There are various types of plastic pallet covers, each tailored to different products and their specific protection needs. Generally, plastic pallet covers are categorized into tarps, wraps, or covers. Below, we will explore these different types in more detail.
Shrink Wrap Plastic Pallet Coverings
Shrink wrap, as the name suggests, shrinks to create a tight, protective seal around a package. This ensures that the items inside are safeguarded from external contaminants such as moisture, dust, and air. Additionally, because shrink wrap is transparent and largely waterproof, it allows for easy identification of goods while offering a degree of protection from environmental elements.
Unlike stretch wrap, which is stretched around the pallet, shrink wrap uses heat to shrink the plastic tightly around the merchandise. When heated, shrink wrap contracts, forming an airtight seal around the containers. However, determining the precise amount of shrink wrap needed to cover a pallet can be time-consuming and requires some experience.
Shrink-wrapping a pallet helps protect it from spills and dirt, and it makes metal items more resistant to rust. Additionally, this wrapping method secures the goods on the pallet, minimizing the risk of items shifting, falling off, or being stolen.
Advantages
Protection: Shrink wrap offers complete 360-degree coverage for all products, preventing contamination and food spoilage.
Multiple Layers of Protection: Manufacturers frequently shrink wrap each box individually to seal products and guard against fouling. Once an entire pallet has been filled with boxes, the entire load may be shrink wrapped as one unit through an additional process for additional protection and to provide more convenient larger shipping units.
Ease: While some training is required to use a shrink wrap machine properly, the procedure is generally straightforward and secure.
Disadvantages
While shrink wrap offers many benefits, there are two key factors that might make you reconsider its use:
Shrink wrap has limited reusability and generally cannot be used again. After wrapping a pallet, this plastic film must be cut off because it cannot be reused. Additionally, more plastic will probably wind up in landfills as a result.
Shrink wrapping takes time and leads to decreased output. Shrink wrapping must be performed properly to ensure the film is correctly shrunk and to get the maximum protection from the wrapping. This procedure may slow production when utilizing shrink wrap to package individual things.
Blown Stretch Wrap
Stretch wrapping is a type of plastic wrap used for covering pallets, involving the wrapping of plastic material around boxes on a pallet by either a person or a machine. Stretch wrap can be categorized into blown stretch wrap and cast stretch wrap, depending on the production method. Blown stretch wrap is made by melting plastic, passing it through a die to form a thin-walled tube, then inflating it with air as it exits the die, resulting in layers of plastic wrap.
Blown stretch wrap creates a more durable film compared to cast stretch wrap, but it tends to be more opaque because the plastic crystallizes during the process, reducing the visibility of the wrapped items. Additionally, the thickness of blown stretch wrap can be less uniform due to the extra processing required. It is also more costly to produce, making it less commonly used than cast stretch wrap.
Cast Stretch Wrap
Cast stretch wrap is made by passing a heated resin through cold rollers to create a clear, translucent film. In this process, plastic is melted in a heated screw barrel and then extruded horizontally through a flat die. The thickness of the wrap is controlled by a slit in the die as the material exits. As the wrap emerges from the die, it is cooled by wrapping around a chilled roller to solidify.
Plastic Pallet Tarp Covers
A plastic pallet tarp cover is used to safeguard a package. Such pallet coverings can range from clear, throwaway covers to reusable, thermal covers and are often constructed of porous polyethylene. Such coverings are produced in various sizes in order to always protect a pallet’s contents. Most plastic pallet tarp covers also include an ultraviolet (UV) coating to shield perishable items like food from the sun.
Clear Plastic Pallet Covers
Clear plastic pallet covers are suitable for use with pallets of goods stored both indoors and outdoors. They shield boxes from environmental elements such as dust and humidity, as well as other contaminants. Additionally, their transparency provides a clear view of the shipment’s contents, making it easy to identify items without removing the cover.
However, transparent pallet covers may not offer adequate UV protection for perishable items. Their clear nature can also make products more vulnerable vulnerable to temperature fluctuations. Therefore, clear plastic pallet covers are most appropriate for short-term shipments involving perishable goods.
Black Plastic Pallet Covers
Black plastic tarps are effective at deterring theft by obscuring the contents of shipments. If the items are not visible, potential thieves are less likely to target the shipment. Moreover, many black pallet covers are treated with a UV coating to protect against direct sunlight. These covers also safeguard shipments from dirt, dust, and humidity, and offer resistance to minor spills and leaks.
Advantages of Black Plastic Pallet Covers
Black poly materials are ideal for situations where shipments need to be concealed or require UV protection from the sun. Black plastic pallet covers come in a wide variety of thicknesses, allowing for customization based on specific needs. Additionally, these covers can be provided in rolls with perforations for easy and convenient dispensing.
