Types of stretch wrapping machines

Stretch wrapping machines are considered electrically powered and manually powered devices used to apply stretch film to a variety of goods and products. Though manual stretch wrap machines are used around the world, electrically powered machines are by far the most popular and most commonly used.

The most readily used stretch wrap machines are turntable stretch wrap machines. Machines with a turntable rotate the goods as the film is wrapping around the goods. Below is a list of different types of stretch wrap machines.

Manual Stretch Wrap Machine- Most manual stretch wrap machines are built to wrap stationary pallets. Stretch film rolls are placed on a stand with casters. Users roll the film around the stationary pallet using the stand to hold the roll and apply tension. These stretch wrappers are the most affordable option after a manual stretch film dispenser.

Turntable pallet wrapper- This is by far the most common type of stretch wrap machine found around the world. A turntable stretch wrap machine has a rotating base. A film carriage on the machine’s mast holds and dispenses the film.

Once the pallet of goods is placed on the turntable, the end of the film is tied to the pallet. The user begins the turntable rotation. As the pallet of goods spin, the film carriage on the mast moves higher up the pallet and tension on the film roll stretches as the film is being applied.

Rotary Arm stretch Wrap Machine- A rotary arm stretch wrap machine has a tower with an arm that wraps around a stationary pallet. The machines are commonly found on fully automatic packaging lines. The rotary arm makes multiple revolutions around the pallet while stretching the film as it is being applied.

Depending on the type of rotary arm machine being used, the arm will automatically begin wrapping and cut the stretch film when complete. High output operations wrapping hundreds of pallets per day often use fully automatic rotary arm machines.

Robot stretch wrap machine- Robot stretch wrap machines are fairly new to the industry. The concept is comparable to a manual stretch wrap machine. The main difference is once the film is tied to the pallet, the robot makes the revolutions around the stationary pallet instead of an individual.