We get it — the specifics of pallet packaging isn’t always the most glamourous or even straightforward. Even so, understanding the differences between stretch film vs hooder film can truly affect your bottom line.
Fortunately, the experts at AAA Polymer offer decades of experience helping warehouse and distribution center operators unravel the key benefits of different types of film, including stretch film vs hooder film. Let’s take a second to wrap up the discussion surrounding stretch film vs hooder film vs everything else.
Pallet Stretch Wrap Film
As the most common method for wrapping pallets, stretch wrapping is one of the most efficient of protecting your palletized products for shipping and storage. Stretch film can be applied in a seemingly endless array of patterns based on the desired protection and load stability.
Most stretch wrap film is made from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) material and is made from one or two different types of manufacturing processes — blown extrusion or cast extrusion. Each type of stretch film manufacturing will provide different qualities to the film, which may make it more or less suitable for different applications. You can also choose types of stretch film based on how you intend to apply it to the pallet:
Pallet Stretch Hooder Film
Stretch hooding is an exceptionally efficient way to palletize goods and products that was originally introduced back in the later parts of the 80s. This method of palletizing products offers a full range of benefits, such as reliability, speed, costs, distribution chain performance, and sustainability.
Stretch hooder film is manufactured from using gusseted tubing from a continuous roll. With pallet stretch hooder film, the height of your pallet is automatically measured as it enters the machine. This helped ensure the quantity of film used for each application is accurately dispensed, which helps reduce operating costs.
Once the machine takes a sleeve of the height of the pallet, it seals the top and creates a bag. This bag is then stretched snugly around your pallet and pulled down to the bottom of your pallet. Demonstrating the hold characteristics of stretch film, it returns to normal dimensions when released, working to tighten around your pallet and safely secure the contents.
Heat Shrink Hooder Film
Did you know heat shrink-hooding film is the oldest type of polyethylene pallet packaging film? It was actually introduced back in the 1960s and was the preferred method for pallet load protection and optimal stability.
Similar to stretch hooding, shrink hooding uses gusseted tubing that is cut to create a sealed bag. The bag is then used to go over the pallet, and heat is applied to shrink it to form over the pallet. With all types of hooder film, a very specialized type of equipment is used.
Stretch Wrapping vs Hood Film
In comparison, businesses choose to use the stretch wrap technique because of the low initial investment costs. For example, to use hand stretch film, you’ll only need an inexpensive hand applicator, the hand stretch wrap, and effort. In contrast, you’ll need to make a significant investment in machinery to use either stretch or shrink hood systems.
Another major difference between stretch wrap and stretch hood film is availability. Typical stretch film is manufactured by a wide number of manufacturers and is offered in an array of gauges and standard widths. In contrast, stretch hood material is a much more specialized solution and is offered by fewer manufacturers through a narrower distribution channel.
When it comes to heat shrink-hooding systems, the operation costs are higher than those of stretch hooding and stretch wrapping. With heat shrinking the bag is shrunk instead of stretched, so the bag should have a bigger pre-shrunk circumference than the pallet’s perimeter. As a result, heat shrinking requires significantly more film than stretch hooding and uses more energy for heating. In addition, the heat shrink-hooding method has a potential for fires, which often causes insurance premiums to be higher.
Where to Find Stretch Film & Stretch Hood Film in the Northeastern United States?
Are you looking for a reliable supplier for stretch hood film and stretch film in the Northeast? AAA Polymer offers a range of different stretch films and stretch hooder films to meet your unique palletizing needs. Best of all, we’ll get to know your unique palletizing needs and guide you to the best solution.
Contact AAA Polymer for an array of stretch films, stretch hood films, and shrink hood films.