How To Choose The Right Stretch Wrapping Machine - GAP-CO

Every organization is different.  No two companies are faced with the same challenges, production needs, and warehouse organization.  Choosing the right stretch wrapping machine for your business is a big investment that should not be taken lightly.  Here at GAP-CO we take pride in helping clients understand their unique business environment and working together to find the right system that fits their needs and budget.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from SMART WASP.

Defining Your Stretch Wrapping Goals

The first and most important question you should ask yourself before buying a stretch wrapping machine is what are your goals?  You should look to define what success looks like for switching to a machine for your stretch wrapping needs.  Are you switching from hand wrapping to a semi- or fully- automatic system?  What is your current production output and your planned output for the future?  How many loads per day will you be wrapping now, one year, five years, or ten years from now?  Switching to an automated stretch wrapping process can also reduce your liability and injury risks from workers manually wrapping pallets and walking around on your facility floors.  These are all important questions to ask yourself to determine what your goals are.

Answering these questions will help you determine what kind of machine will benefit your business the most.  You should also determine if there are any special needs your loads will require.  This includes identifying important information such as:

Comparing Different Stretch Wrappers

Once you’ve identified the important information about your loads, you can then begin to compare the different types of stretch wrappers available on the market.  It’s critical that you weigh the pros and cons of each machine type against your stretch wrapping goals.  Rotary arm machines, for example, are well-equipped to handle unstable or heavy loads because the machine arm wraps around the stationary pallet.  Knowing the features of each machine and your requirements such as desired output will help you in your comparisons.

Identify Any Must-Have Features

During your research, you should determine what features are essential for the safe and proper wrapping of your products.  Will you require a turntable stretch wrapper with a touch screen and/or multiple emergency stop buttons?  Do you need a wrapper that supports conveyor systems in a fully automated environment?  Identifying these must-have features will help you narrow down your selection.

Manufacturer/Distributor Network

In addition to choosing a machine, you’re also choosing the manufacturer or distributor that you’ll be working with for the life of the machine.  There are many factors you should consider when evaluating who you’ll want to do business with.  These factors include:

• Total number of machines installed
• Machine pricing and available options
• Support and service network
• Warranty and availability of replacement parts

You’ll want to choose someone who you can rely on if any problems do arise with your stretch wrapping machine.  How many machines have they successfully installed in the field?  Are their prices competitive?  What kind of repair/maintenance services do they offer their customers?  Knowing these factors will ensure you make the correct choice of partner for your stretch wrapper.  Choosing the right installer is just important as choosing the right machine.

Choosing the Right Packaging Solution

One of the ways that GAP-CO differs from other packaging companies is that we work with our customers to determine the most cost-effective and safe packaging methods for your stretch wrapping operations.  Our trained packaging professionals identify solutions including machine type, gauge of film, and more.  This saves your business time and money, keeping your production lines running smoothly and efficiently.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about choosing the right stretch wrapping machine for your business, contact us today.  We look forward to hearing from you.

When it comes to choosing the right pallet or stretch wrapper, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

1. How many pallet loads are you wrapping per day? This helps to determine the right range of machine you will need for optimal performance and film efficiency.
2. How heavy is the product you are wrapping? Different models have different maximum weight capacities. If your pallets exceed lbs then a different style machine such as a rotary arm or mobile pallet wrapper would be a good choice. 
3. How tall is the product you are wrapping, and what are the overall dimensions? This helps determine the size and height specifications required of the machine to effectively wrap your product. We have options for oversize pallets.
4. Do you need to optimize your film usage? – Power pre-stretch carriages, such as on the 850PS Model reduce film needed per pallet and decrease your film costs by up to 60%! If you are wrapping 20 or more pallets per day you can payoff the cost of a power pre-stretch carriage in just a few months and save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the machine. 
5. Do you need a pallet wrapper with a scale? – You can add a scale to most of our stretch wrappers By adding an integrated scale you can effectively weigh your pallets for transport and eliminate extra handling by combining your weighing and wrapping station.
6. Will you be loading with fork trucks or pallet jacks that require a ramp to load? We offer a variety of ramps that allow you to load the machine whether hand pallet jack or electric jack.
7. Are you limited on space and need to load with manual jacks or electric pallet jacks? Our UL Ultra-Low turnable doesn’t require long ramps to be loaded, which saves you a lot of space! This patented frame design includes a 3 sided ramp and greatly reduces the effort to load the pallet with pallet jacks and requires less space than traditional machines.

