What would you think if I said you could optimize your stretch wrap usage by up to 400%?
You’d probably think I’m exaggerating or making it up.
But the truth of the matter is that there are a number of ways to cut down on the cost of stretch wrap, making it a good way for businesses trying to cut their costs.
That’s why, today, we’re going to review three ways for your business to effectively reduce how much it spends on stretch wrap.
3 Ways to Reduce Stretch Wrap Costs
If you’ve ever worked in or operated a warehouse, then you know that stretch wrap can be one of the biggest material expenses. So, how can you minimize product waste and reduce costs?
Our experts have put together the following methods:
- Purchasing Stretch Wrap in Bulk
- Downgauging
- Investing in a Stretch Wrap Dispenser or Stretch Wrapper
Purchasing Stretch Wrap in Bulk
It’s no secret, buying in bulk is cheaper. Purchasing stretch wrap in bulk is no exception.
Purchasing stretch wrap in bulk means that you purchase a skid of stretch wrap and its bulk packed on the skid, so no boxes are needed. This can result in tremendous savings!
You’ll find that a lot of distributors offer different discounts based on the amount purchased. In fact, it’s not uncommon for the price-per-roll to be cut by as much as 40% on larger orders.
But that’s not all. As purchasing volume increases, both the price-per-case and shipping cost decreases. Now, by buying stretch wrap in bulk, you’re not just saving on the price of the product, but on the shipping costs too!
You may have already known that bulk purchases can lower your material and shipping costs, but this next method may be new to you.
Downgauging
Another great way to reduce stretch wrap costs is by downgauging.
Downgauging is when you use a thinner, or lower gauge, stretch wrap to accomplish the same load tension as a thicker, or higher gauge, stretch wrap.
Downgauging is cheaper because the lower the gauge of stretch wrap is, the less material there is. It follows that high gauge stretch wrap is made of more material, so it costs more to purchase.
One way to downgauge is by purchasing “engineered films.”
These are thinner films that are engineered with special high-stretch additives, giving the film an enhanced strength far beyond its would-be thickness strength.
Another effective way of downgauging is to switch from “true gauged film” to “equivalent film.”
True gauged film is a premium quality stretch wrap characterized by its high stretch rate. On the other hand, equivalent film is thinner than true gauged film, and has a lower stretch rate. Equivalent film has a different stretch rate than true gauged film because it’s made from a different resin mixture.
Equivalent film has comparable load retention because, despite being thinner, it’s stiffer than true gauged film. There is a tradeoff, though; because it’s thinner and stiffer, the puncture and tear resistance is reduced.
With that in mind, if you’re wrapping boxes and other non-sharp-edged objects, then the lowered puncture and tear resistance may not even be an issue. That’s why, despite this tradeoff, downgauging to equivalent film is effective.
But if you’re not interested in downgauging, we have one more way to reduce stretch wrap costs for your business.
Investing in a Stretch Wrap Dispenser or Stretch Wrapper
Investing in either tools or a machine to assist in the application of stretch wrap is a great way to cut down on costs. This is because stretch wrap dispensers and stretch wrappers minimize waste by optimizing usage.
For smaller operations, your best bet is to provide the crew with a variety of stretch wrap dispensers.
Stretch Wrap Dispensers
Stretch wrap dispensers come in a variety of sizes and models, but generally the point of using one is to reduce hand fatigue and increase tension control.
There are specialty stretch wrap dispensers, like the hand saver dispenser and the mini stretch wrap dispenser, that are lightweight and portable. These tools are convenient for workers who will be moving around the warehouse often and don’t want to lose track of their tool, as it will fit in their back pocket.
Bigger stretch wrap dispensers will have an ergonomically designed grip and a rod for the stretch wrap to go on. These tools provide the most comfort and highest degree of tension control, allowing workers to get more stretch from a roll of film than would be possible by hand alone.
This is how stretch wrap dispensers optimize usage, by enabling the worker to achieve a higher maximum stretch. In doing so, less stretch wrap is required to secure a load.
For bigger operations, however, stretch wrap dispensers may not be enough. In this scenario, there is no better way to cut material costs than by using a stretch wrapper.
Stretch Wrappers
If your operation requires more than a dozen loads to be palletized per hour, then you’ll want to invest in a stretch wrapper.
Stretch wrappers involve a high upfront cost, making it inaccessible to smaller operations. But, this machine more than pays for itself in boosted productivity and stretch wrapping efficiency.
Whether you go with a semi-automatic or an automatic stretch wrapper, they will provide fast, secure, and consistent loading results every time, all the while freeing up would-be operators to focus on other tasks.
But what makes stretch wrappers really shine is their excellent ability to reduce material waste by getting the most stretch possible from a roll of stretch wrap.
By hand, a worker might be able to achieve 60%-80% stretch, while a machine can easily achieve 200%-400% stretch. By doing so, the stretch wrapper is able to maximize cost-effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
Stretch wrap is a necessary expense for many businesses, but it doesn’t have to be a costly one.
By ordering stretch wrap in bulk and downgauging you’ll save as much money as possible on shipping and material costs. Add stretch wrap dispensers or a stretch wrapper to the mix and it’ll ensure that you’re getting the maximum stretch from your stretch wrap.
If you’re interested in ordering stretch wrap and stretch wrap accessories, or investing in a stretch wrapper, reach out to one of our packaging experts at an Imperial Dade facility near you!
One of our experts will perform an evaluation of your operation, identifying where there’s room for improvement. We’ll make sure to recommend the right dispenser and accessories for your facility.
No matter what you do or who you serve, we’re here to help your business, so reach out today for a free consultation!