Thermal Plastic Pallet Covers
Thermal plastic pallet covers are helpful for some products that need a controlled temperature. It can be useful for both heating and cooling applications, such as keeping a shipment chilly in the summer or warm in the winter. In addition, the items they cover are less likely to be stolen since thermal plastic pallets are opaque.
Pallet Top Sheets
Pallet top sheets are plastic liners designed with perforated strips for easy dispensing and tearing from rolls. Like other plastic pallet covers, they protect products from contaminants such as dust, dirt, moisture, and grease commonly found in warehouses. However, pallet top sheets are specifically intended to cover individual layers of a pallet rather than the entire load. They not only shield shipments from external contaminants but also prevent leaks from cartons situated between layers. Pallet top sheets can be used on their own or in combination with other plastic pallet covers for added protection.
Advantages
- Rolls of pallet top sheeting have a 3-inch core and are perforated for simple tearing off.
- Low-density polyethylene is used to make it.
- Pallet top sheets can be recycled.
Pallet-Size Shrink Bags on Rolls
Pallet-size shrink bags are recommended for use with large machinery, heavy or irregular loads, and for outdoor protection. This type of shrink wrap comes as a gusseted bag on a perforated roll, allowing for easy peel-off. Designed to cover an entire pallet, these bags are heated with a heat gun to tightly secure the contents and provide a more secure enclosure.
Advantages
- The UVI additive in these pallet coverings shields items from the sun’s rays.
- These bags are resilient and strong.
- Pallet-size shrink bags help secure items for shipping.
Clear Pallet-Size Shrink Bags on Rolls
Clear pallet-size shrink bags offer both transparency and durability for covering large pallet loads. While their transparency allows for easy visibility of the items, it also increases UV exposure, which can be a drawback if the items are transported or stored outside. These shrink bags are available in rolls of 25 and are made from thick 4 mil plastic, providing strength and stability to secure large loads effectively.
Advantages
- Clear pallet-size shrink bags offer good confinement for large or normal-sized loads.
- They provide a convenient source of protection for shipments containing multiple pallets.
- Clear pallet shrink bags are resistant to environmental factors like moisture or dirt.
- This pallet wrap’s transparency makes it simple to see the things transported.
Gusseted Black UVI Pallet Covers on Rolls
Gusseted black UVI (ultraviolet-inhibiting) pallet covers come on rolls and are pre-cut and perforated for easy dispensing. These covers help keep goods clean, dust-free, and protected from light. They are often used to cover machinery or to line Gaylord containers, safeguarding the contents from moisture and contamination. The black opaque film is particularly effective for outdoor storage, as it conceals the pallet’s contents, which helps deter theft and protects light-sensitive items. Made from durable polyethylene, these covers offer cost-effective protection, with pleated sides that accommodate the width of most standard pallets.
Advantages
- Gusseted black UVI black pallet covers provide protection from the sun.
- They are roll perforated for simple dispensing.
- They are both recyclable and reusable.
Vented Pallet Wrap
Vented pallet wrap is designed to let moisture and condensation escape, making it ideal for frozen or cold storage applications. This type of wrap is lighter than traditional stretch film, which helps reduce shipping costs. Additionally, the vents facilitate easier handling during use, enhancing overall efficiency.
Advantages
- Vented pallet wrap is available in both machine-operated and manual hand-wrap rolls.
- Vented pallet wrap is made from high-density polyethylene, which leaves little carbon footprint to produce.
- They are easier to use and cheaper than traditional strapping used to confine pallet loads.
Pallet Cover Bags
Pallet cover bags ensure that bin and box contents remain secure and protected from moisture, dirt, and abrasion. Made from durable and transparent materials, these bags are built to last and provide easy visibility for inspecting the contents. They are available in various sizes and gauge thicknesses to meet different protective requirements.
Poly Tarps
Poly tarps feature loosely woven PE strips laminated to polyethylene sheets. In addition to protecting items from airborne contaminants, poly tarps are waterproof and offer excellent protection from precipitation. This material also resists stretching which increases its durability. When UV-coated, poly tarps may provide protection from the sun for years. PE tarps are available in various colors; clear poly tarps are also available. This tarps also come in numerous mil thicknesses.
Poly Top Sheets
Poly top sheets are designed to offer additional protection for individual layers of boxes stacked on a pallet. They help maintain the integrity of stored goods by shielding them from mud, dust, moisture, bacteria, and fungi. These top sheets comply with FDA guidelines for covering food items and are available in various sizes to fit different box dimensions. Standard sizes range from 60″ x 60″ to 75″ x 75″, and they come in a variety of thicknesses to suit different needs.
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