Entry Level Model:

The SWM-SA-600 is our least expensive model. It’s great for low-to-moderate use and allows you to wrap up to 20 loads per day.

SWM-SA-600

• Production Rate Up to 20 loads per day
• Basic controls
• lb capacity
• Photo Eye, Semi-Automatic operation
• Best for: Low to moderate use. Perfect for a small operation that currently hand wraps.
• Explore the Model 600
• List Price: $6,000

Mid Level Models:

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Rotary Arm Fully Automatic Pallet Wrapping Machine. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

These two mid-level models are great for packaging operations that require a wrapper that can handle up to 100 loads per day. They offer more advanced controls than the entry-level model.

SWM-SA-800

• Production Rate Up to 100 loads per day
• Upgraded controls with customized wrap load cycles
• Electronic film tensioner
• lb capacity
• Photo Eye, Semi-Automatic operation
• Best for: This model covers a wide range of entry to mid-level operations and is a top value choice. If you want to use 60% less film, consider the 850PS model.
• Explore the Model 800
• List Price $7,000

SWM-SA-850PS

• Production Rate Up to 100 loads per day
• Power stretch carriage reduces film usage by 60%
• Electronic film tensioner 
• lb capacity
• Same controls as the 800
• 250% powered film pre-stretch (better film efficiency than the SWM-SA-800 model)
• Photo Eye, Semi-Automatic operation
• Best for: The model 850PS is suitable for many applications. It falls right in the middle of our offerings and has a high-efficiency film carriage. If you want to save time and money, this model is an exceptional choice.
• Explore the Model 850PS
• List Price $9,300

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High Level Models

These two high-level models can wrap 200-300 pallets per day. They’re an excellent choice for heavy-duty packaging operations that require highly custom wrap cycles.   

SWM-SA- 

• Heavy-duty level semi-automatic pallet wrapper machine, rugged build for tough environments
• Rated for up to 300 pallet loads per day
• lb capacity
• 250% powered film pre-stretch (better film efficiency)
• Photo Eye, Semi-Automatic operation
• Power stretch carriage reduces film usage by 60%
• Variable tension control throughout the wrap cycle
• Robust controls with many parameters to customize the wrap cycle.
• Best for: This is our most rugged model that’s designed for challenging environments. The controls can be adjusted to suit nearly any application requirement. This model also has the most optional add-ons. 
• Explore the Model
• List Price $11,300

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SWM-SA-UL (Ultra Low Frame)

• Rated for up to 200 loads per day
• lb capacity
• 250% powered film pre-stretch (better film efficiency)
• Photo Eye, Semi-Automatic operation
• Patented Ultra-low frame & ramp easiest-loading machine on the market!
• Robust controls with many parameters to customize the wrap cycle.
• Variable tension control throughout the wrap cycle
• The ring ramp allows you to load and unload with nearly any material handling equipment, electric walkies, hand pallet jacks, stackers, you name it!
• Best for: This machine has the same robust controls as the AC. The added ultra-low profile frame and ring ramp allows you to use various equipment to quickly and safely load the unwrapped pallets.
• Explore the Model UL
• List Price $15,300 

Fully Automatic Model:

SWM-SA-AA-C

• Production Rate Up to 300 loads per day
• lb capacity
• 250% powered film pre-stretch (better film efficiency)
• Photo Eye, Automatic operation
• Variable tension control
• Remote Control operated, film auto attaches, cuts, and hot seals.
• Explore the Model AA-C

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Other Types of Pallet Wrappers to Consider:

Automatic Stretch Wrap Machines – These models allow you to control the automatic pallet wrapping machine via remote control—you don’t have to get off your forklift for any part of the wrap cycle. This improves your efficiency and overall throughput. These automatic pallet wrappers will automatically attach, hot seal, and then cut the stretch film.

Rotating Arm Stretch Wrappers – Ideal for extremely heavy, light, and unsteady loads as the pallet wrapping machine is stationary. They also tend to wrap at a higher speed than turntable stretch wrappers.

Mobile Robot Wrappers – Niche machine with their best attribute being that it can wrap very long or heavy pallets, and you can stow them away when not in use.

Want more information on Pallet Wrap Suppliers? Feel free to contact us.