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Stretch Hooder Film

Over the past several years, a new stretch technology has been introduced into the United States. It is an
alternative to the use of conventional stretch film. It utilizes a tube of plastic stretch film being
stretched over a pallet or product with the "snap back" rubber band type properties of the film providing
the load holding force. This technology offers 5 sides protection by applying a stretch bag over a pallet or
product. The application is similar to the automatic application of shrink bags but utilizing the principles of
stretch application without the use of heat.

Stretch Hooder film has been quite popular in Europe, and has found a growing niche market in the US due
to it's watertight seal, 5 side protection, and UVI stability which makes it perfect for outside storage. If
stretch hooder films are sealed at the top and secured to the pallet, tghey can also offer vertical load
containment forces, further increasing load stability.

Stretch Hooder film is not for everyone though, the machines typically cost $ 200,000.00 installed, and use
a roll of tubing that is between 3 and 4 mils thick. This typically results in slightly more film usage per
pallet than conventional stretch film. Rolls may weigh 400 - 1,000 pounds each. The rolls have to be custom
produced to fit the pallet or product being wrapped. The stretch orientation built into a roll of film may be
as great as 100% which will then provide the snap back when the bag or tubing is applied to the pallet.
Downgauging is also possible by decreasing the diameter of the stretch hood tube, and using a higher
elasticity film. The ability to downgauge will depend on the machine being used and the product being
wrapped.

Typically, users of Stretch Hooder film require 5 sided protection; need a high speed application, and their
pallets are near uniform in size. Application speeds of over 100 pallets an hour are quite possible.

Stretch Hooder film is applied by a machine that uses a vacuum box or
gusset spreader that pulls the film tube open. The spreader fingers stretch
the film to a size greater than the pallet or product to be wrapped, pull the
film straight down over the load, and then releases the film. The resulting
snap back of the stretch film applies perimeter compression to the load and
holds it tight for shipping and handling.

There are three major manufacturers of Stretch Hooder machines. They
are:

Lachenmeier: Based in Denmark, has a test machine and support in FL.

MSK Covertech: Based in Germany, has a test machine and office in GA.

Mollers: Based in Germany, has a test machine and office in MI.
There are two primary Stretch Hooder film markets in the US. The first

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