The distribution system in supply chains employs the use of shipping pallets for the transportation of the products from warehouses and other stores or distribution centers. Securing the goods on the shipping pallets appropriately is essential in ensuring that the products do not get destroyed along the transport chain and this can lead to remedyless problems along the transport chain. Stretch film, also known as pallet wrap, is now considered a critical component of managing and securing load and pallets within the supply chain logistics network.

Improving Load Stability & Integrity  

Cargos such as those stacked on wooden or plastic shipping pallets may move from one direction to another or even fall over if load stabilization measures are not employed. Stretch wrapping pallet loads with plastic film makes the load stronger by creating a tight film which keeps the pallet and its loads intact to minimize movement of the cartons and items within the load during transport or storage. The tension and elasticity of the film stretched to cover the frame apply a kind of pressure on the load that confines all the items in the van like a clamp. Shock protection against compression forces, movement of items or load shift and load collapse assists in maintaining load integrity from the warehouse to the store shelf. Preventing the breakage of products and compaction to an extent enables retailers to stock the products on display shelves without having to go through the tedious process of fixing products that are in bits and pieces.

Reducing Freight Damage 

Open cargoes are highly susceptible to large loads and forces due to the processes of transport such as; shipping, rail and road. Stretch film is basically a shrink wrap that wraps palletised products to protect them from the elements, dust and moisture and also to prevent any form of pressure. This is due to the fact that stretch wrap has high elasticity therefore it is capable of readjusting the force applied on the load if this force had been distorted due to vibrations on the transport medium. This helps avoid any kind of damage that may be hazardous to the food items, affect the quality of products, or detract from the aesthetic appearance of the packaging. When the stretch film protects the cargo from getting damaged, the receivers do not have many bases to reject loads or complain to carriers. The proportion of merchandise that is reject goes down in this case cutting cost of wastes in the various manufacturing firms as well as retail shops.

Improving warehouse and Transportation Productivity

Stretch wrapping equipment used on pallet enables the warehouse associates to secure the various products in the pallets without necessarily incorporating straps, ropes or boards among others often. Power stretch wrappers set a much faster stretching rate than the conventional methods of applying films on pallets to handle high throughputs. That way, faster load processing helps the warehouses to meet the requirements at some point of the year especially during the high volume shipping season. In transportation, Pallets that are well secured and restrained, cannot move around the trailer during transportation, thus allowing the carrier to load more cubic volume of freight. Trucks experience fewer load failures or damaged products, and consequently, the Idle time is less or waiting for a swap out and more drive route miles. It also prevents disturbances during the unloading processes at the destination facilities hence making it easier to achieve efficient unloading. These improvements in the warehouses and the movement of goods consequently reduce distribution expenses per unit for shippers.

Sustainability Impact  

However, there are further green advantages associated with pallet stretch wrapping in improving supply chain efficiency in its daily functionality: Instead of using plastic or steel straps to unitize mixed pallet loads, using stretch film is more efficient in terms of minimizing the use of materials and also the amount of solid waste produced. Restriction of excess packing materials in products bears a lot of positive correlation with the corporate social responsibility to the environment. Stretch wrap also prevents the products from being damaged during transit, which in turn leads to less spoilage and product loss at the distribution centers and store level hence less waste. Intact pallets remain in circulation for a longer period than when they are damaged, hence this leads to replacement of the pallets. Stretch film in its self is highly recyclable and that is why the used film from pallet unpacking can be given a second feedstock life. These small advantages translate into a positive shift of the degree of sustainability by a small margin.

As previously mentioned, the following factors have been identified as critical in enhancing the effectiveness of interventions:

It is quite evident that stretch film is a critical tool in achieving efficient pallet load containment and protection, but there are factors that define this effectiveness. Selective placement of the correct gauge and grade ensures it has the required cling force and it is puncture resistant without having to use a lot of material. Some of the ways in which pallet wrapping equipment is managed to ensure that constant film overlap and containment force are achieved are as follows. Other measures that have an impact are training operators of the stretch wrap machines on the best practices to use when wrapping goods. Monitoring wrapped loads and checking the effectiveness of the film and its readiness for change occurs when problems may be avoided. Testing and data analysis help companies get on the right track of achieving the best value for money stretch wrapping program.

To sum up, pallet stretch wrap can be considered to be one of the most effective and affordable solutions for increasing the supply chain effectiveness, cutting the costs, and preserving the natural resources. Higher force exerted for containment and increased coverage of film through analytical and testing activities yields remarkable returns especially at the distribution and transportation channels. The development of stretch wrap technology for freight applications will also remain a work in progress as business seeks to derive more benefits for its operations as freight volumes expand across various industries. Businesses who are not using pallet stretch film will discover chances of utilizing the load stabilization and protection from the sectio.