Executive summary A load that leaves the line with film on its sides but an open top still collects dust and rain water in the warehouse. Our rotary arm wrapper in this video takes a large box-shaped load in on a roller conveyor, brings the arm down over it, covers it in clear film and sends it on down the line. The top sheet size follows from the load footprint plus the overhang per side, and film per load from the load perimeter times the number of turns.
Table of Contents
- What the video shows
- How a load is covered
- Top sheet and film per load
- Controls and safety
- Selection checklist for a rotary arm wrapper with top sheet
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the video shows
A large white box-shaped load rides into our yellow-framed wrapping cell on a roller conveyor. A yellow mesh fence with posts closes off the area behind the cell, and people work outside it.
The wrapping unit above the conveyor lowers over the load and clear film is drawn off the roll and laid round the load and over its top. The covered load then moves on along the conveyor and out of the cell, and the next load follows. Later in the clip film-covered loads travel down the conveyor line.
How a load is covered
Times are read from the video timestamps.
| Step | What happens | Video time |
|---|---|---|
| Infeed | The load rides into the cell on the roller conveyor | about 0–6 s |
| Unit down | The wrapping unit lowers over the load | about 6–14 s |
| Cover and wrap | Film is drawn off the roll and laid round and over the load | about 14–28 s |
| Next load | The covered load moves on and the next load comes in | from about 30 s |
These times show the order of steps in the clip, not a rated cycle time; the cycle for your film plan is confirmed in the proposal.
The load stays on the conveyor the whole time, so no forklift is needed at the wrapper. The top sheet keeps the top face covered, which side wrapping alone leaves open.
Top sheet and film per load
Illustrative example with customer-side inputs:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Load footprint (illustrative) | 1,200 × 1,000 mm |
| Overhang per side (illustrative) | 200 mm |
| Top sheet, (1,200 + 2 × 200) × (1,000 + 2 × 200) | 1,600 × 1,400 mm |
| Perimeter, 2 × (1,200 + 1,000) | 4,400 mm |
| Turns (illustrative) | 12 |
| Film laid round the load, 12 × 4.4 m | 52.8 m |
The overhang is folded down by the side wrap, which holds the sheet in place. Film laid is not film paid out; pre-stretch means the roll pays out less.
Controls and safety
The arm moves above the conveyor and the conveyor moves loads in and out on its own. Keep people outside the fenced area while the cell runs, and go in only when the cycle has stopped and the cell is made safe. For pallet wrapping machines, EN 415-6 adds the specific safety requirements.
The standards that apply depend on the destination market. For CE markets, ISO 12100 sets the risk-assessment method and EN 415-10 sets general requirements for packaging machines.
Selection checklist for a rotary arm wrapper with top sheet
- Load footprint, height and heaviest load.
- Top sheet width and overhang per side.
- Film plan: turns, top and bottom wraps.
- Loads per hour the line has to take.
- Conveyor height and direction at infeed and outfeed.
- Fence and access-door layout round the cell.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Why add a top sheet when the sides are wrapped? A: Side wrapping leaves the top face open; the top sheet covers it against dust and water.
Q: How big is the top sheet? A: Add twice the overhang to the length and the width: a 1,200 × 1,000 mm load with 200 mm overhang per side takes a 1,600 × 1,400 mm sheet in our example.
Q: How much film goes round the load? A: Perimeter times turns: 4.4 m × 12 gives 52.8 m laid in our example.
Q: Does the load have to leave the conveyor to be wrapped? A: No. In our cell the load rides in, is covered and wrapped, and rides out on the conveyor.
Q: Which safety standard applies? A: For CE markets, EN 415-6 covers pallet wrapping machines.
Next step
We plan your rotary arm wrapper with top sheet covering in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with load sizes, heights and weights to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with top sheet and film plan.
- Book a site survey to check conveyor heights and loads per hour.
Related reading
- Automatic pallet wrapping machine
- Video: rotary arm wrapper with top sheet and corner protector applicator
- Video: pallet wrapping machinery for online packing with top sheet covering
Sources
- Machine content: FHOPE engineering team, 2026-10-04
- Pallet wrapper safety: EN 415-6
- Top sheet and film example: our worked example, illustrative values
- Machine in action: our video on YouTube
- Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010, EN 415-10:2014
Last reviewed: 2026-10-04
