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Industrial Stretch Film for Pallet Wrapping
Industrial stretch film is a flexible plastic packaging and wrapping film used to secure, stabilize, and protect palletized loads during storage, handling, and transportation. In warehousing and distribution operations, the right industrial wrapping film helps reduce product damage, improve load containment, protect inventory from dust and moisture, and support safer pallet movement.
RACO provides stretch film solutions for hand wrapping, machine wrapping, pallet protection, and everyday industrial packaging needs.
What Is Stretch Film?
Stretch film, also called stretch wrap, is a highly stretchable plastic film commonly made from linear low-density polyethylene. It is wrapped around pallets, cartons, boxes, and products to hold items together as one stable unit. As the film stretches around the load, it creates tension that helps keep products secure during movement.
Stretch film is widely used in warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, retail logistics, and shipping operations. It is available in different gauges, widths, roll lengths, and formats depending on whether it will be applied by hand or by a stretch wrapping machine.
Benefits of Using Stretch Film
Using the correct stretch film can improve warehouse efficiency, reduce product loss, and help stabilize loads throughout the supply chain.
- Secures products together on pallets
- Improves load stability during transport
- Helps reduce product damage
- Protects inventory from dust, dirt, and light moisture
- Improves handling safety
- Supports faster pallet movement
- Helps reduce shifting during shipping
- Available for manual and machine wrapping
- Can reduce packaging waste when the correct film is selected
- Supports consistent warehouse and distribution workflows
For operations that move palletized products daily, stretch film is one of the most important packaging materials for protecting inventory and maintaining efficient logistics.
How to Choose the Right Stretch Film?
Choosing the right stretch film depends on the load type, pallet weight, wrapping method, storage conditions, and transportation requirements. The goal is to use a film that provides enough load containment without unnecessary waste or excessive cost.
- Application method: hand wrap or machine wrap
- Load weight: light, medium, or heavy loads
- Load shape: uniform boxes or irregular products
- Film width: common widths include 12, 15, 18, and 20 inches
- Core size: many industrial rolls use a 76 mm core
- Film thickness or gauge: choose based on load strength needs
- Pre-stretch capability: important for machine wrapping efficiency
- Cling level: helps film layers stay together
Puncture resistance: important for sharp corners or irregular loads - Clarity: useful when labels and barcodes need to remain visible
- Storage environment: dry storage, cold storage, or outdoor exposure
For light and uniform loads, a thinner hand stretch film may be enough. For heavier pallets, sharp corners, or long-distance transport, a stronger film with better puncture resistance and load retention is usually recommended. Machine stretch film is often the best choice for higher-volume operations because it improves consistency, speed, and film usage control.
For applications that require airflow around palletized products, pallet mesh film can be considered as an alternative to conventional stretch film. Pallet wrapping mesh film helps stabilize loads while maintaining ventilation around the products.
Common Uses and Applications for Stretch Film
Stretch film is used across many warehouse, manufacturing, and distribution environments because it protects products and keeps palletized loads secure during movement.
- Pallet wrapping for storage and transport
- Securing cartons and boxes
- Protecting products from dust and dirt
- Stabilizing loads during forklift handling
- Unitizing multiple items into one pallet load
- Wrapping products before shipment
- Supporting retail and wholesale distribution
- Protecting inventory in warehouse storage
- Organizing outbound orders
- Securing irregular or mixed pallet loads
Common industries that use stretch film include food and beverage, retail distribution, manufacturing, third-party logistics, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce fulfillment, and general warehousing.
Why Choose RACO for Stretch Film?
RACO provides stretch film solutions for warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, and industrial packaging operations. Whether you need hand stretch film, machine stretch film, pre-stretched film, or pallet wrapping support, our team can help match the right product to your application.
We work with customers to understand load types, wrapping methods, shipment conditions, and performance requirements. The result is a stretch film solution that supports load stability, product protection, and efficient warehouse operations.
Request a Stretch Film Solution
Looking for stretch film for pallet wrapping, warehouse storage, distribution, or shipping?
Contact RACO to discuss your requirements and get the right stretch film solution for your operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is stretch film used for?
Stretch film is used to wrap and secure pallets, cartons, and products during storage, handling, and transportation. It helps stabilize loads and protect inventory from dust, dirt, and light moisture.
What is the difference between stretch film and shrink film?
Stretch film is stretched around a load to hold it together, while shrink film usually requires heat to shrink tightly around a product. Stretch film is commonly used for pallet wrapping, while shrink film is often used for individual product packaging.
How do I choose the right stretch film?
Choose stretch film based on load weight, pallet shape, application method, puncture resistance, film thickness, clarity, cling, and transportation conditions. Machine wrapping usually requires machine stretch film, while lower-volume applications may use hand stretch film.
What size stretch film is commonly used?
Common stretch film widths include 12, 15, 18, and 20 inches. Many industrial rolls use a 76 mm core, depending on the dispenser or wrapping equipment being used.
Is machine stretch film better than hand stretch film?
Machine stretch film is usually better for medium and high-volume operations because it improves wrapping consistency, speed, and material control. Hand stretch film is better for lower-volume or flexible wrapping needs.
Talk to RACO About Your Stretch Film Needs
Our team can help you choose the right stretch film for pallet wrapping, load containment, and distribution performance.
Contact RACO today to get started.
