May. 05, 2025
Machinery
Pallet wrappers are specialized stretch wrapping machines designed to secure your pallet load for shipping. There are many reasons why you should consider investing in a pallet wrapper and avoid the many risks that come with hand-wrapping pallets. Here are some of the reasons you should invest in a pallet stretch wrapper:
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Load containment is always a top priority for shipping products on a pallet. Your pallet may be placed on a less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment, which means there is more room for the pallet to shift. Even full loads may allow for product movement on a truck, train, or ship. A pallet wrapping machine provides a more secure wrapping solution. Not only are the product cases wrapped better together, but the load is secured completely to the pallet. This allows for minimal shifting during shipping.
Improved load containment leads directly to the second benefit, which is reduced product loss during shipping and distribution. More securely wrapped pallets minimize damaged cases and products. This can save you a great deal of money over time, while providing fewer headaches for loss prevention personnel.
One major advantage of pallet wrapping machines is the consistency and uniformity of the stretch wrapping. You no longer have to rely on hand-wrapping and all the human error involved. Hand-wrapping is like painting in an expressionist format. No two wraps are the same, even if you are wrapping the same set of products over and over again. Using a machine means more consistent results—pallet after pallet. Automated equipment removes the human element and often provides better quality.
Pallet wrapping machines can adapt to different packages, shapes, and shipping requirements. The machinery can be programmed to handle a variety of pallet configurations and provide the specific results you need for each and every pallet. In other words, there’s no more “eyeballing it” from hand-wrappers when there are different types of product pallets to be wrapped.
A pallet wrapping machine can wrap pallets in much less time than it takes for hand-wrapping. This frees those hand-wrappers to focus on other important operational needs and gives you a more efficient packaging system at the critical pallet wrapping and pre-shipment phase.
What many packaging managers don’t realize (until it’s too late) is that hand-wrapping is one of the most dangerous activities that can be performed in a packaging facility. This is because the people doing the wrapping are walking backward. They may not be paying attention to their surroundings, or someone else may not see them coming from the side of a pallet. Accidents can happen and be costly to your business. Pallet wrapping machines do all the dirty work of stretch wrapping without putting your employees in harm’s way.
Many packaging managers don’t believe they have enough pallet volume to justify a stretch wrapping machine. In most cases, plants with fewer than 10 pallets a day achieve a fairly rapid return on investment with this specialized equipment. You can usually see enough cost savings to justify the initial purchase within 24 months. Those facilities with higher numbers of pallets see the overall cost savings even sooner. Over time, the machinery pays for itself through the benefits mentioned above. A pallet wrapping machine may seem too expensive right now, but it can save you time, money, and headaches over the long run.
Stretch wrapping secures packages and protects them from various elements.
In our stretch wrap buying guide, we featured a video showing how to apply stretch wrap properly. Notice that it’s not an easy job without a machine.
That’s why, in our other blog, When the Coronavirus Pandemic Makes Packaging Automation Necessary, we mentioned that repeated hand stretch-wrapping could produce ergonomic injuries.
Stretch wrap machines can help make this task painless. Although they are expensive contraptions, they have other benefits, too. These are the things that we shall tackle in this blog.
A stretch wrap machine is a piece of equipment that aids in applying elastic plastic film around pallets. Its typical parts are:
Stretch wrap machines can be classified into semiautomatic and fully automatic types. They differ based on the presence of parts needing human intervention.
Fully automatic machines work almost without human effort. Semiautomatic ones have more functions that need to be done or guided by humans, such as placing the film edge on the pallet, initiation of stretch wrapping, film cutting, etc. Also, semiautomatic stretch wrap machines will not have all of the parts we enumerated above.
Either type can significantly reduce palletizing time.
Play VideoUsing a stretch wrap machine has many benefits. The most important ones are stated below.
The time spent on hand stretch-wrapping depends on the human operator’s skill, height, fatigue level, environmental conditions, etc. Stretch wrap machines shorten the time for palletizing because they eliminate most of the factors that can slow humans down.
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Time saved from palletizing can be spent on other packaging and warehousing tasks. More jobs accomplished in a given workday increases a facility’s output.
