Page 50 - The Inside Scoop Archive

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To: Inside Scoop Reader

Converted Stretch Films May Be Part of Your Answer

Many years ago when NPS was representing Linear Films, we had a vendor visit us who was selling a stretch film that had
been sliced down to 3" x 1,000'. We suggested that he call it Stretch Tape, he did, and the name stuck. There is a
whole world out there of large and small converters and manufacturers who take the stretch film master roll and rewind
it into smaller rolls for a host of applications. Today we are going to try to share some insights into this part of the
stretch film world with you.

Converted stretch film primarily consists of three product areas: (1.) Narrow rolls in 2", 3", or 5" widths x 1,000' per
roll, or some other length depending on the gauge of the film used, These rolls are used with or without a dispenser to
band products together such as strips of molding, carpet ends, books etc or to top band pallets for in house
movement. (2.) Larger diameter rolls of 3" and 5" x 5,000' or more depending on the gauge that are used on bundling
machines to unitize bundles of firewood, paper cores, cabinet doors etc. (3.) Extended core pipewrap in 20" or 30" x
1,000' in various gauges that is used as a boutique hand wrap for wrapping pallets. The extended core, ususally 5" on
both ends of the film roll provides built in handles for applying the film to the pallet.

Band-It Films Bundling Films Extended Core "Pipe Wrap"
Converted stretch film has always provided an outlet to the manufacturer for film seconds and off cuts. For instance a
machine film containing resin gels can't be used on a 200% pre-stretch machine, but it can be used to slit into 5" x
1,000' rolls for top banding pallets quite nicely. Thus the secondary market for off grade films. The preferred method
for rewinding stretch film is to slit and rewind where the film edges are slit with a sharp knife blade vs baloney slicing
where the finished roll is sliced through all at once with the possibility of resulting nicked edges.

While the converted stretch film market was fed by off-grade and off-cut stretch film for many years, the most recent
development has been the move toward the use of new technology stretch films in thinner gauges which perform better
than thicker gauges in converted film applications. For instance why use an off-grade 80 gauge to make a 3" film when a
50 gauge new technology film can be slit and will work much better in the application. Even paying full price for the new
technology film vs deep discount for the off-grade film, the resulting finished goods pricing is much lower and for a
better and more consistent product. Everyone wins. NPS made the move to the new technology films for most of our
converted products years ago and have provided our customers with consistent, high performance films, with almost zero
issues.

file://C:\Documents and Settings\William Jackson\My Documents\Northwoods Software\... 12/16/2006