Manual stretch films

A manual stretch film is an extensible plastic film applied directly by hand around a pallet, boxes, or products. It allows for grouping goods, stabilising the load, and protecting them during handling, storage, or transport, without the need for a wrapping machine.

A manual stretch film is suitable for low to medium speeds, one-off shipments, mobile stations, and companies without a wrapping machine. A machine film is more suited for high volumes and repetitive operations requiring automated and regular wrapping.

A 17 µm film is suitable for homogeneous pallets, standard loads, and applications requiring controlled consumption. A 23 µm film offers more resistance for heavy, irregular, less stable loads or those with sharp edges. The choice should also consider handling and transport conditions.

A transparent film allows you to see the goods and read labels or barcodes without removing the protection. An opaque black or white film conceals the contents of the pallet more. The choice therefore depends on the needs for visibility, confidentiality, identification, and presentation of the goods.

The film must first be secured to the base of the pallet, then unrolled around the load with consistent tension. The layers should overlap to ensure good cohesion. It is advisable to reinforce the base, corners, and the top, while avoiding compressing or deforming the products.

Stretch film helps protect products from dust, dirt, ambient moisture, and light abrasion. However, it does not guarantee total waterproofing, especially in cases of prolonged exposure to water, outdoor storage, or incomplete sealing of the pallet.

The choice depends on the weight, shape, and stability of the load, as well as the presence of sharp corners, the duration of storage, and transport conditions. DERFI can study the goods and logistical constraints to propose the appropriate thickness and colour for the application.