It is normal to stack boxes in tall pallets. Optimizing palletization helps reduce shipping costs. However, if the pallet is taller than a human operator, the latter will not be able to stretch plastic film to the top effectively. The same goes for irregularly shaped stacks. There are stretch wrap machines designed to address these issues. Business owners just need to find the one best suited for their needs.
Humans tend to pull elastic film inconsistently. Inadequately stretched regions end up as wasted film. Also, people can stretch 80-gauge plastic film only by 10-20% more than its original size.
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By comparison, stretch wrap machines pull plastic films evenly, eliminating wasted film spots. They can also stretch the film to 200-300% of its original size. Therefore, they not only reduce waste but also optimize stretch wrap.
Fewer hours spent on a repetitive and ergonomically taxing task like stretch wrapping result in fewer physical injuries. Consequently, less money will go to occupational health expenditures. Ensuring workplace safety enhances employee satisfaction and significantly reduces labor-related litigations.
With a lesser need for human intervention, staggered work schedules can be implemented with little effect on production. Automation allows businesses to comply with government protocols, protecting people from protracted health disasters like the Coronavirus pandemic.
Evenly stretched plastic film produces a neat-looking pallet. Maintaining the professional appearance of packages, especially those requiring colored stretch wrap, reflects on a company’s reputation. Distributors and consumers view good product presentations positively.
Optimally stretched plastic film is very strong and secures pallets well. Inadequately stretched regions create weak spots that may render packages prone to damage. Eliminating such weak points increases load stability, lessening the potential for damage.
Poorly stretched film regions create hazy surfaces that reduce barcode scannability. At worst, slits may be needed to extract the barcode labels so they can be read accurately. A single slit may reduce pallet stability and make it prone to pilferage in turn.
In contrast, well-stretched plastic is clearer. Applying stretch wrap evenly throughout the pallet allows barcodes to be scannable in any location.
Stretch wrap machines reduce work hours, labor costs, film waste and worker health expenditures. They also increase production and ensure that pallets are neatly and securely wrapped. Overall, they decrease costs and help increase revenue.
Stretch wrap machines do more than just make a task lighter. Businesses that invest in such equipment enjoy big returns fast.
Unfortunately, getting a stretch wrap machine is not very easy, for the following reasons:
Stretch wrap machines, whether semiautomatic or fully automatic, cost thousands of dollars. Customizing them for special needs, e. g. tall pallets, dark film, etc., will also require extra fees.
Some relatively inexpensive stretch wrap machine scanners accurately detect pallets that are at least 3 feet in height. Their accuracy is impaired below this level. Using them on shorter pallets may increase stretch film waste.
Taking care of stretch wrap machines is also costly. Technical experts performing the maintenance checks will need to be paid for their services and testing equipment. Proper maintenance reduces breakdowns and extends the machine’s lifespan, but these gains can only be realized in a high-demand facility.
Purchasing a stretch wrap machine needs careful planning and timing. It may be too expensive if you’re wrapping only a few pallets a day. It will not be practical for all business owners to get one.
Just like in automating other packaging line equipment, a stretch wrap machine should be purchased only when one is ready for it. Below are our rough guides:
This occurs when demands steeply increase, and workers barely manage to palletize numerous packages in a single workday. Stock shortages are known to ward off customers, and they can occur anywhere along the supply chain, including the packaging line. Investing in a stretch wrap machine ensures that product packages are palletized and get to customers on time.
High production volumes open a company up to both increased profit and waste. Businesses that remain heavily reliant on human labor despite high demands use up a lot of time and resources.
In the packaging line, increasing the number of pallets also creates more opportunities for stretch wrap misuse. Stretch wrap machines can help eliminate those opportunities, optimizing resources and profits.
Higher packaging requirements increase work hours, labor costs, worker injury compensation and stretch wrap waste. They also take away time for other income-generating activities, such as production, sales and delivery.
You would notice these things happening to you when you’re manufacturing a product that becomes a local hit. You may get overwhelmed by the customers’ orders if you and a lone assistant are attending to every task.
A stretch wrap machine can reduce costs and recover valuable time and resources, which are vital for growing businesses. Despite its price and need for electricity, it will pay for itself over time, as it converts waste into value. Consider getting this equipment when it’s more cost-effective for you to do so.
The stretch wrap machine is not for everybody. However, the need for one indicates that business is expanding steadily. The time to get this equipment will be busy with planning, but must also be welcomed as a sign of progress.
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