Hand or Machine Pallet Wrapping?

Stretch-wrapping pallets is integral to everyday operations in warehouses and shipping depots. However, managers and owners must decide which application of stretch wrap is right for their operation: hand pallet wrapping or machine pallet wrapping. We’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of both of these options.

Hand and Machine Pallet Wrapping Differences

If you’re starting a business that involves a warehouse or shipping department, you may soon be using an inordinate amount of stretch wrap, also known as stretch film. This plastic wrap is an everyday part of warehouse and shipping operations. It's used to wrap pallets of products to keep them safe and stable while being handled in the warehouse or loaded onto trucks and shipped. 

The stretch wrap comes in rolls of varying lengths and is about one meter in width. The stretch wrap is wound off these rolls and around the products on a pallet. There are two types of stretch wrap applications: machine pallet wrapping and hand wrapping. Both options have benefits and drawbacks. We'll help you decide which method is right for your business operations.

Hand Wrapping

If you're starting a new business, you're probably starting small and want to save money in all areas of operations. Hand stretch film is the least expensive option. These are shorter rolls of stretch film than those used in machine wrapping.

The rolls can be used by themselves on a hand-held apparatus that allows a worker to anchor an end of the film to a pallet of products and then walk around the pallet while unrolling the film and wrapping the pallet from bottom to top while maintaining outward pressure on the stretch film roll to maintain tension. The film clings against itself and the products and forms a tight and stable unit that allows the products to be moved or shipped without toppling or becoming damaged. 

Machine Wrapping

Machine wrapping is generally used in warehouse and shipping operations that have a high-volume workflow or that use automation. The machine stretch wrap is in a machine onto which the pallets are loaded. There are several varieties of these machines. However, we’ll describe the two most common ones. Both machines are quick and deliver a tight, uniform wrap.

One has a rotating turntable on which the pallets sit. As the turntable rotates, one end of the stretch wrap roll, mounted on a vertical tower alongside the pallet, is secured to the pallet of products. The machine then wraps the pallet from bottom to top, with the stretch wrap held at a constant level of tension. The vertical roll of stretch wrap moves up and down on the tower as the pallet is wrapped. 

The other type of machine has an open area where the pallet is placed. The roll of stretch wrap is held vertically by an arm that rotates around the stationary pallet and performs the wrapping function while maintaining constant tension on the stationary pallet of products. 

Factors to Consider

There are a few factors to consider when deciding on either the hand-wrapping method or machine-wrapping. Some of these include:

Cost Efficiency

Generally, if you're wrapping under 50 pallets a day, it's more cost-efficient to wrap the pallets by hand than to incur the costs, space requirements, and regular maintenance of a wrapping machine.  

Daily Demand

If demand for your products is not being met because of operational slowdowns due to pallet wrapping chores, it may be a good time to consider incorporating machine wrapping into your operations.  

Workforce Efficiency

You always want your workforce to work efficiently. If hand-wrapping pallets becomes a time-consuming activity and other duties crucial to your operations remain uncompleted, it may be time to consider a machine-wrapping machine. 

Products to Be Wrapped

Delicate and fragile products may require the care and attention that a hand-wrapped pallet provides. On the other hand, machines can provide consistency in your pallet-wrapping efforts, which may result in reduced damage to fragile products. Machines can also be adjusted to provide different tension levels for various types of products. Testing both methods to see what works best for your products is a good idea.

Use M Stretch Products

Whether you choose machine pallet wrapping or hand-wrapping, MMP Corp offers a range of our M Stretch stretch films for machines or hand-wrapping operations that provide different options.

We offer several hand-wrapping options, including different thicknesses and colors, and we offer pre-stretched film and folded-edge film for special uses. We also offer three varieties of stretch film designed specifically for machine use. Choose our high-quality M Stretch stretch film for both your machine and hand pallet wrapping needs.