The Ultimate Guide to Lightweighting in Packaging: Benefits, Examples, and Sustainable

Hand pallet wrapping is an employee’s nightmare, but a necessary evil. The efficiency and performance of a hand wrapped pallet can vary depending on the employee wrapping. Machine pallet wrapping, though, delivers a consistent wrap every time with maximum speed and efficiency.   

There are different types of machine pallet wrappers to meet your needs.

• The Turntable Stretch Wrappers, such as our 983 Stretch Wrap Machine, are the most common type. A pallet sits on a turntable and spins while the carriage moves up and down to wrap the pallet as needed. Basic models do not have a photo-eye to sense the top of a pallet. Most models past the basic have a photo-eye that stops the carriage at the top of the pallet and brings it back down afterwards.
• The Robotic Stretch Wrappers are mobile, automated robots that drive around the pallet to wrap it. These models have an extended film carriage that wraps to the top of pallets.
• Rotary Arm Stretch Wrappers operate while the pallet remains stationary on the floor, while a revolving arm spins around it. These are often used on automated lines as a pallet of goods travels down a conveyor.

So what are the differences and benefits of machine wrapping versus hand wrapping?

Hand wrapping is just what the name implies: using stretch film rolls to wrap the pallet by hand. It is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process with the risk of inconsistent wrapping and employee injury.

Manual wrapping requires multiple workers, increasing payroll expenses and the risk of repetitive strain injuries. The use of a stretch film dispenser will improve ergonomics and braking systems that help stretch the film during the application process.

Using a pallet wrapper streamlines the stretch film application process by automating the wrapping cycle.