Stretch Wrappers for Special Packaging Needs

Stretch wrappers are used throughout industry to consolidate loads for shipment via rail or truck. The most common application is the wrapping of boxed loads stacked on pallets. For this purpose, companies most frequently us a spiral machine with a turntable. As the pallet rests on the rotating turntable, a carriage feeds film to the load as it moves up and down, creating an overlapping series of wraps up and down the sides of the stacked pallet. While this approach minimizes film use and maximizes wrapping speed in many situations, certain operations do not lend themselves to this style of wrapping.

Special Applications

For high volume, non conveyorized operations, firms may look to dual turntable stretch wrappers. As one pallet is being wrapped, an operator can deliver a second pallet to the machine, saving time. When the first pallet is completed, the carriage swings to the second turntable and a new wrap cycle begins. Another way to improve wrap cycle time is through the use of full web stretch wrappers. These machines have a stationary, non moving carriage that holds a wide roll of film, anywhere from 35" to over 96" wide. Since the carriage is not moving up and down, wrap speed is increased. The full web option works well for heavy and stable loads, furniture and appliances being good examples. Full web machines do not exert as much holding force on the load as spiral machines, however, so adequate field testing should be conducted before purchasing this type of packaging equipment. Most manufacturers can modify equipment to accommodate non standard load configurations. Typical modifications include carriage height extensions for extra high loads, turntable extensions for extra wide loads, and heavier rated turntables for extra heavy loads. In cases of extremely lightweight loads – for instance, large boxes of pillows – spiral wrap machines can be equipped with a slow start / slow stop mechanism to prevent boxes from being pulled off the pallet by the pallet wrap film.

Horizontal Stretch Wrappers

Horizontal units, sometimes called orbital or ring wrappers, work beautifully for long products that are too large and/or too heavy to place on a turntable. These machines are widely used for carpet rolls, textiles, channel aluminum and other extruded metals, fabricated metal parts, PVC tubing, construction materials, and many other irregular shaped materials and products. Alternative methods of packaging, such as assembling wood crating, steel banding, and shrink bags have serious disadvantages. These approaches are time consuming, labor intensive, and the packaging materials themselves are expensive and not always as safe as pallet wrap film. In one stroke, a horizontal wrapping machine can speed packaging by a large order of magnitude, eliminate labor, and substantially reduce packaging material cost.

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