Packaging plays a crucial role in the global supply chain, protecting goods from the point of manufacture to the end consumer. Despite advances in materials and methods, several challenges continue to impact the efficiency and reliability of packaging solutions.
Link to YH Package
One of the most common issues is damage during transport, which can occur due to external impacts, vibration, or environmental factors like moisture and temperature changes. This damage affects the product integrity and leads to significant losses through product returns and replacements.
This article will explore how integrating stretch film and desiccants can address these challenges and enhance packaging solutions across various industries. Stretch film provides excellent protection and stability for palletized goods, while desiccants control the humidity, which can compromise product integrity. This combination improves product safety, reduces waste, and aligns with growing environmental sustainability goals.
Stretch film, primarily made from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), is essential for securing products during transport and storage. Its primary properties include high elasticity, significant tear resistance, and clarity.
Stretch film adheres to itself once wrapped around items, providing a tight and secure hold without the need for adhesive tapes or straps. Stretch films are extensively used in various industries to stabilize and protect products on pallets against dust, moisture, and other environmental factors during shipping and storage. There are several types of stretch film based on application methods and specific needs:
Desiccants absorb moisture from the surrounding environment, thereby reducing humidity and preventing moisture-related damage. They are crucial in packaging to protect moisture-sensitive products, extend shelf life, and maintain product quality.
Desiccants are selected based on the specific moisture sensitivity of the products, the expected conditions during shipping and storage, and regulatory requirements related to food and pharmaceutical products.
They are typically packaged in porous materials like sachets, allowing them to absorb moisture while remaining contained and preventing direct contact with the packaged product. Common types of desiccants used in packaging include:
Enhanced Protection: Integrating stretch film and desiccants in packaging systems significantly enhances product protection against physical and moisture damage.
Stretch film provides a secure wrap that stabilizes products on pallets, reducing movement and the risk of impact damage during transport. Additionally, it acts as a barrier against dust, dirt, and minor water splashes. Desiccants complement this protection by actively controlling the internal humidity levels within the packaging environment.
They absorb moisture that could otherwise condense and harm the products, particularly in temperature fluctuations. This dual approach is particularly beneficial for sensitive items such as electronic components, pharmaceuticals, and foods, ensuring they arrive at their destination in optimal condition.
Cost Efficiency: Combining stretch film and desiccants can lead to cost savings for businesses. This combination reduces the product damage and spoilage rate during shipping and storage, decreasing the frequency of returns and the need for replacements.
Fewer damaged goods not only translate to lower operational costs but also enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. Moreover, the efficient use of resources like stretch film and desiccants minimizes waste, leading to further financial savings in terms of material costs and waste management.
Sustainability Aspects: The environmental impact of packaging materials is a growing concern, and integrating eco-friendly stretch films and natural desiccants offers a path towards more sustainable packaging solutions. Biodegradable stretch films made from plant-based materials, such as PLA (polylactic acid), and recyclable stretch films reduce the use of fossil fuel-based plastics and the carbon footprint of packaging.
Similarly, using natural desiccants like starch-based gels or clay provides effective moisture control without the environmental burden associated with synthetic chemical desiccants. These sustainable materials can be broken down or recycled more efficiently than their conventional counterparts, reducing landfill waste and promoting a circular economy in the packaging industry.
Choosing suitable stretch film and desiccants is critical to achieving optimal packaging performance. Factors such as load type, weight, and shipping conditions should be considered when selecting a stretch film.
A more robust, high-performance stretch film is suitable for heavier and irregularly shaped loads, whereas lighter, more uniform loads might only require a standard or pre-stretched film.
The choice of desiccant largely depends on the product’s moisture sensitivity, the expected exposure to humidity, and the duration of shipment and storage. Silica gel is versatile for many products, while more aggressive moisture control might require calcium oxide.
Environmental conditions such as temperature fluctuations, humidity levels, and the likelihood of water exposure should also influence material choices. For example, integrating a higher absorption desiccant and a more durable stretch film in tropical climates can prevent condensation and protect against heat.
Incorporating desiccants with stretch film in packaging designs requires innovative approaches to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. One technique is placing desiccant packets directly inside shrink-wrapped or stretch-wrapped packages to absorb moisture from the air trapped during the wrapping process.
