FAQ: Pallet wrapping machines

There are three main styles of stretch wrapping machines:

• High Profile: These machines work well with forklifts as the turntable is sitting higher above the ground than the low profile machine. It is easier for the forklift driver to place the load on the turntable.
• Low Profile: The turntable is lower to the ground. A ramp is used to load the pallet with a pallet jack or electric walkie.
• Rotary Arms: Very heavy loads can’t be placed on a turntable, so a rotary arm is required. These machines have an arm that rotates around the load instead of turning the load on a platform.

Hand wrapping is laborious, time-consuming and a risk to the health of your workers. Investing in a stretch wrapping machine is justified for as little as 10 loads per day. With a stretch wrapping machine, you will get a consistent workflow, save on materials, save time and money and decrease workplace injury.

Prestretch film has been through the process of pre-stretching before it is spun onto a roll. The film is much stronger than regular wrap. It has an elastic memory that shrinks around pallet loads to stop them shifting during transport. It also has an increased yield making stretch wrapping a very economical way to stabilise pallet loads.

Choosing a Mobile Pre-Stretch Wrapper depends on your load type, the amount of floor space and speed requirements. If your load is hefty, fragile or unstable, a Mobile Pre-Stretch Wrapper is a good choice. These machines are mobile and portable making them ideal if you need flexibility with your floor space layout. Rotary tower machines can wrap at high speed while the load stays stable and still.

Turntable pallet wrapping machines apply the wrap by turning a load on its turntable while the film carriage ascends and descends on a fixed mast.

Rotary tower stretch wrapping machines wrap by rotating the film carriage around a stationary load. Rotary tower machines are better for loads that are very heavy or very light, irregular shaped, fragile or unstable.

Semi-automatic stretch wrapping machines are used in low volume production lines covering around 30 pallets per hour. A forklift or pallet jack loads the pallet onto the wrapping machine’s platform and an operator attaches the film and presses the start button. At the end of the wrapping cycle, the operator detaches and secures the film tail to the load.

Automatic stretch wrapping machines do not require an operator, except to load the film. Once the pallet is on the platform, the machine starts the wrapping cycle automatically. A sensing photo-eye tells the film carriage how high to wrap. At the end of the wrap cycle, the film tail is automatically cut and sealed to the load. If the pallet is on a conveyor it is then conveyed off the wrapping platform and the machine is ready for the next pallet. Without a conveyor, the pallets are loaded and unloaded by lift truck or forklift. An automatic machine can wrap from 30 to 120 loads per hour.