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The Flexible Packaging Blog

Reviews, trends, and tips covering all things flexible packaging to protect your products and your bottom line.

Blog Feature

Packaging Materials | Shipping Protection

By: Nathan Dube
September 8th, 2022

Are you looking to reduce your costs for machine stretch film? If so, switching to steelflex nano stretch film may be the right solution for you. As inflation continues to be a problem while the global supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine push prices for practically everything upward, many companies are looking for new ways to cut costs. When it comes to packaging, many businesses are looking for ways to save money on the packaging materials they buy. Many people are trying new packaging supplies, using less material, and downgauging their flexible packaging films. And the same tactics are being employed by countless companies in relation to their stretch film applications. Thousands of businesses realize reduced stretch film costs by switching to a lower gauge of stretch film. And while downgauging is one way to reduce your stretch film costs, new material formulations are paving the way for even better cost reductions. If you are looking to source the thinnest machine film possible while cutting costs and maintaining the best load containment and strength available today, steelflex nano stretch film is a stretch wrap that you will want to consider implementing in your business. Today, we will explore steelflex nano stretch film, explain what it is, review the benefits of switching to this material and go over the other features of the film.

Blog Feature

Equipment | Packaging Materials | Environment | The Business of Packaging | Technical Service and Support | Plant Performance | Investment | Shipping Protection

By: David Roberge
August 9th, 2022

Are you stretch wrapping your pallets by hand? Relying on manual labor to consistently protect your products in transit may be causing your company to lose money in the long run. Suppose your products are in high demand and you are cutting it close or, even worse, missing your customer's requested orders. In that case, you may be able to remedy this with automation at your end-of-line. Hand-wrapping pallets are less cost-effective than using a stretch wrapper at a certain point. At the same time, automated stretch-wrapping machinery can save on time and costs. Does the idea of saving money have your attention? Learn how to determine when to switch from hand-wrapping pallets to automated pallet-wrapping machinery.

Blog Feature

Packaging Materials | Shipping Protection

By: Nathan Dube
July 7th, 2022

Are you trying to decide between strapping material and stretch film? If so, you have a lot to consider. On the one hand, Stretch film is a fantastic flexible packaging film that is perfect for securing, containing, and palletizing your products. Stretch film is recyclable and comes in various sustainable formulations, such as PIR recycled stretch film and bio-based stretch film. On the other hand, strapping material is another hugely popular packaging material that can be used to secure and contain pallets of products. Strapping is perfect for the packaging of newspapers and magazines as well as heavier items such as cinder blocks and industrial equipment. And it is recyclable. But, which of these two packaging materials are best suited for securing your products for transportation and storage? In this article, we will compare strapping material to stretch film and help you choose the packaging material best suited for your product palletizing needs.

Blog Feature

Packaging Materials | Shipping Protection

By: Nathan Dube
May 19th, 2022

Did you know that you can stabilize slippery stretch wrapped loads with slip sheets? If you answered no, you are not alone! Suppose you are like most companies who ship products. In that case, you probably use stretch film to properly contain and secure your palletized loads for transportation, shipping, and storage. Stretch wrapping loads, for this reason, are a common practice implemented by countless companies worldwide. People love how stretch film can wrap and secure their palleted products. But, some loads can be problematic due to slippery products. These products can lead to lopsided loads and troublesome stretch wrapping processes. But thanks to slip sheets, these problems can be negated! But, what exactly is a slip sheet? And how do they help slippery products get palletized properly? Today, we will explore the world of slip sheets and explain how they can help you to contain your slippery loads of stretch-wrapped products better.

Blog Feature

Packaging Materials | Environment | Shipping Protection

By: Nathan Dube
May 10th, 2022

Were you thinking of downgauging stretch film for cost savings? I did the same when I was in high school. When I was seventeen, I worked in a warehouse for a local trucking company that one of my best friend's fathers owned. And, oddly enough... I used to think about how the company could save money via cutting stretch wrap costs by downgauging their film. Although, I never mentioned it. I was just a teenager, and I figured they would not be interested in the feedback. Still, the memories are as fresh as they were back then. I will never forget waking up at 2:00 AM to be at work at 4:00 AM. The Drive in the winter was cold and harsh. But, that same cool air was a blessing during the summer months. Knowing I had anywhere from eight to sixteen-hour shifts unloading trucks, I would down two energy drinks before arriving to work. One of the daily responsibilities was to wrap the stacked pallets of packages with hand stretch wrap. In the winter, we would warm our work gloves in the microwave before going into the ice-cold, concrete-floored building and getting to work. I will never forget the slightly dizzying process of wrapping a pallet. We would load a roll of hand stretch wrap onto a stretch wrap dispenser. Next, we would pull a bit of the film from the roll and tuck it under the corner of a stacked pallet. Then we would run circles around the pallet, pulling the stretch film tight as we ran the wrap up to the top and then back down to the bottom. Looking back on it, I wish I had spoken up about downgauging. I saw my friend's father for the first time in years a few days ago. With all the supply chain and trucking industry complexities, they decided to sell their business. I can't save their company any money now. But, perhaps I can help you to save money for yours. Today, I will explain how downgauging your stretch film could save you a little or a lot of cash. Cash as cold and hard as those sub-zero winter mornings, dancing around pallets of boxes in the warehouse.

Blog Feature

Packaging Materials | Investment | Shipping Protection

By: Nathan Dube
October 19th, 2021

After diligently scouring the internet for a packaging material that is good for packaging heavy-weight items, you stumbled across strapping material. Curious as to whether this would be a good fit, you took a look at the most popular types of strapping and have narrowed your choices down to polyester strapping and steel strapping. However, you are not sure what the differences between these two types of strapping materials are. You know that they are both well suited for heavy products, but you need a clear understanding of which of these two materials is the best one for your heavy products. You want to move forward with a purchase to complete your current product packaging project, but you are having trouble finding the information you are looking for to complete this process. Well, the good news is, you have come to the Industrial Packaging blog! With over six decades in the packaging industry, we know all there is to know about strapping materials. And, we can educate you on the types of strapping that you are looking to compare. This article will explain the differences between polyester strapping and steel strapping. With the information in this article, you will be able to purchase the correct type of strapping for your heavy product packaging needs.