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Question from Jonathan: We tried a new stretch film expecting significant savings, but after tracking our film spend, we found it actually increased. To make matters worse, load failures also went up. What would cause that? Hi Jonathan,  Thank you for sending in your question. Unfortunately, you are not alone!  We regularly test and characterize the performance of competitive films, and the data we collect gives us unique insight, allowing us to provide an objective answer. Stretch films are typically priced by the roll, but that can be a misleading way to compare cost. Here’s why. First, we have seen…

Questions from Calvin: I’ve been told that adding more wraps improves load containment. We also have differing opinions on how to load the film, and some believe it doesn’t matter. Is that true? Hi Calvin, Thanks for sending in your questions, I’m glad you took the time to ask. The short answers are yes, adding wraps can increase load containment, and yes, film orientation absolutely matters. Let’s take a closer look at why. The best place to start is with how the film should be loaded onto the machine. Stretch films typically consist of at least three extruded layers. An…

Question from Willis: We are opening a new distribution center in a very hot climate, and some have expressed concern over how that will affect load containment. What should we expect when temperatures vary significantly? Hi Willis, Thanks for sending in your question. Temperature is something we rarely think about until seasonal changes expose its impact. I can give you some insight with the help of a little science! To understand how temperature affects stretch film, we need to begin with how stretch film works. Stretch film is similar to a rubber band in that a force is required to…

Question from Candice: How do we create a universal load containment standard to use across multiple SKUs and multiple facilities to ensure brand consistency and safety in transport? Hi Candice, Thank you for sending in your question! I appreciate that you recognize the importance of selecting the right load containment standard and that you have the vision to apply it consistently across your entire platform. However, as you’ve discovered, this is no small challenge. Think of a one-size-fits-all sweater. If you’re of average size, it works well, but if you’re either larger or smaller, not so much. It is no…

Question from Kevin: Our maintenance department keeps postponing work on our stretch wrappers because they have higher priorities and feel the wrapper maintenance isn’t really needed. What happens if the wrappers aren’t serviced regularly? Hi Kevin, Happy Holidays to you, and thanks for sending in your question. Would it surprise you to know you’re not alone? Stretch wrapper maintenance is frequently overlooked. Although wrappers contain moving and rotating components subject to wear, the consequences of that wear are often more subtle than with upstream equipment in your process. When upstream equipment doesn’t perform properly, quality control may detect product weights…

Question from Will: We’re experiencing load failures at random times throughout the year and across different shipping methods. We adjust our load containment standard, everything seems fine, and then suddenly we have more failures. What could be causing this, and how do we prevent it? Hi Will, great question! As you’ve experienced, many variables affect load containment. In fact, successful containment is much like building a skyscraper. You need a solid foundation (bedrock vs. quicksand), each floor must bear the weight of the floors above it (internal forces), and the structure must withstand the effects of wind (external force). The…

Question from Bill: There are so many stretch films on the market. What is the difference between them, and how do we choose the one that’s right for us? Hi Bill, excellent question! I’m certain many people are knocking on your door, telling you they offer the best stretch film, but logic dictates they can’t ALL be right. Let’s cut through the sales pitches so you can evaluate options based on what YOU actually need, not just what they’re selling. Let’s start with you! Stretch film is applied to a load to contain and stabilize it during transportation and storage….

We confirmed that we have met our load containment standard; however, we continue to have load failures, especially after we began shipping by rail. How do we adjust our containment standard to prevent these failures? Hi MaryAnn, thanks for sending in an excellent question. Let’s see if we can come up with a solution for you. To understand why your load failures increased after switching to rail, we first need to know what is different about the forces applied to a pallet in a railcar. There are three primary types of forces a load can experience during shipment. The most…

I am new to the company, and one of the commodities I purchase is stretch film. When I get requests from the plant, they refer to it as shrink film. Are they the same thing? Hello Toby, thanks for sending in your question. I am glad you asked because many people confuse the two. Spoiler alert – they are not the same thing. Let’s break down the differences between the two films to understand what they are and how they are used.  Stretch film is used to wrap pallets that are ready for shipment.  After a pallet is wrapped with…

We Are Plagued With Load Failures, Even Though We Have Good Force-To-Load. If We Put Any More Tension On, We Will Crush Our Boxes. If We Have Good FTL, Why Are We Seeing So Many Load Failures? Hi Andrew, thanks for sending in your question. You may be surprised to learn that it is a very common problem. You will be happy to know that it can be solved, it just requires the application of a little science. Let’s start by understanding what is causing your load failures. Fundamentally, the job of the stretch wrap is to resist the forces…