Executive summary Pallet stretch wrapping holds a load together with stretched film, and the choice comes down to the wrapper type, the wrap program and the film. Our turntable wrappers suit most stable loads up to 1,800 kg. Rotary arm wrappers suit loads that should not turn, and ring wrappers reach 30 to 60 pallets per hour. With 250% pre-stretch, one metre of film from the roll covers 3.5 m of load.
Table of Contents
- What stretch wrapping does to a load
- Turntable, rotary arm or ring: choosing the wrapper
- Wrap programs and film layers
- Worked example: film used per pallet
- Top plate and top sheet
- Delivery and installation
- Selection checklist: what to send us
- Safety and EN 415-6
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What stretch wrapping does to a load
Stretched film tries to return to its original length, so it squeezes the load. That squeeze, the containment force, keeps cartons from sliding off the pallet when a truck brakes. A film that is stretched before it reaches the load does this with less material, because the film is thinner on the load but keeps its pull.
The other jobs are protection and identity: film keeps dust and rain off, and it shows at a glance if a load has been opened.
Turntable, rotary arm or ring: choosing the wrapper
| Turntable (A100) | Rotary arm (R100) | Rotary ring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What moves | the load turns | the film arm turns round a still load | a ring turns round a still load |
| Load | up to 1,800 kg | the load stays on the floor or conveyor | up to 2,000 kg |
| Load size | 1,800 mm high; 1,500 mm turntable | 1,300 × 1,300 × 2,300 mm | 1,200 × 1,200 × 2,000 mm |
| Speed | set per wrap program | arm 10 to 14 rpm | 30 to 60 pallets per hour |
| Best for | stable loads, most plants | tall, light or unstable loads, heavy loads | high-output lines |
Start from the load. A stable pallet of cartons goes on a turntable. A tall stack of light boxes would sway if it turned, so a rotary arm wraps it standing still. When output passes what one turntable can do, a ring wrapper runs fastest because the ring turns at speed without swinging an arm.
Wrap programs and film layers
The number of film layers is set by the wrap program, not by the machine. A carriage that goes from bottom to top once lays one layer. A program that runs up, down, up and down lays four. Film use changes with the program, so doubling the passes does not simply double the cost: base wraps and top wraps are added on top.
Most programs also add extra turns at the base, where the film locks the load to the pallet, and at the top. The bottom is where loads usually fail, so that is where the extra film pays.
Worked example: film used per pallet
Take a 1,200 × 1,000 mm pallet loaded to 1,800 mm, wrapped with 500 mm wide, 25 µm film at 250% pre-stretch. The carriage advances 250 mm per turn, for a 50% overlap.
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Perimeter, 2 × (1.2 + 1.0) | 4.4 m |
| Turns per pass, 1,800 ÷ 250 | 7.2 |
| Film on the load per pass, 7.2 × 4.4 | about 31.7 m |
| Film from the roll per pass, 31.7 ÷ 3.5 | about 9.1 m |
| Film weight per pass, 25 µm × 0.5 m × 9.1 m × 920 kg/m³ | about 0.10 kg |
| Up-down-up-down program, 4 passes | about 0.42 kg, before base and top turns |
The figures count film length and weight taken from the roll, which is what you buy. Stretched film also narrows a little, so the band on the load is slightly under 500 mm wide. At 250% pre-stretch, every metre from the roll becomes 3.5 m on the load. Without pre-stretch, the same program would take 3.5 times the film. The 920 kg/m³ is a typical LLDPE density, and the pallet and overlap are illustrative.
Top plate and top sheet
A pneumatic top plate comes down onto the load before the top wraps and lifts once they are done. It keeps light or loose cartons from lifting as the film pulls round them. It also stops slick, heavy layers, such as stacked battery cases or drums, from creeping as the turntable starts and stops.
A top sheet is a sheet of film laid over the top before the side wrap, so rain cannot get in from above. Light, loose or slick loads need the top plate; loads stored outdoors need the top sheet. Some loads need both.
Delivery and installation
A semi-automatic wrapper arrives almost ready to run: the turntable, mast and carriage go in place and the power is connected. An inline automatic wrapper needs more planning, because its conveyors must line up with the ones already in your plant.
Before the machine arrives, prepare:
- A level floor that will take the load and the machine.
- Power at the machine position, and compressed air where the machine uses it; the R100 takes 6 to 8 kgf/cm² (about 0.6 to 0.8 MPa) of clean, dry air.
- Forklift or pallet truck access to load the turntable, or the conveyor route for an inline machine.
- Film stock: 500 mm wide rolls with a 76 mm core for the A100 and R100.
- Someone to be trained on programs, film loading and daily checks.
Selection checklist: what to send us
- Pallet size, the tallest and heaviest load.
- Load type: stable cartons, light stacks, bags or loose items.
- Pallets per hour or per shift.
- Whether loads are stored outdoors.
- Forklift loading or conveyors.
- Film you use now, and its thickness.
Safety and EN 415-6
For CE markets, ISO 12100 sets the risk-assessment method and EN 415-6 sets the safety requirements for pallet wrapping machines. The hazards are the turning turntable, arm or ring, the carriage and the film cutter.
On a semi-automatic turntable, keep people clear of the turning load and stop the machine before reaching in. An automatic conveyor wrapper needs perimeter fencing with safety-rated interlocks on every access door. At the conveyor entry and exit, light curtains with muting let a pallet through but stop the machine when a person crosses.
Engineering FAQ
Q: How heavy a pallet can a turntable wrapper take? A: Our A100 takes up to 1,800 kg on a 1,500 mm turntable.
Q: When should I choose a rotary arm wrapper? A: For tall, light or unstable loads that should not turn; our R100 wraps loads up to 1,300 × 1,300 × 2,300 mm.
Q: How many pallets per hour can a ring wrapper do? A: Our rotary ring wrapper does 30 to 60 pallets per hour.
Q: What does pre-stretch save? A: At 250%, one metre of film covers 3.5 m of load.
Q: Which safety standards apply? A: For CE markets, ISO 12100 and EN 415-6.
Next step
- Email your pallet sizes, loads and pallets per hour to info@fhopepack.com.
- We reply within 24 hours with a proposal naming the wrapper type and program.
- We send a layout and a list of what to prepare before delivery.
Related reading
- Pallet wrapping machine A100
- Semi-automatic rotary arm wrapper R100
- Automatic ring stretch wrapper
- Inline turntable stretch wrapper B200 with top plate
- Inline turntable pallet wrapper
- FHOPE-R100 rotary arm pallet wrapper with film cutter
Sources
- Specifications: FHOPE A100, R100 and automatic ring stretch wrapper product pages
- Wrap programs and layers: FHOPE engineering confirmation
- Machine video: pallet stretch wrapping on YouTube
- Film use: our worked example, illustrative pallet, typical LLDPE density
- Standards: EN 415-6 (pallet wrapping machines); ISO 12100:2010
Last reviewed: 2026-10-17
