How many times should you wrap a pallet?

We&#;ve handled more than 43 million pallets at Pallet-Track, so we know exactly what a correctly wrapped pallet looks like.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from SMART WASP.

Before your pallet can be collected and transported to its destination, it is essential that it is securely wrapped.

Find all the advice you need below on how to prepare, secure and stretch wrap your pallet correctly prior to its journey through our pallet network.

For tips on loading a pallet before wrapping, read our guide to learn how to stack boxes or goods on a pallet, or get a quote to send a pallet through our network.

If you are looking to transport an oversized pallet, contact our team for more information.

Why do pallets need to be wrapped?

1. Correctly wrapping a pallet prevents the movement of goods during handling and transit.
2. Any movement can cause instability, potentially damaging part or all of the consignment, and increases the risk of the pallet falling over.
3. The safety of our customers, drivers and staff is our number one priority, so every pallet must be correctly wrapped prior to its collection.
4. To help minimise transit delays and to ensure your goods arrive at their destination on time and in full it is essential that pallets are properly prepared and wrapped.

What is pallet wrap?

Stretch wrap is either made from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) or biodegradable alternatives and is available in a variety of thicknesses and stretch rates.

Pallet wrap &#; also known as stretch film, shrink wrap or stretch wrap &#; is waterproof and highly stretchable.

This makes it a durable wrap that can be easily stretched around goods on a pallet to protect their contents, reduce movement and secure the goods to the pallet.

When used correctly, it will ensure that the goods within your consignment are safely contained, secured to the pallet and protected from rain, dust or dirt.

Health and safety for shrink wrapping pallets

Before stretch wrapping your pallet, make sure the area is safe by completing a dynamic risk assessment. Use an automatic wrapping machine if available.

Are you interested in learning more about Pallet Wrapping Plastic? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

How to check your pallet:

• Are there any broken goods or is any packaging damaged?
• Are goods correctly and safely stacked on the pallet? Read our guidance on how to stack boxes on a pallet safely for advice on preparing your goods
• Are goods stable on the pallet and unlikely to move during the wrapping process?
• Is anything overhanging the edges of the pallet?

Be aware of manual handling risks:

• Using an ergonomic dispenser is recommended to reduce bending, crouching and risk of discomfort or potential back injury
• Avoid bending and twisting the spine when wrapping
• When wrapping multiple pallets by hand, take a break between pallets or share the task between team members

How to shrink wrap a pallet by hand

The safe transportation of pallets is essential to our pallet network. To help keep our drivers and colleagues safe, we ask all our customers to following our guidelines when preparing and wrapping pallets.

If you are shrink wrapping your pallet by hand, here are our top tips for safe and secure wrapping:

Before you start wrapping:

1. Ensure you have enough room to move around the pallet and that the area is clear of any trip hazards
2. Ensure that the pallet is in good condition and is suitable for the weight and type of product you are stacking
3. Goods should be evenly stacked and securely fixed to the pallet
4. Ensure your goods do not exceed our size and weight limits. Check our pallet sizes and dimensions guide before wrapping your pallet
5. Goods should not overhang the pallet

Securing your pallet wrap:

1. Attach the shrink wrap to the pallet by twisting approximately half a metre into a rope
2. Thread the twisted wrap through the corner of the pallet and knot it to the pallet
3. Wrap the base of the pallet several times to ensure goods are secure

Start wrapping your pallet:

1. Start from the base &#; the wrap should partially overlap the pallet to secure the goods to it
2. Hold the stretch wrap parallel to the goods and walk around the pallet
3. Move backwards, pulling the wrap tightly against the edge/corner of the goods
4. Wrap upwards and overlap each layer as you wrap &#; we recommend an overlap of over 50 per cent
5. Keep the film taut and wrap tightly&#;- the stretch wrap should not loosen when the pallet is handled
6. Wrap the pallet four or five times, ensuring products cannot move
7. The wrap should fully cover the top of the load
8. Tear the stretch wrap and stick down &#; we recommend tucking the end into one of the seams to prevent it getting caught

After wrapping:

1. Complete a visual assessment to ensure goods are secure and stable &#; if the consignment is fully secure then your pallet is ready for collection

Find out how to label your pallets for shipping. View our other guides to find out more about kerbside delivery and how our pallet tracking technology gives you full visibility of your goods from end to end.

How many times do you wrap a pallet?

The answer would be in the type of pallet load you are wrapping; how tall your load is and how stable it is. Unstable and heavy loads need to be wrapped securely onto a pallet to keep them intact during transit. Pallet wrap is also used to protect goods from the elements

How many times you wrap a pallet also depends on the pallet wrap you are using and whether you are applying it by hand or machine. For hand and machine stretch wrapping we use pre-stretch film Orbitwrap Save. This is our high-performance ultra-thin wrap film that goes much further than conventional wraps. It comes in rolls of film that has been pre-stretched with high elastic memory that can shrink back on itself and form a tight layer around a pallet load. This is what gives pre-stretched film its unique load stabilising strength and its green credentials as you use far less wrap to get a better wrap result.

If you are hand stretching, the level of stretch you can expect from hand application is between 30 to 40%. Pallet wrapping machines can stretch the film up to 250%!

Steps to a good wrap result

1. Make sure your pallet goods are tightly packed together and the load is stable. Your load should not hang over the edge of your pallet.
2. To begin wrapping a pallet by hand you would start from the base. Pull some film from the roll and twist it into a rope-like shape and thread it through the corner of a pallet or tuck it under a corner of a box on the pallet if you have a boxed load. Tying it to the pallet in a knot is unnecessary and makes for extra work removing it when the pallet is unpacked.
3. The most important function of a wrap is to secure the load to a pallet. Your first revolutions around the load are to make sure you wrap the base of the load onto the pallet with about a three-centimetre overlap. The wrap must tuck under the corners of the pallet to prevent the film from slipping up at this stage.
4. Keep the roll of film taut if you are hand wrapping and stretch the wrap around the corners to get a tight fit. Each revolution around the pallet should have a 50% overlap on the previous film layer.
5. Continue your wrap from bottom to top, wrapping the lower half four to five times before moving to the top half. If the wrap is applied by machine, then twice to three times around the lower half of your load is more than adequate, depending on the weight.
6. When you have completed the wrap at the top of your load apply approximately three centimetres of film over and down the top corners, tear the film and stick the tail to the film wrap.

We recommend using the right tools for the job and rather than bending down and walking around in circles covering pallet after pallet by hand we have a range of hand dispensers that make it easier for smaller operations. Once you find you are wrapping 10 or more pallets a day it would be wise to consider a pallet wrapping machine. This will speed up your processes and avoid employee fatigue and back injury.

The answer to how many times do you wrap a pallet is if you are wrapping by hand it is four to five times, and if you are using a wrapping machine it is three to four times on the bottom and a couple of times on the top half.

Want more information on China Stretch Wrap Plastic Film? Feel free to contact us.