By Hand stretch film is a highly stretchable plastic film used to secure pallet loads and other awkwardly shaped goods. Stretch films are often employed for their superior strength, durability and elasticity when wrapped around loads. Stretch films are also a preferred packaging protection choice in warehouses due to the variety of items and applications it can be used for.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective, durable and versatile packaging material, stretch film might be the right packaging product for you. This article will go over some tips for choosing the best hand stretch film for your warehousing and packaging needs.
Look for Recyclable Materials
It’s well known that throughout the warehousing and packaging industry, there’s already a high amount of wastage occurring that will likely compound year on year. If you don’t want your company contributing to the already staggering amount of wastage, it’s best to look for a hand stretch film that’s made from recyclable materials. Most stretch films that are already on the market are 100% recyclable, meaning you won’t have to look far for an eco-friendly product. Using recyclable packaging materials may be important if you’re in a green industry or if you’re selling eco-friendly products.
Find a Stretch Film That’s Easy to Use
While hand stretch film can drastically decrease packaging times, not all stretch films are made equally. Some cheaply made stretch films tend to cling to pallet loads before you’re done securing them, which leads to breakages and more stretch film needing to be applied in order to cover the load. This can contribute to a frustrating increase in the time spent packaging as well as increased costs for stretch film, which in the long term can begin to eat into your annual budget.
Look for a hand stretch film that’s sturdy and durable to avoid breakage during the packaging process, but also one that’s transparent enough so your RF scanners can still scan barcodes and labels through the stretch film. This will save you time and stress when checking inventory after the goods have already been wrapped.
Ensure the Stretch Film Conforms to Your Goods
One of the biggest benefits of hand stretch film, when compared to most other packaging materials, is the fact that it can conform to the shape of bulky and awkwardly shaped items. To take full advantage of this, you’ll need to look for a stretch film that can conform to the specific goods you want to secure and transport. Fortunately, most high-quality stretch films will do the job perfectly and conform to most items without breakage occurring. If you’re attempting to secure an especially bulky load that has sharp edges, you’ll want to make sure you get a tough stretch film with high puncture resistance.
Get Stretch Film That Protects in More than One Way
While most hand stretch film can adequately protect loads against dust, dirt and debris, sometimes wrapped goods left out in the sun can become discoloured, degrade in quality or be prone to moisture build-up if it rains. If you need to store pallet loads outdoors for long periods of time, it’s best to get a UV stretch film that can protect your loads against particles as well as sun damage and moisture build-up.
