Like any formulation whether it be for pie crust or stretch film, certain ingredients are added to the formula for certain reasons. In the case of stretch film, certain resins and/or additives are added to provide the puncture resistance, strength, sticky cling, and resistance to ultra violet rays, or to give it anti static properties.
For more stretch film machine factoryinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
The science of stretch film is ever changing as technology allows us to test the boundaries. It is critical to ensure that you are buying the right stretch film for your specific application. Understand what is needed to getting the specific features you need out of your stretch film is important, and creating up your own specification requirements is a good way to start.
Metallocene in Stretch Film
Metallocene resin is currently the rage in improving the performance of stretch film. Multi layered films are combining lower grade layers for cost with higher grade Metallocene layers to create competitively priced stretch film with higher performance
Blown Film
Blown stretch film is a popular film known for its superior strength and puncture resistance. It's versatile properties mean blow film is ideal for wrapping a variety of products from lightweight items to heavy loads.
Pros
Cons
High level of cling
Noisy unwind
Tear and puncture resistant
Slightly hazy
Stronger load holding
High degree of memory
Cast Film
Cast film is the world's most used stretch film, recognised for its quiet unwind and clear optics. Cast is used in a wide range of applications from the food industry to industrial and agricultural operations.
Pros
Cons
Quiet unwind
Low cling
High tear resistance
Limited puncture resistance
Consistent thickness
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Ring Wrapping Machine.
Clear optics, high transparency
Different Types of Stretch Film
Whilst the market primarily uses Cast and Blown films, there are different variations of film used in some operations, often due to unique products or conditions.
An obvious difference between films is the application method of either by machine or by hand. Hand film dispensers are commonly used to make application of manual films easier and safer, whilst some large scale operations have built in stretch wrapping machines.
Machine film has some superior qualities over hand film such as faster and more efficient wrapping, safer application and a more consistent wrap resulting in better load stability. This film is available in Blown and Cast and some speciality types. Although machine films are very efficient, there is a much larger set-up and maintenance costs involved compared to hand films. Very large scale and fast paced operations often prove the benefits of stretch wrapping machines.
Hand stretch wrap, sometimes referred to as hand film and manual pallet wrap, is commonly used in small to medium sized operations, however the efficiency and safety benefits of the right stretch film applicator are being proved by many larger scale operations.
Tinted stretch film also known as coloured wrap, is popular for warehouse colour coding and multiple site locations for easy identification of destination or dispatch location.
For some security conscious organisations, opaque pallet wrap is a necessity to prevent the goods being identified from the outside. This is most common in black, however white opaque film is also popular in hot climates as it reflects heat and protects the goods from direct sunlight.
There's a wide range of speciality films such as perforated, anti-static and VCI stretch films that were designed for niche markets. These often require a more complex manufacturing process that fits the clients specific requirements.
Evolution of stretch films
There's a lot of history behind the thousands of tons of pallet wrap that's sold today. No one has managed to put an exact date on the invention of stretch film, although many have tried to claim the inventor title!
Before stretch film was available companies used anything they could find to try and secure their goods together which was time consuming and very unreliable. It became very popular in the mid nineteen hundreds when organisations, specifically supermarket chains, set up large warehouses for distribution to multiple sites.
Companies started using their own cling films to secure their goods to the pallet for transport, which also unveiled other benefits such protection from moisture and dust. Pallet wrap began to become more and more efficient as companies explored new manufacturing processes and materials.
The first Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) stretch films were used in as secure loads became a priority for many businesses. From then on, manufacturers continued to improve the strength and tear resistance of the films and today there's a huge range of thicknesses and types of stretch film available.
Is shrink film the same as stretch film
Shrink film and stretch film have very different uses but are very commonly mistaken for the same product, when there is actually a significant difference between the two. The most common request is people inquiring about 'shrink film' when they really mean 'stretch film'.
Shrink film is a tight plastic packaging that is often used within the food manufacturing industry. It's the plastic wrap that binds together products such as bottled water or energy drinks. The name comes from literally shrinking the plastic film around the products. There is an increased security on items that have been shrink wrapped as it's easy to see if the packaging has been tampered with.
Stretch film is a plastic wrap that can be applied by hand or machine and is usually used to secure goods to a pallet for transportation and storage purposes.
Conclusion
The manufacturing of stretch films is a complex and unique process, different for each variant. Despite there being many different variations and manufacturing methods, stretch film is one of the most well recognised products in the packaging industry today.
No operation is the same and there will be a variety of factors to consider when choosing the best solution for you. Due to advancements and incredible technology, you can be sure to source the highest quality stretch film, best suited to your requirements.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Stretch Wrap Machine Turntable.