Stretch wrap film: What can you use it for?

January 06, 2020

Stretch film or stretch wrap is a highly stretchable film composed of linear low-density polyethylene. It’s used by the packaging and logistics industry, as well as other industries for numerous applications.

The Types of Stretch Film

There are various kinds of the stretch film available, and each one has a unique purpose, quality, and manufacturing process. The different types of stretch film are:

1. Hand stretch film

As its name implies, hand stretch film (or hand stretch wrap) is specifically designed so that it can be applied by hand without the use of any machinery. It is mostly used to pack smaller and lower-quantity items.

2. Cast stretch film

This kind of film is manufactured using a special process called cast extrusion which involves running molten polymers through a flat die system to achieve the final film product. This gives the film superior transparency, allowing items to be seen through the plastic.

3. Machine stretch film

A piece of equipment called a stretch wrap machine is required for this kind of film. The benefits of using it include faster and more efficient packing and minimal human packing errors.

4. Blown stretch film

Due to a rigorous manufacturing process called blown extrusion, blown stretch film is more durable than other film types and extremely resilient and resistant to tears and punctures. This makes it ideal for securing heavy or high-volume loads as well as sharp items that could puncture containers.

5. Pre-stretched film

This is a kind of film that has already been stretched several times and wound into individual cores prior to being sold. The pre-stretched film helps in reducing costs because you don’t need to use a lot of it when wrapping or packing items.

6. Specialty films

These are films made to address specific packaging requirements. Some examples include: