What should I know about stretch wrap?

July 4, 2025

Damaged goods eat your profits. I see clients lose thousands yearly. Master stretch wrap basics to slash shipping losses.

Stretch wrap stabilizes pallets during transit using elastic plastic film to prevent load shifts, reduce product damage by 80%, and boost warehouse efficiency—critical for wholesalers moving fragile goods internationally.

Let me share field-tested insights beyond basic specs. A Japanese client regained $23K/month after my overhaul—read their case study below.

Contents hide

1 What is the purpose of a stretch wrap?

2 What are the specifications for stretch wrap?

3 How to properly use stretch wrap?

4 What is the function of a stretch wrapper?

5 Conclusion

What is the purpose of a stretch wrap?

Wobbly pallets cause costly insurance claims. Your frustration is valid. Proper unitization prevents vibration damage during ocean freight.

Stretch wrap’s core purpose is to tightly bind items on pallets using controlled tension (150-250%), preventing shifting during transit while allowing ventilation—unlike rigid alternatives that trap moisture.

I resolved Lambert’s chronic spillage issue with three principles:

Unitization Mechanics Revealed

After 5 damage claims, Lambert filmed failing pallets. My analysis showed:

Threat	Stretch Wrap Function	Damage Reduction	Alternatives
Horizontal Shifts	Tension locks load base	90%	Plastic bands
Vertical Drops	Film elasticity absorbs impact	75%	Wood crating
Moisture	Micro-perforation airflow	Prevent mold	Shrink wrap seals

High-Humidity Failure

A Singapore spice shipment molded mid-voyage until we switched to perforated wrap.

Safety Bonus: Worker Protection

My factory data shows stretch wrap prevents:

Falling boxes (↓62% warehouse injuries)
Forklift imbalance accidents (↓45%)
Manual handling strains

Don’t overlook liability costs.

What are the specifications for stretch wrap?

Random thickness choices waste $18/roll. Your seasonal humidity shifts demand precise spec matching. Our lab tests uncover hidden failures.

Critical specs include gauge (50-120μm), pre-stretch ratio (200-300%), width (12-20 inches), and cling additives—Lambert saved 37% transport costs using 80μm nano-cling film with 270% pre-stretch.

Canadian winters require different films than tropical Asia. Follow my optimization framework below.

Gauge-To-Load Matrix

After a Chicago client’s pallet collapse, we developed:

Load Weight	Recommended Thickness	Cold Resistance?	Cost Per Pallet
<500kg	50-70μm	No	$0.80
500-1500kg	80-100μm	Yes (-20°C)	$1.20
>1500kg	110-120μm	Yes (-40°C)	$1.90

Core Size Matters Too

Lambert complained of roll jams until we switched from 3-inch to 1-inch cores.

Performance Test Validation

Our Guangzhou lab verifies:

Tensile strength drop tests (ASTM D882)
UV resistance cycles
Cling longevity measurements

Get your free film trial at https://mywaymachinery.com/contact/.

How to properly use stretch wrap?

Poor techniques waste 30% of film instantly. Your crew’s inconsistent tension invites load failures. Professional training saved Lambert’s Miami warehouse $5/hour.

Apply stretch wrap with 50-70% tension overlap in spiral patterns (4-6 layers), anchoring base first then securing top corners with diagonal ‘X’ wraps—machine automation yields 300% speed gains when output exceeds 50 pallets/day.

Hand-wrap works for startups only. Scale efficiently using these cost-savers:

4-Step Master Technique

One North American distributor filmed workers to reveal:

Error	Consequence	My Correction	Savings
Low base wraps	Load slides off	Anchor 2 bottom circles	↓$14K/yr damages
Over-tensioning	Film breaks	Maintain 65-70% stretch	↓22% film waste
Gaps between wraps	Product protrusion	50% overlap	↓31% returns
Loose tops	Weather exposure	Crisscross top seal	↓$8K insurance fees

Speed vs Security Tradeoff

Rushed workers skip corner wraps—my slow-motion videos changed habits.

Equipment Maintenance Tips

Our manuals show how:

Clean rollers weekly (↑film longevity)
Replace tension springs annually
Calibrate pre-stretch mechanisms quarterly

Neglect doubles downtime costs.

What is the function of a stretch wrapper?

Manual wrapping kills large-volume profits. Your warehouse bottlenecks worsen daily. Automation reclaims floor space and labor hours.

Stretch wrappers automate pallet securing via rotating turntables or robotic arms that apply consistent tension/layers at 50-150 pallets/hour—Lambert cut labor costs 90% and boosted throughput after installing our MYWAY-300 model.

Semi-automatic systems cause production snags. Upgrade smartly using these metrics.