Regular film breakage during winding is often costly and undoubtedly frustrating for companies.
Before you reach breaking point, here are some key considerations to mitigate the problem – and a simple answer to solve it for good.
Knowing the problem
Not knowing what causes the problem is very often the 90% of the problem itself. More often than not, reports of stretch film breakage are the result of imprecise experiments or “quick fixes.” Pallet wrapping machine operators do not have time to check and fix problems.
Assemble the load
It is estimated that approximately 30% of all failures are due to the loading profile. These risks arise from the load of the pallet which can exert pressure during transport: sharp corners can puncture and tear the wrapping film.
Training employees on proper load assembly certainly helps reduce this problem.
Balancing the tension
Often the first instinct when film breaks is to lower the tension on the machine or increase the amount of winding used when hand wrapping.
Both can be expensive approaches. No company wants to spend more on pallet wrapping. Likewise, reducing the tension of the film simply shifts the problem of possible product damage from an unstable pallet.
Use the right equipment
We have seen in another article what they are the results of hand wrapping. You can try to work around the problem by minimizing the risks, but equipment sealing problems, incorrect adjustments or component problems represent the 40% of film breakage problems.
Make sure your equipment is used properly and serviced regularly.
Use the right stretch film
Not all stretch films are the same and 20% of breakage problems are due to manufacturing defects or the use of unsuitable films. Attention to consumables reduces risks.
The search for new materials, the evolution of existing ones, the multi-layer structure of new stretch films, nanotechnologies today offer possibilities that until a few years ago were unthinkable, arriving at producing extremely stretchable and incredibly break-resistant films.
Using less film and packing better and without breakages is the best result for all companies and is the daily effort of research in EFFE3ti.