have pros and cons:
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Minimum temperature stretch wrap can be exposed without damaging.
Maximum temperature stretch wrap can be exposed without damaging.
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The thickness of the film material. Usually measured in microns or gauge.
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The primary difference is that shrink wrap is commonly used on individual products (e.g., CDs, soda jugs, etc.), while stretch wrap is used to secure products on a pallet. You can learn more about stretch wrap here. Beyond usage, one important distinction is that shrink wrap needs heat for application, while stretch wrap doesn’t.
With prices constantly changing and 100s of vendors out there, the easiest way to find out is with Response.
The answer depends on the material you choose to use. Check out the different options in the Material section above.
The answer ultimately depends on the application. Generally, blown stretch wrap is stronger than cast and a higher gauge can hold heavier loads.
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