Page 35 - The Inside Scoop Archive

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How to Double Check the Label on Stretch Film

Stretch film today comes in a hundred different gauges, widths, and footages. Labels may be in english or
metrics, and they also may be complete or incomplete as far as the information provided about what is on
the roll of film you are buying. Then also there is pre-stretch film that comes without a gauge on the label
from several manufacturers. In todays Inside Scoop I am going to share with you several formulas that you
can use in reading a stretch film label. Then I will share the big formula on double checking your film to
make sure it is all there.

Gauge to Microns Feet to Meters Inches to Millimeters Pounds to Kilograms
Gauge x .254 - Microns Feet x .3048 = Meters Inches x 25.40 = MM Pounds / 2.2 = Kilograms
Microns to Gauge Meters to Feet Millimeters to Inches Kilograms to Pounds
Microns x 3.937 = Gauge Meters x 3.2808 = Feet MM x 0.0394 = Inches Kilograms x 2.2 = Pounds

Just a quick example or two before we move on. There are a couple of manufacturers who label their hand
wrap in metrics who show the footage to be 450 meters. Let's check this one by using the meters to feet
formula. 450 meters x 3.2808 = 1,476' per roll. I bet you thought it was going to be 1,500' didn't you.
Wrong, 457 meters = 1,500' which is the standard footage for film in that range. When you buy hand wrap
labeled 450 meters on the footage, just remember you are getting 5,904 feet in the case instead of the
full 6,000' you probably think you are getting. Nothing wrong with label, just be aware of the difference.

Probably the most confusing label to me personally is the one that shows width in cm ( centimeters )
insteach of inches. I did not include the conversion formula for this one above, but here it is. CM x 0.394 =
inches; and inches x 2.54 = CM. Here is a good example of such a label. One company has a hand wrap label
that reads: 15 micron 40.5 cm x 457 m Here is the interpretation of this label: 59 gauge 15.95" x
1500'.

Now there is nothing wrong with labels that are given in metrics. But I think it is good for all of us to be
able to read the label and know what we are getting. Plus there is more to it than just numbers. The film
illustrated above while it is just under 16" in width and probably would be priced against competitive 16"
films, will put more width on the pallet as it is applied than most 16" films since it is a stiff and strong film
and will have very little neck down of the film width during application.

Now to answer the question about how to know if you are getting the right amount of film on your roll.
We would not have to even ask this question if all states had a good truth in labeling law and enforced it.
Your first clue to the need to double check your roll will be if the label omits one of the stardard formats
of gauge, width, length, roll weight. If one of these are missing, you need to check your roll.

Almost all labels will show gauge, width, and footage. To double check the label use this formula.

width ( in inches ) x length ( in feet ) x gauge ( 80 gauge expressed as .8 ) x .0004 = lbs of film on the roll

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