Executive summary On an orbital wrapper, the film tension decides whether the wrap is tight and even or loose and torn. In this video our technician threads film through the carriage’s roller set and sets the wrap round each roller for steady tension. Film per pass follows from the ring turns times the product perimeter, so tension and pitch together set film use.
Table of Contents
- What the video shows
- How the film is threaded and set
- Film per pass
- Controls and safety
- Commissioning checklist for orbital wrapper film tension
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the video shows
The film roll sits on the carriage of our horizontal orbital stretch wrapper. The film runs from the roll over a guide and into a set of three rollers in the middle of the carriage.
The technician draws the film out through the gaps between the rollers, using a black T-shaped tool to guide it. He then adjusts how far the film wraps round each roller until it runs in an even, steady arc with no slack or slipping. A red emergency stop button is in view at the lower left of the shot.
How the film is threaded and set
Times are read from the video timestamps.
| Step | What happens | Video time |
|---|---|---|
| Unwind | Film runs from the roll over the guide, still slack | about 0–6 s |
| Thread | The film is drawn through the roller gaps | about 8–12 s |
| Set | The wrap round each roller is adjusted for even tension | about 14–22 s |
More wrap round a roller gives more grip and more tension; too little lets the film slip.
Film per pass
Illustrative example:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Product section (illustrative) | 300 × 100 mm |
| Perimeter, 2 × (300 + 100) | 800 mm |
| Product length (illustrative) | 6 m |
| Advance per ring turn (illustrative) | 125 mm |
| Ring turns, 6,000 ÷ 125 | 48 |
| Film laid, 48 × 0.8 m | 38.4 m |
A smaller advance per turn gives more overlap and more film for the same product.
Controls and safety
Thread and adjust film only with the ring stopped and the machine isolated, as in this video. The ring and carriage turn round the product at speed when the machine runs, so keep hands clear of the ring once it starts, and use the red emergency stop if needed.
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.
Commissioning checklist for orbital wrapper film tension
- Film type, width and thickness.
- Product section and surface.
- Advance per ring turn.
- Roller wrap set for the film.
- Test wrap on a sample product.
- Recheck after a film roll change.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Why does tension matter? A: Too much tears the film; too little leaves a loose wrap.
Q: How much film does a pass take? A: Ring turns times perimeter: 48 × 0.8 m gives 38.4 m in our example.
Q: How are ring turns worked out? A: Product length divided by advance per ring turn: 6,000 ÷ 125 mm gives 48.
Q: When should the film be threaded? A: Only with the ring stopped and the machine isolated.
Q: What do you need to work out the threading and settings? A: Product section and length, film type and thickness, and the advance per ring turn.
Next step
We plan your orbital stretch wrapper in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with product section and length to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with film type and advance per turn.
- Book a site survey to check output and line layout.
Related reading
- Automatic horizontal stretch wrapper
- Video: horizontal ring orbital stretch wrapping machine
- Video: economic horizontal orbital stretch wrapper for pipe and tube
Sources
- Machine content: FHOPE engineering team, 2026-10-04
- 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
