Stretch Film

Stretch Film for Pallet Wrapping and Load Unitising

Stretch film is a linear low-density polyethylene film that is stretched during application, creating a tight, cling wrap around pallet loads and packages. The elastic memory of the film — its tendency to try to return to its original length — creates a constant inward force that holds the load together. A correctly stretch-wrapped pallet load will not shift, topple, or lose individual cartons during road, rail, or sea transport.

Upackarts supplies stretch film in hand-roll and machine-roll formats across 20, 23, and 25 micron thickness. Hand rolls are 50cm wide and used for manual wrapping with a hand-held dispenser. Machine rolls are 50cm wide in larger roll weights (4-6 kg) for use in semi-automatic and automatic pallet wrapper machines.

Choosing the Right Micron

20 micron film is suitable for light pallet loads (under 300 kg) with regular-shaped cartons and no sharp edges. It provides the lowest material cost per pallet. 23 micron is the standard specification for most Indian manufacturing dispatch operations — it provides a balance between film strength and material cost for loads up to 600 kg with normal corrugated carton stacks. 25 micron is used for heavy loads above 600 kg, sharp-edged products, unstable mixed-item pallets, and monsoon-season dispatch where additional moisture resistance is needed.

Monsoon Stretch Film Protocol

In high humidity conditions during Pune's monsoon months (June–September), standard pallet wrapping provides less holding force because the friction between film layers is reduced by ambient humidity. Upackarts recommends adding one extra wrapping pass during monsoon months — if your standard protocol is 3 passes, use 4 passes from June to September. This compensates for the reduced grip and ensures load integrity on road journeys where road surface conditions are also more variable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many passes of stretch film do I need around a standard pallet?

The standard for most pallet loads is 2-3 passes (complete rotations of the pallet) with 50% overlap between each layer. Start with 2-3 roping passes at the base to anchor the film to the pallet, then work upward with 50% overlap, and finish with 2 roping passes at the top. For heavy or unstable loads, increase to 4-5 passes.

What is pre-stretched film and when should I use it?

Pre-stretched film is stretch film that has already been elongated during manufacture. Because it is applied without further stretching, it requires less physical effort, wraps more consistently, and uses less film per pallet (which reduces cost). Pre-stretched film is recommended for high-volume operations with manual wrapping where operator fatigue affects wrapping consistency.

Can stretch film be used as moisture protection during transit?

Stretch film provides limited moisture protection. It reduces water ingress on the sides of a pallet but is not waterproof at the top. For shipments exposed to rain or high humidity, cover the top of the pallet with a polyethylene pallet cover before stretch wrapping, or use shrink hood film for full moisture protection.