Why pre-stretch decides the economics
Two operations wrapping identical pallets can differ by a factor of three in film cost, and the difference is almost always pre-stretch rather than the price paid per roll. A machine that pre-stretches film to 250% turns each metre of film into three and a half metres of wrap, so the same roll covers far more pallets. This is why comparing suppliers on the price of a roll alone is misleading: the correct comparison is cost per pallet at the pre-stretch the machine can actually hold on your load.
It is also why a wrapping machine can pay for itself on film savings before any labour saving is counted. Running the numbers at both your current pre-stretch and the pre-stretch of a proposed machine gives the honest payback figure to put in a quotation request.
Frequently asked
Why is pre-stretch divided rather than multiplied?
Pre-stretch describes how much the film is elongated before it reaches the load. At 200% one metre becomes three, so the film drawn from the roll is the wrapped length divided by three, not multiplied.
What pre-stretch should I expect?
Hand wrapping usually reaches 40-70%. Machines with powered pre-stretch commonly run 200-250%, though the achievable figure depends on film grade and load shape.
Does a cheaper roll mean cheaper wrapping?
Not necessarily. A cheaper film that cannot hold high pre-stretch, or that needs more wraps for stability, can cost more per pallet than a more expensive film.
How many top and bottom wraps are normal?
Loads are usually locked to the pallet at the base and reinforced at the top, commonly two to three revolutions at each, though unstable loads need more.
Run the calculation at your current pre-stretch and again at 200-250%, then request a quotation with your pallet size, load height, and daily volume attached.