When packaging machinery is running at high speeds, even a small issue with your polythene film can lead to costly downtime, wasted product and frustrated operators.

At Stretchband Packaging, we don't simply supply film—we help customers solve packaging problems.

Here are five of the most common issues we see.

1. Poor Seal Strength

Weak or inconsistent seals can result in damaged products during transport or rejected packs on automated lines.

Common causes include:

• Incorrect film specification

• Unsuitable sealing temperatures

• Poor film consistency

• Contamination

Choosing the correct film for your machinery and application is essential.

2. Film Breaking During Production

Frequent film breaks reduce production efficiency and increase waste.

This is often caused by:

• Film that's too thin

• Incorrect stretch properties

• Poor reel winding

• Variations in material quality

A correctly manufactured film should run consistently from the first metre to the last.

3. Excessive Downtime Due to Machine Build-Up

Certain films can leave deposits on sealing jaws, blades or hot bars, leading to poor seals and regular cleaning.

We've recently helped an e-commerce customer eliminate continual sealing jaw build-up by developing a bespoke film blend specifically for their machinery.

The result was improved productivity and significantly reduced downtime.

4. Over-Specifying Your Packaging

Many businesses use thicker films than necessary because "it's what we've always bought."

Modern film technology often allows the same performance using less material, reducing both packaging costs and plastic usage.

We regularly help customers optimise their specifications without compromising performance.

5. Choosing Price Over Performance

The cheapest film isn't always the most economical.

A slightly higher-quality film can reduce:

• Machine stoppages

• Product damage

• Waste

• Operator intervention

• Overall packaging costs

The true cost of packaging is measured by production efficiency—not simply the price per kilogram.

Need Technical Advice?

Whether you're using stretch banding film, shrink film, layflat tubing, single wound sheeting or printed polythene films, our team can help identify the right solution for your packaging process.

If you're experiencing production issues or simply want to review your current packaging materials, we'd be happy to help.

Contact StretchbandPackaging | Talk to a Film Expert