Glossary
Pallet wrap
Definition
Stretchable plastic film wound around a loaded pallet to bind items together and stabilise the load for transport and storage.
Also known as: Stretch wrap, Pallet stretch film
Pallet wrap is a highly stretchable plastic film, usually LLDPE, applied around goods stacked on a pallet. As it stretches and clings, it binds the load into a single stable unit, holding boxes together so they resist toppling, shifting and pilfering in transit and storage.
It comes in hand rolls for manual wrapping and machine rolls for automatic pallet wrappers, in cast or blown forms. Cast film unwinds quietly and clearly, while blown film is tougher and better for sharp or heavy loads. Pre-stretched films let a thinner gauge deliver strong holding force with less material and effort.
Pallet wrap is often confused with shrink wrap, but they are different: stretch film is pulled tight and holds by tension and cling, whereas shrink film is heated to shrink around goods. For securing pallets, stretch pallet wrap is the standard, sometimes combined with strapping for very heavy or unstable loads.
What to check
- Choose hand or machine film to match how you wrap.
- Pick cast for clarity and quiet, blown for tough or sharp loads.
- Consider pre-stretched film to cut material use and effort.
- Match micron and film technology to load weight and stability.
- For very heavy loads, consider strapping alongside wrap.
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Pallet wrap — FAQs
Is pallet wrap the same as shrink wrap?
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