Your Go-To-Guide For Buying A Stretch Wrapper

The biggest cost driver in stretch wrapping is in-transit damage incurred by loads that were stretch wrapped ineffectively. One of the best ways to stretch wrap well is with a stretch wrapping machine. In fact, we’ve talked about some of the problems with hand wrapping pallets before, and often the biggest issue with hand wrapping is that machines are just better at wrapping loads than people are.

However, as much as machines are capable, they’re not as smart as you. They can’t decide:

WHETHER YOUR FAVORITE FILM WILL WORK.

More than likely, film used for hand wrapping won’t work as well on a machine. You’ve got to consider the gauge, pre-stretch, and material of the film. Talk with a distributor in your area, who knows as much about machines as he does film.

HOW TIGHT TO STRETCH WRAP YOUR LOAD.

The top, middle, and bottom layers of your load need to all have the correct amount of containment force, which is the film tension multiplied by the number of film layers. Containment force is what holds the load together. The right amount of containment force depends on the type of load you’re wrapping. Is your load heavy, light, or unstable? Heavy loads may require more containment force and light loads may require less.

WHAT THE WRAP PATTERN SHOULD BE.

The top, middle, and bottom layers of your load need to all have the correct amount of containment force, which is the film tension multiplied by the number of film layers. Containment force is what holds the load together. The right amount of containment force depends on the type of load you’re wrapping. Is your load heavy, light, or unstable? Heavy loads may require more containment force and light loads may require less.

WHY THE FILM JUST BROKE.

The way the load is wrapped depends on your stretch wrapper’s settings. You need to choose the number of top and bottom wrap counts. You must also decide the wrap force settings and how much overwrap you want applied on top of the load as well film delivery system’s speed and the rotation speed of the turn table or wrap arm.

• Keep your products from overhanging the pallet and try to eliminate sharp corners.
• Train operators to properly handle film. Improper film threading is a main cause of film breaks. Film breaks can occur when the film roll experiences nicks. These nicks happen when the film roll has been dropped or mishandled.
• Don’t set the wrap force too high. Depending on your film and product, adjust the tension of the film to determine the best setting.

If the load needs special attention or reinforcement at some spot.

You may need to secure partial layers with the roping technique or you may need to band – apply multiple layers of film to one spot on the load.

STRETCH WRAPPING MACHINES GIVING THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Stretch wrapping machines have the potential to greatly increase a pallet load’s chances of arriving in as made condition. They simply do a better job than people at consistently wrapping loads to wrap standards. However, human beings do have a place in the stretch wrapping process. With a bit of research and practice people can work with their stretch wrapping machines to make sure their loads have the best chance of reaching their destination in as made condition.

Make sure the machine you buy will get the job done. A good rule of thumb is always not to guess, but to test. Get help if you’re not sure.

Searching for a stretch wrapper can be an overwhelming process. Sometimes it feels like the more machines you look at the more similar they appear. To simplify things, consider focusing on just a few areas. Our customers seem to be paying the most attention to safety, reliability and ease of use for a machine. They also want support if something goes wrong.

4 TOPICS TO EVALUATE A SEMI-AUTOMATIC STRETCH WRAPPER

SAFETY

• All wires and motors are enclosed to prevent trip, scrape or burn hazards.
• The rollers on the film delivery system are enclosed to prevent operator’s hands from getting caught inside.
• The film delivery system is located on the same side as the mast to prevent operators from walking between the mast and the load.
• The turntable is large enough for your pallet to fit inside the perimeter without protruding corners to prevent trip hazards.

EASY TO USE

• Simple to thread film delivery systems.
• Easily adjustable load wrapping choices on the control panel.
• An operator’s guide is attached to the machine.
• Ability to operate machine without instruction.

FOR MACHINES THAT ARE EVEN EASIER TO OPERATE, LOOK FOR ONES THAT CAN:

• Automatically cuts the film at the end of a cycle to eliminate manual film cutting and let operators remove loads from the turntable or wrap zone, or
• Automatically attaches film to the load at the beginning of the cycle and cuts it at the end, this type of machine improves productivity by keeping operators on their forklifts.

RELIABLE AND DURABLE

Look for:

• A manufacturer with a large customer base.
• A manufacturer who life cycle tests components of the machine.
• A machine that requires little to no preventative maintenance.
• A machine that uses belts instead of chains.
• A turntable drive system that doesn’t require lubrication or makes excessive noise.

SUPPORT

Screen your prospective purchases against these criteria:

• The manufacturer is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for support.
• The local distributor has factory trained and certified technicians.
• The warranty for components is five years for turntable machines and three for straddles.
• Operating manuals, videos and parts lists are supplied with the machine.
• Step-by-step troubleshooting and operating guides are supplied with the machine.
• The manufacturer offers extended warranties.

If you’re more interested in machine details you can find a list of Lantech options, specs and compare models side by side, here. And if you are buying your first wrapper here are some good things to know like budgeting for a stretch wrapper.

Above all, understand what you’re buying. This means don’t take shortcuts. All machines aren’t created equal. Don’t let too-good-to-be-true deals tempt you into buying the wrong thing. Remember you get what you pay for.

Choosing the right semi-automatic stretch wrapper for the right setting can be tricky, you must consider the loads being wrapped. While there are several different models to choose from, there are two basic styles of stretch wrappers to consider: a turntable or a straddle. The deciding factor is the construction and makeup of your pallet loads.

