Pallet wrapping mistakes to avoid
Pallet wrapping needn’t create challenges for businesses. Using the right materials and machinery and implementing the right processes will ensure it is an efficient and cost-effective exercise.
For businesses across sectors like manufacturing, chemicals and more, pallet wrapping needs to be done seamlessly, to protect products during transit, ensure safety in the supply chain, and manage overheads.
At MorsaPack, we hear of common pallet wrapping mistakes that are easily made but just as easily avoided – like using the wrong stretch film, or applying too little or too much film. Another of the pallet wrapping mistakes to avoid is focussing on initial machine costs over cost per pallet wrapped.
Common pallet wrapping mistakes and how to avoid them
Correctly loading and wrapping pallets is essential to ensuring your goods reach customers in-tact and on-time. These are the mistakes businesses might make around wrapping pallets, and how to avoid them:
Focussing on initial machine costs over cost per pallet wrapped
One of the common mistakes we see is businesses being distracted by the initial investment costs for installing a stretch wrap machine. As with any business investment, the right machine will pay dividends over time, so seeking to save money on machine cost alone should be avoided.
By taking the time to consider your pallet volumes and weights, along with your product types and shipping requirements, we can advise you on the right pallet wrapping machine and stretch wrap for your needs.
We can then demonstrate a ‘cost per pallet wrapped’ – how much it costs in terms of initial machine investment and ongoing film costs to safely and adequately wrap each pallet, based on the volume of film required and the best application process for this.
While a new stretch wrap machine could require significant up-front investment, this will typically be paid off within a few months since new and improved pallet wrap machinery can apply more efficient stretch film, requiring lower ongoing spend on packaging.
Prioritising the ‘cost per pallet wrapped’ will offer a more accurate long-term view on packaging and pallet wrap costs.
“I could clearly demonstrate to my team the benefits of investing in new kit.”
Case study – How a bathroom supplier saved more than £11,000 per year by investing £8,000 in new machinery
Using the wrong stretch wrap
One of the most common pallet wrapping mistakes we see is businesses applying the wrong type of stretch wrap to loads. This might be by using a low strength film that requires higher volumes to achieve the correct containment force, or by using a high strength stretch film on goods that do not require a high containment force, each leading to wasted materials.
Similarly, we sometimes see businesses failing to achieve the right film tension on loads, meaning stretch wrap isn’t being used to its full potential and might not deliver sufficient structural integrity to the load.
Choosing the wrong stretch wrap creates safety risks for goods during transit, is likely to increase overall pallet wrap costs, and could add unnecessary time or labour to the packaging process.
Taking the time to understand the containment forces required of each load – based on the type, size, shape and weight of goods – will prevent the wrong type of stretch wrap being applied to pallets.
“MorsaPack proved we could reduce the amount of film applied without compromising the safety of loads.”
Case study – How a home essentials manufacturer increased productivity by installing a new stretch wrapping machine to use different stretch wrap film
Applying too little or too much stretch film
As with applying the wrong film, using too little or too much stretch film is a costly mistake to make – the former risking unstable loads if the stretch wrapping doesn’t deliver the right containment force, the latter creating unnecessary costs and adding to overall load weights.
As above, taking the time to understand what containment force your loads require and what film tension will deliver this will prevent unstable, wasteful or too-heavy loads.
Misunderstanding pallet stability
Failing to understand the importance of pallet stability or how it can be efficiently achieved is another mistake we sometimes see. Not recognising how essential load stability is to the safety of workers and security of products is a risky mistake to make since it could lead to pallets becoming dislodged during transit, causing a physical hazard, or valuable goods being damaged, causing wastage and extra costs.
Seeking expert guidance on what pallet stability is, along with advice on how it can be achieved, will ensure easy-to-make but costly or hazardous mistakes aren’t made when wrapping pallets.
Failing to properly train staff
Another of the most common mistakes we see around wrapping pallets is failing to properly train staff on machine usage or failing to educate them on the importance of pallet stability. Not training staff on how to use a stretch wrap machine poses safety issues around unstable pallets, as well as spending unnecessary time and money on applying and using wrap.
We also see mistakes made where staff aren’t trained on how to efficiently load and configure a pallet, leading to poor stacking of cartons. This poses hazards for workers in the supply chain, who could be injured if products become dislodged, and can also reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of your packaging process overall.
Ensuring all team members are adequately trained will prevent accidents and unstable loads while also cutting waste and unnecessary costs.
Get your pallet wrapping right with MorsaPack
Chat to our team today for guidance and advice on how to optimise and improve your stretch wrapping and packaging processes.
