Stretch Film Suppliers & Manufacturers
Find verified stretch film manufacturers and suppliers on Towobo. Compare hand and machine stretch wrap formats, cast and blown film constructions, gauge and width specifications, pre-stretched and nano-layer films, and MOQs from manufacturers in China and other origins for pallet wrapping and load stabilisation.
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Browse Stretch Film Suppliers →Stretch film types, construction, and specifications
Stretch film (also called stretch wrap or pallet wrap) is a highly stretchable plastic film — predominantly linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) — used to wrap and stabilise unit loads on pallets for transport and warehouse storage. Stretch film is wound around the pallet load under tension, and the film's elastic recovery keeps the load tightly bound. Key stretch film types and parameters: hand stretch film — manual application by a warehouse operative wrapping a roll around the pallet; typically supplied on a core roll 450–500mm wide in 17–25 micron gauge; standard roll length 150–300 metres. Machine stretch film (pallet wrapping machine film) — applied by a rotary pallet wrapper or turntable stretch wrapper; typically 500mm wide, 17–25 micron, supplied in longer rolls (300–500 metres) at higher elongation for machine pre-stretch. Pre-stretched film — film that has already been machine-stretched to near its maximum elongation before rewinding, so that the film applies minimal tension during wrapping — used where fragile loads must not be compressed by wrapping tension. Cast stretch film — the dominant film type — produced by extruding the LLDPE melt through a flat die and cooling on a chill roll; provides excellent clarity, quiet unwinding, and consistent gauge. Blown stretch film — produced by the blown film extrusion process; provides higher puncture resistance and higher cling than cast film — preferred for wrapping irregular-shaped loads, sharp-edged products, or high-value loads requiring maximum puncture resistance; noisier to unwind than cast film. Nano-layer stretch film — a multi-layer cast film using 5–11 layer co-extrusion to achieve higher performance at thinner gauge — enabling gauge reduction (from 20 micron to 14–17 micron) while maintaining performance, reducing plastic weight and cost.
Gauge selection, performance, and ordering guidance
Stretch film gauge (thickness, measured in microns — µm or gauge in US imperial measurement) is the primary factor affecting performance and cost. Standard hand stretch film is 17–23 micron. Standard machine stretch film is 17–23 micron for turntable wrappers. High-performance nano or blown film for heavy or sharp loads may be 14–20 micron at equivalent or better puncture resistance through multilayer construction. Gauge specification should be matched to the load: light loads (< 500kg, regular-shaped boxes) — 17–20 micron; standard loads (500–1,000kg mixed carton) — 20–23 micron; heavy, irregular, or sharp-edged loads — 23–25 micron blown or nano-layer. Stretch film performance is also characterised by elongation at break (the percentage stretch before the film tears) — higher elongation enables more wraps per roll with less film; a standard cast LLDPE film has 200–300% elongation. Cling — stretch film has cling (tackiness) on one side, enabling successive layers to bond to each other during wrapping. When ordering stretch film, specify: hand or machine application; width and roll length; gauge (micron); film type (cast or blown); core diameter (for machine application, confirm compatibility with your wrapper); and quantity (rolls, weight, or number of pallets). Stretch film is available from Chinese manufacturers at competitive pricing — typically $1.50–3.00 per kg for standard cast LLDPE. MOQs are typically 1 full pallet of rolls (approximately 500kg–1,000kg).
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cast and blown stretch film?
Cast stretch film is produced on a chill-roll cast line — the film is optically clear, quiet to unwind, and stretches very consistently; it is the standard for most pallet wrapping applications and accounts for the majority of stretch film volume worldwide. Blown stretch film is produced on a blown film line — it is typically less optically clear (hazy), slightly noisier to unwind, but provides significantly higher puncture resistance and higher cling than cast film at the same gauge. Choose blown film for loads with sharp corners, heavy metal components, or irregular shapes where puncture resistance is the priority. For standard FMCG or ambient food pallet wrapping, cast film provides the best balance of performance and cost.
How much stretch film do I need to wrap a standard Euro pallet?
A standard hand-wrap application of a full Euro pallet (1,200mm × 800mm × 1,500mm tall) with a standard 20-micron cast hand film consumes approximately 80–150 grams of film per pallet depending on the number of wraps, overlap pattern, and load height. A standard 2.5kg roll of hand stretch film (approximately 300m of 500mm wide 17µm film) will wrap approximately 15–25 pallets. For machine wrapping, consumption can be significantly reduced by using a pre-stretch turntable wrapper — a 200–300% pre-stretch machine extends the film much further, potentially reducing film consumption to 50–80 grams per pallet.
Can stretch film be recycled?
LLDPE stretch film is technically recyclable — it is a single-polymer PE film. In practice, stretch film from pallet wrapping can be recycled through PE film collection schemes (retail take-back in the US, LDPE film collection in some European countries). The challenge is contamination — stretch film used in warehouses often picks up dirt, tape residue, and label debris. Clean stretch film off-cuts or film from a clean manufacturing environment are more easily recycled than mixed or contaminated film. Some major logistics operators and retailers have dedicated stretch film bale collection and recycling programmes as part of their EPR compliance and sustainability reporting. For a brand with sustainability goals, specifying recycled-content stretch film (available from some manufacturers using PCR LLDPE) or biodegradable/compostable wrap alternatives (limited performance at present) are options to explore.
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