Goods of any shape and size spend much of their life on a pallet between the factory and the store shelf. It’s essential the product in question is protected as much as possible from dangers such as moisture damage, abrasion, or theft.
The most effective and economical is plastic pallet wrap, with its ease of use and low cost, high quality pallet wraps are an effective way to maximise company profits.
Protection
The layers of plastic wrapped around the products can provide additional levels of protection against abrasive damage during transport and storage. Pallets are moved and stored close together, meaning there are tight spaces to navigate and rough surfaces that could lead to damaged products. Provided the wrapping is sufficient, the goods are also protected from moisture damage that may come from the weather, leaks in the warehouse, or from wet goods stored nearby.
If goods on a pallet are heavy with a potential to fall over, plastic wrap can be applied tightly to help control the weight of the products, making the load much more stable while it’s being moved.
Wrap variations
Most pallet wraps are transparent, meaning you can benefit from easy identification during transport and storage. Opaque-coloured varieties are available to give greater protection against ultraviolet radiation, which is especially useful if products need to be stored for a long time. The opaque nature also adds a level of security as products are obscured from view, keeping high-value items out of the attention of opportunistic thieves. Opaque wrap is also recommended if goods must be stored outside to protect from criminals.
Perforated plastic wraps are designed to help products breathe, such as agricultural products. High quality pallet wraps stretch to double their original length. This means products are held tightly, reliably holding the load in place, and the increase in plastic length makes the wrap more economical. This has the double impact of saving money as less is needed, and staff being more efficient with their time as stretching the wrap leads to faster application. As an added bonus, using fewer rolls of plastic wrap means the company’s carbon footprint is reduced too.
Application methods
Hand pallet wrap is the most common variety of plastic pallet wrap as it’s the cheapest, is available to any size of business, and is easy to apply to the pallet. Hand wrap is commonly found as clear plastic film, although opaque and perforated versions are also available. An employee applies the hand wrap manually, holding the roll in their hands. Starting from the bottom, they gradually work their way up, ensuring the goods are securely packed, until they reach the top, which can also be covered if required. As the wrap is applied, it’s stretched to secure the load it contains.
Larger operations, such as manufacturing companies, use automated pallet-wrapping machines along with plastic wrap specific for machines.
Maximise profits
Pallet wraps, whether applied by hand or machine, maximise profits in many areas of a business. Profits are increased at the front end by protecting goods from the various hazards they face, ensuring they’re well presented for sale and holding their full retail price.
Profits are also improved due to saved costs, as fewer rolls of pallet wrap are needed. The level of protection offered by high quality wrap saves money because there’s no need for more expensive methods of protecting the pallet such as expensive and wasteful cardboard panels or wooden frames. Finally by reducing the man-hours involved with wrapping pallets, profits are increased as staff are more efficient with their time.
If you’re looking to maximise your profits, get in touch with Marpak today to enquire about our range of pallet wraps. Call 0113 277 5518 or contact us online.
