Today, few people think that product packaging is as important as the product itself. The thing is that the safety of products, their appearance and shelf life depend on quality packaging. Also, do not forget that competent packaging can be effectively used for marketing purposes. However, there is another type of packaging, the most popular version of which is widely used in supermarkets. This is a stretch film for manual packaging.
Definition
A stretch film is a group of polymers used for packaging materials and having selective adhesive properties. In simple words, such a film adheres very well to itself when there is packaging in several layers, but does not adhere to the product being packaged at all. Another of its features is the ability to stretch without damaging the structure of the material. As a result, the film restores its original shape some time after the completion of packaging.
Advantages
In addition to the above, the stretch film also has a number of the following positive characteristics:
- increased resistance to damage of various types;
- transparency providing visual access to packaged goods;
- barrier properties (protection of the contents from dirt, moisture and unhindered access of unauthorized persons);
- reliable fixation of the contents, which is especially important when transporting it over long distances;
- attractive price of stretch film (190 m of film per roll will cost you around 250 rubles);
- preservation of its characteristics in a wide temperature range.
All these advantages lead to the fact that the stretch film is simply an indispensable material in various industries, from food to construction.
Based on this, there are several classifications of material according to various criteria.
Functional classification
According to this classification, the stretch film is divided into two types:
- Food.
- Technical
Based on the name, it becomes clear that food stretch film for manual packaging is used in the food industry and in everyday life for packaging products. The most surprising thing here is that it can be used to pack absolutely any food product, since it is odorless and does not contain any harmful substances. Even prolonged contact with this packaging material does not harm food products. Moreover, this transparent stretch film for manual packaging is very convenient for determining the quality of packaged products.
A modernized version of the food film is breathable. Its special structure allows oxygen to pass through and expels moisture and carbon dioxide.
Technical film, in turn, is used for packaging various goods, from building materials to printing products. Compared to food, it is thicker and more durable. Its main purpose is to protect the product from external factors.
Material classification
Here you can find three main types of stretch film:
- Plastic stretch film.
- PVC stretch film.
- Polystyrene and EVA stretch film.
The first type is considered the most common, since it is used in the food industry. The width of the stretch film of this type ranges from 225 to 450 mm, it can be freely purchased in almost any hardware store or in the construction department of any hypermarket.
The second type of film is also used in the food industry, since polyvinyl chloride passes various gases through itself. Moreover, you can find such a film of various colors.
The last type of film in this classification is represented by the most modern material. It is understandable that the price of a stretch film of this kind is higher than usual (more than 300 rubles per roll), but the improved performance completely justifies the extra financial costs.
Classification by production method
In this case, there are two main technologies for the production of stretch film:
- Blown extrusion technology.
- Flat-slot extrusion technology.
According to the first technology, a durable and durable packaging material is made, which can easily be extended by two or three times. This film is considered a universal option for packaging various goods.
The second technology involves the manufacture of a film in the form of a multilayer web, which is then packaged in rolls of stretch film for ease of use. Since different layers are responsible for different properties of the product (external - for adhesiveness, internal - for strength), this material is characterized by excellent performance.
Classification by method of application
According to the latest classification, this material can be divided into the following types:
- Manual stretch film.
- Machine stretch film.
The first type is considered the easiest to use, because the stretch film for manual packaging is very convenient to use. The packaging process using this material takes place completely in manual mode without the use of any special equipment. However, this material is often mounted on a stretch film dispenser for greater packaging convenience.
As for the machine stretch film, this material is used for packaging with special devices called pallet packers. These machines vary significantly in the way they function, performance and, accordingly, price. Separately, it is worth mentioning here that the speed and quality of packaging significantly depend on whether the stretch film was correctly selected and installed.
Substitutes
Given the excellent characteristics, it is not surprising that the stretch film for manual packaging has several analogues. The first of these are stretch hoodies, which are actively used in food industry enterprises. Roughly speaking, these are bags that can be stretched to the required size and put on the load. After that, the film is compressed to securely fix the load. It is clear that this method of packaging is suitable only for those goods that are devoid of sharp parts.
The second analogue is represented by polyethylene shrink-hoods. They are similar with stretch hoods, as both are put on a load. A distinctive feature of shrink hoods is that you can apply heat shrink to them. After they are already put on, they are significantly compressed under the influence of heaters in order to fix the load as firmly as possible. So this type of packaging is ideal for storing and transporting large and heavy loads. However, this analogue has a significant drawback, expressed in high price.
Conclusion
Polyethylene is one of the most common materials in many industries. That is why the stretch film developed on its basis is very popular and is almost an indispensable tool when there is a need to pack something quickly and reliably. There are different types of this packaging material, each of which has its own characteristics, advantages and purpose. Despite the fact that today there are a number of analogues of this material, stretch film does not lose its leading position on all fronts.