Custom Printed Stretch Film: Branding and Theft Deterrence on Every Pallet

• Theft deterrence: opaque or tinted film hides high-value products
• Tamper evidence: a rewrapped pallet won’t match your print
• Branding: your name on every pallet leaving the dock
• Handling messages: “Do not double stack,” “Fragile,” or “Inspect before signing”

• Gauge: film thickness. 80 gauge equals 0.8 mil.
• Pre-stretch: how far a machine stretches the film before applying the film to the load. 250% pre-stretch turns 1 foot of film into 3.5 feet.
• Containment force: how tightly the film holds the load together. Measured in pounds.
• Hand vs. machine film: hand film comes on short rolls for wrapping by hand. Machine film comes on longer, heavier rolls for stretch wrappers.

1. Define the goal. Theft deterrence, branding, handling messages, or a mix.
2. Check your wrapper. Machine model, pre-stretch setting, and roll size it accepts. Hand film needs a hand-friendly roll weight.
3. Match gauge and film type. Keep the gauge and performance your loads need today. Print does not replace containment force.
4. Choose film color. Black, white, blue, or tinted film hides contents. Clear film with print keeps labels readable.
5. Set the print. Logo or message, ink color, and repeat length. Print stretches with the film, so the artwork gets designed to look right after pre-stretch.
6. Approve the proof. Review artwork at both unstretched and stretched size.
7. Run a trial roll. Wrap 20 to 50 loads. Check for film breaks, print legibility, and load stability.
8. Check scanning. Opaque film blocks barcodes. Plan where labels go: on top of the film, or in a clear window.
9. Lock the spec. Write down gauge, width, roll length, roll weight, color, and print. Weigh rolls on delivery. Post 10 covers spec checks.

• Printed and colored film carries higher minimums and longer lead times than clear stock film.
• Opaque film hides damage too. Train receivers to inspect loads at unwrap.
• Some customers and carriers require clear film for inspection. Ask first.

Add up product lost to theft, short shipments, and disputed deliveries over the last 12 months. Compare the total to the price difference between your current film and printed film × rolls used per year.

Send us your wrapper model and your current film spec.

We will design the print around your loads

S&S Incorporated · Packaging made easy since 1965 21300 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44117 216-383-1880 · info@sspkg.com · www.sspackaging.com Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM