Hi Miles, Your question could not have been better timed. There is a lot of discussion regarding corporate directives as well as upcoming state and federal regulations that are pushing in the...

Hi Alfred, I am sure everyone reading this has had the same thing presented to them at some point by a salesperson selling stretch film. While that may be true on paper, let’s explore what really...

Hi Sally, I am very impressed with the great questions people in the industry are asking, and this is certainly one of them! Forces experienced during normal driving conditions (turning, start/stop,...

Hi Abby, that is a great question! I can confirm that machine condition will affect load containment, and in addition, it will affect your film usage. Now, let’s explore why machine condition is...

Hi Rob, great question, and one I am certainly not afraid to answer. For many years there was little advancement in stretch film technology because, after all, it’s just something you wrap around...

Hi Ray, thanks for the question and the opportunity to clarify something that a lot of people have misunderstood. The quick answer: we apply one wrap for each revolution of load, not two. Or to put...

Hi Ted, thanks for a really great question. I have talked at length about stretch film and the physics of load containment, but have not really focused on the stretch wrap machine itself, which is...

Hi Ally, and thanks for your question. Let’s start by defining the role that stretch film plays in load containment, and then we can get into more specifics. First and foremost, the job of the...

Hi Jordan, thanks for the question. I know this will come as a surprise, but there are two answers to this question. First, if you are using conventional stretch film and a sharp corner pierces the...

Hi Eli, thanks for submitting your question! There are several factors that come into play when determining the right amount of film to apply. First and foremost is to identify what is most...

Hi Howard, what a great question, and one I am sure is in the mind of anyone with whom we discuss a lab project. The short answer is yes, in every case we have been able to duplicate our lab results...

Thanks for the question, Jesse. It is a question that comes up often when customers send product to our lab for testing. The test protocol used in our lab is different from what is used by ISTA. To...

We had a great response from the last Ask Steve post. Several of you asked about Total Applied Stretch and how it factors into load containment. So, I thought that would be an excellent follow up...

That is a great question Clint, and a very common issue (and one that is not well understood). First, let’s talk about what load containment is, then how we measure it, finally how effective that...

Hi Morgan, Great question! Today, we are more aware of the impact that our waste stream creates on the planet, and as a result, we are more focused on every opportunity we can find to reduce source...

Hi Sherry, We have tested various combinations of downgauged films, in the range of 35-gauge and less, at our lab in Phoenix. While the filaments created by the rolled edges of our bands do prevent...

Thanks for submitting your question, Gene. Normally, I would begin by establishing some context, then answer the question. But for your question, I think I will start with the answer, then expand...

Hi Javier!  Thanks for your question. This subject applies to a lot of companies who palletize product packaged in folding cartons or thin gauge plastic bottles (or anything easily crushed). It is...

Hi Stacy!  On the surface, seems like your question is a slow pitch right over home plate. But like most things in life, it’s a little more complicated than a short yes or no. First, let’s visualize...

Hi Fred, The key to optimal containment is to unitize the load with stretch film so there is little to no movement of the load components or shift between the layers during shipment. Why is this...

Hi Gary, That is a very good question and one that has been asked several times, so definitely something on people’s minds. For conventional films, the more wraps you apply, specifically, the more...

Question from Sara: What is a load containment standard, and why is that important? Hi Sara, I would like to start with the second part of your question, the “why”. Simply put, a proper standard...