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When two film reels have different weights or thicknesses, comparing the price per reel can be misleading. A simple calculation gives packaging buyers an estimate of the metres of single-wound polythene sheeting on each reel—and a more useful basis for comparing quotations. The estimate is a starting point, not a guaranteed running length. It uses nominal dimensions and an assumed density. Confirm the actual net film weight, material and tolerances with your supplier. What in

A contract packing job can look straightforward until the customer changes the pack count, tray or delivery schedule. Before ordering collation shrink film, build a specification around the finished multipack and the equipment that will produce it. That gives purchasing, production and the film supplier the same brief. Start with a pack-format list List each product, pack count, arrangement, finished dimensions and total weight. Record whether the pack is tray-supported, pad-

A practical troubleshooting guide for liners slipping into containers or splitting during filling, covering fit, contact points, closure allowance and sample comparisons.

If you pack the same type of product in several lengths, a stock of fixed-size bags can quickly become awkward. Short items sit in excess film; long items need another bag size. Lay-flat tubing offers a different workflow: draw material from a continuous reel, cut the length you need and seal the open ends. That flexibility is useful at a packing bench, but a reliable result depends on more than choosing a width. The product, sealer, reel and packing method all need to suit o

A sample reel that runs for a few minutes can tell you something useful. It cannot, on its own, tell you whether to change the film used across your normal production mix. A worthwhile polythene film trial starts with a buying question. Are you trying to reduce material per pack, improve sealing consistency, accommodate a different product or assess an alternative supply? Agree that question before the sample reaches the packing area. At Stretchband Packaging, we look at the

Two bags can have the same dimensions and thickness yet feel very different at the packing station. One is torn from a roll; the other is picked from a loose stack. The way bags are presented can affect the steps needed to separate, open, fill and close them. When comparing bags on a roll vs loose polythene bags, start with the work at the bench rather than the price of a carton. The useful question is which format helps your team produce a consistent pack with the least unne

A damaged core or knocked reel edge can create a packing problem before the film ever reaches the machine. When a line begins tracking poorly or unwinding unevenly, the investigation should include how the reel arrived, where it was stored and how it was moved. Polythene film reel storage is an operational issue as well as a housekeeping task. The objective is simple: preserve the supplied reel, keep its identity visible and bring it to the packing area in a condition that ca

Compare polyolefin and polythene shrink film for clarity, strength, pack format, machinery and total cost before choosing a specification.

A practical guide to specifying lay-flat tubing, sleeves and protective sheeting for PVC trunking, aluminium profiles, conduit, trims and other long extrusions.

Seven practical checks for specifying lay-flat tubing, protective sheeting and pallet wrap for carpet, underlay and flooring rolls.

Machine and hand pallet stretch wrap perform the same basic job: they apply stretch film around a palletised load to help keep it stable and protected during storage and transport. The best format, however, depends on far more than the number of pallets leaving the warehouse. Load shape, film specification, operator availability, wrapping consistency and the equipment already on site can all change the answer. A busy operation with repeatable loads may benefit from machine-ap

A practical guide to choosing bags, lay-flat tubing or sheeting for doors, cabinet panels, worktops and furniture components.

A practical checklist for printed shrink film artwork, covering repeat length, shrink distortion, barcodes, seals, reel format and line trials.

Eight practical questions to help contract packers specify polythene film, control waste and plan a measurable production trial.

A practical guide to specifying single-wound polythene sheeting for reliable wrapping, sealing, tracking and automated packing performance.

Seven practical questions to assess performance, machinery, sealing, appearance, compliance and evidence before moving to PCR polythene film.

Bagging film splitting, tracking badly or producing weak seals? Work through these eight practical checks before changing the film specification.

A practical guide to choosing dimensions, gauge, seals, presentation and recycled content for reliable industrial polythene bags and sacks.

A practical guide to the product, machine and reel information needed to develop a reliable collation shrink film specification for automated multipack lines.

A practical guide to auditing polythene film specification, reel format, machine performance, waste and cost per pack before making controlled improvements.