TURNTABLE STRETCH WRAPPERS

With turntable stretch wrapper, the load is placed directly on a turntable that spins while the film delivery system moves up and down a mast dispensing the stretch film. A turntable typically rotates between 12 – 15 revolutions per minute, so a pallet load has to be stable enough to rotate without falling apart. If the load is lightweight or unstable, there are solutions. Machines can rotate slower to ease the stress on the load or you could add a Modular Electric Top Platen to stabilize the load during the wrap cycle.

Turntable stretch wrappers can handle the majority of stretch wrapping applications. Our semi-automatic stretch wrapper customers overwhelmingly purchase a turntable stretch wrapper. In fact, nine out of ten stretch wrappers sold are the turntable style.

Another consideration is floor space. A turntable wrapper is free standing. It can be moved if the need arises, however, frequent relocation is not recommended. Turntable wrappers fit nicely between dock doors, which is a popular location for semi-automatic stretch wrappers. A straddle wrapper is more permanent. Because the wrap arm can rotate at relatively high speeds it is required that the machines be anchored to the floor.

STRADDLE STRETCH WRAPPERS

With a straddle stretch wrapper, the load is placed on the floor in the middle of a wrap zone. The load remains still while a wrap arm moves around the pallet. The film delivery system moves up and down the wrap arm for complete film coverage. This is useful for very light or unstable loads that would fall apart if the pallet were to rotate on a turntable. It’s also better for very heavy loads. Generally, the maximum weight capacity of a turntable stretch wrapper is about 5,000 pounds. Once you get beyond that, it is highly recommended that you use a straddle stretch wrapper.

Straddle stretch wrappers tend to take up more floor space. There needs to be a safety clearance for the wrap arm to move around the pallet. These wrappers also have large legs at the base to help stabilize the machine as the weight shifts during the wrap cycle. When ceiling height is an issue, the turntable stretch wrapper can be a better solution. Turntable stretch wrappers are typically shorter than a straddle wrapper with equal wrap height capacities.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SEMI-AUTOMATIC STRETCH WRAPPER BUDGET

Budget is the final consideration. Turntable stretch wrappers typically range somewhere around $7,000 to $20,000, or higher depending on the options you add.   Straddle wrappers are more expensive starting at $21,000 and up.

If you’re still having trouble deciding between a turntable and a straddle stretch wrapper, you can always call your Lantech representative to help you decide which model is best for you.

You’ve realized it’s time to replace that old stretch wrapper in the warehouse. Or, it’s time to swap out hand wrapping for a more automated process.

But buying the right stretch wrapper isn’t as simple as you think. Understanding the major cost drivers behind stretch wrapping is key to finding a machine that will cost less to own and ope\rate in the future.

Here’s a look at five major cost drivers you should pay attention to:

1. PRODUCT DAMAGE

Product damage is a big deal, but it’s not on most people’s radar, mostly because the costs are hidden. In-transit damage incurred by loads that were stretch wrapped improperly is actually the biggest cost driver in stretch wrapping.

On average, for every $1,000 of product a company ships, $1 is lost because of ineffective stretch wrapping. If a company were to ship $50,000 of product in one day, over the course of a year, statistically, they’re losing $12,500 to damaged goods. That’s $60,000 over five years! Wrapping loads effectively is the best thing anyone can do to reduce the risk of damage to their products during shipment.

2. STRETCH WRAPPERS DECREASE LABOR COST

Machines are cheap. People are expensive.

Modern stretch wrappers – with productivity-enhancing features – have changed the game. The more automation a stretch wrapper has, the less time a person needs to spend operating the machine. These wrappers could potentially eliminate anywhere from $7,000 to $50,000 in wasted labor costs over five years.

For example, in a five year period if a company was wrapping 30 loads per day and paying their employees $12 an hour, they could eliminate over $15,000 of wasted labor just by using a machine with a built-in scale instead of moving a load from a wrapper to a freestanding scale.

3. MATERIALS

Pre-stretch reduces the costs associated with film. A film delivery system with powered pre-stretch can cut film costs by at least 50 percent compared to hand wrapping or using an old machine.

How much savings a company would see by switching to a higher pre-stretch depends on how many loads they’re wrapping. Only wrapping a few loads a day wouldn’t yield much savings, but for larger companies wrapping hundreds of loads a day the cost savings are dramatic.

Even midsized companies wrapping around 30 loads a day will see a savings of over $15,000 in five years by switching from no pre-stretch to 200 percent.

4. MINIMAL MAINTENANCE

Most stretch wrappers require minimal maintenance in its first few years. In those years you could expect to pay about 2 percent of the machine’s cost, about $300 for a $15,000 machine. But just like a car, maintenance gets more expensive as the machine ages.

A good stretch wrapper requires little to no scheduled preventive maintenance. That keeps maintenance costs down and the machine up and running as much as possible.

5. STRETCH WRAPPER MACHINE COST

When you spread the cost of a semi-automatic stretch wrapper over the thousands of loads it wraps during its economic life, the machine cost per load wrapped is low.

For example, if someone wraps 50 loads a day over 10 years, a $15,000 stretch wrapper only costs 12 cents per load. Even a $17,000 machine would cost just 13 cents per load. So it makes sense to invest up front in a machine with the features that can reduce operator labor.