Another method involves using desiccant films, composite materials that incorporate desiccant substances within the stretch film. This integrated solution saves space and simplifies the packaging process by combining moisture protection and physical stability in one step.
Are you interested in learning more about stretch film wholesale? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Additionally, for products susceptible to moisture, using desiccant mats or pads that sit beneath or around the product before being stretch-wrapped can provide an extra layer of moisture absorption, which is particularly useful in food packaging and pharmaceuticals.
Customization and scalability are essential for practically implementing stretch film and desiccant integration across different scales of operation and product types. Small-scale operations might benefit from manual stretch film application and simple desiccant packet insertion, which provides flexibility without the need for substantial equipment investment.
For larger operations, automated packaging systems that apply stretch film and dispense desiccants simultaneously can significantly increase efficiency and consistency in packaging. The design of the packaging system should also consider the product’s shape, size, and packaging requirements.
Custom-sized films and specifically formulated desiccants can be developed to accommodate unique product dimensions or unusually high moisture sensitivity. By tailoring the integration of these materials to the specific needs of the product and scale of operations, companies can optimize their packaging process to maximize protection, minimize cost, and adhere to environmental standards.
The integration of stretch film and desiccants into packaging systems offers a robust solution for enhancing product protection, improving cost efficiency, and adhering to environmental sustainability goals. By leveraging the strength and versatility of stretch film alongside the moisture-absorbing capabilities of desiccants, companies can ensure that their products remain secure, dry, and intact from warehouse to delivery.
Too often, businesses evaluate the purchase of their stretch wrap based purely on the cost of a roll. But the reality is, overall stretch wrap costs are largely determined by the volume of material used to wrap each pallet.
So, if you’re yet to evaluate the stretch wrapping process in your operation, there’s a potential for big savings to be had. But in order to identify potential areas for cost savings, you first need to consider your stretch wrap options before deciding what’s best suits your needs.
In this article, we explore everything you need to know about stretch wrap so that you can make an informed decision and select the right product for your business.
For those who want a summarised view of what’s to come, here’s 5 common types of stretch wrap products and their best uses.
Another consideration to make when looking to purchase stretch wrap is the gauge, or thickness, of the wrap.
The gauge can be converted into mils or micrograms. E.g 50-gauge film is 0.5 mil or 12.6 microns tick. Whilst 100-gauge film is 1.0 mil or 25 microns thick.
Stretch wrap is available in gauges ranging from 37 to 150. The higher the gauge, the more resistant it is to be torn or punctured.
Heavier gauges do require more tension to apply and are generally more costly. Picking the sweet spot between reliability and cost will ensure a secure load without wasted spend or material.
When looking to purchase stretch wrap, you first want to determine what type of wrap your operation needs. If a variety of wrapping tasks need fulfilling around the warehouse, a choice of general purpose wrap may be suitable. If you’re dealing with electronics, anti-static wrap is your best bet. If you’re storing and shipping highly important or valuable goods, a high-performance stretch wrap will give you the performance desired.
The point is, there’s a type of stretch wrap out there to suit your needs, it’s just a case of working out what your needs are and then pairing a certain stretch wrap to fulfil them.
Many (but not all) types of stretch wrap will come in both hand and machine-applied versions. Meaning you need to consider the extent of your wrapping process alongside your needs. A busy operation wrapping hundreds of pallets a day will benefit from a stretch wrap machine, which needless to say, requires machine-applied stretch wrap.
On the other hand, a smaller volume of pallets won’t warrant machinery – a hand-applied stretch wrap process will be efficient, with anything more being overkill.
Hand stretch wrapping is done manually by simply winding the stretch film around the objects needing to be wrapped. Proper tension must be used to ensure a tight wrap and secure hold for storage and transport. Hand-applied stretch wrap is designed for user in mind, with shorter and lighter rolls that can be comfortably applied by a human.
Machine stretch wrapping is noticeably faster, easier and more efficient. It can provide a tighter, more consistent wrap for maximum load security and reduced waste. Stretch wrap machines can be purchased as fully automatic or semi-automatic.
By now, you should have a reasonable understanding of what stretch wrap your business may need. But to help make things clearer, consider the following point.
Each pallet within your operation can be labelled with a load size, from type A, B, or C. The type of pallet you usually deal with will help determine how strong (think gauge size) your stretch wrap needs to be. Here’s why:
If you want to learn more, please visit our website pof alternative film.