Pre-Stretched Film
Film stretched at the factory rather than at the pallet — lighter rolls, far less operator effort and measurably lower film consumption.
- Thickness range
- 6 – 12 µmMeasured post-stretch
- Available widths
- 100 – 500 mmCustom widths on request
- Residual stretch
- 10 – 20%200 – 250% already applied
- Colours
- Clear or blackTints to order — confirm against a sample
- Roll weight
- 1.2 – 2.5 kgA fraction of a conventional hand roll
- Mode of use
- Manual onlyNot for powered pre-stretch carriages
The Stretching Is Already Done
Pre-Stretched Film is elongated on the production line, under controlled tension, before it is wound onto the roll. What reaches your packing station is film that has already given up most of its stretch — so the operator does not have to pull it out of the roll by hand.
That single change removes the physical effort from manual wrapping. There is no heavy pull, no shoulder strain and no need to lean into the load, which is what makes hand wrapping tiring and inconsistent by the end of a shift. It also removes the variability: because the stretch is fixed at the factory, every pallet is wrapped at the same tension regardless of who wrapped it.
Rolls are light and thin — typically 6 to 12 micron and a fraction of the weight of a conventional hand roll — so a site consumes noticeably less polyethylene per pallet, with less packaging waste to dispose of at the receiving end.
Image is representative of the stretch film range. Roll width, gauge and core are built to your specification.
Key Features
Reduced operator fatigue
The stretch is already applied, so wrapping takes almost no pull — a genuine ergonomic improvement over hand film.
Lower film consumption
Thin, fully-worked film uses substantially less polyethylene per pallet than conventional hand wrap.
Consistent wrap tension
Tension is set at the factory, not by the operator, so every pallet leaves wrapped the same way.
No pull-back or snap
The film has given up its stretch, so it does not fight the operator or snap at the corners.
Reliable load stability
Retained containment force holds the load despite the reduced gauge.
Quiet, easy unwind
Light rolls release smoothly and quietly — comfortable for continuous manual wrapping.
High transparency
Thin gauge and good clarity keep barcodes and case labels scannable through the wrap.
Less packaging waste
Less film per pallet means less polyethylene entering the waste stream at the receiving end.
Available Colours
Pre-stretched film is supplied clear as standard and in black where the load needs to be concealed. The thin post-stretch gauge means tints read lighter than they do on conventional film, so confirm the shade against a sample if you are colour coding.
Standard colours are produced routinely and carry the normal minimum order. Colours marked to order, and any bespoke tint, need a dedicated production run — the minimum is higher and the shade is matched against a sample before we schedule it. Opacity, gauge and stretch performance are held level with the clear grade in every colour.
Built To Your Specification
Pre-stretched film is deliberately a narrow product — the stretch is fixed at the factory. These are the variables that remain open to you.
Technical Specifications
| Material | Pre-stretched LLDPE, multi-layer cast |
|---|---|
| Thickness | approx. 6 – 12 micron (post-stretch) |
| Width | approx. 100 – 500 mm; custom widths on request |
| Length | approx. 250 – 400 m per roll |
| Core diameter | 50 mm (2″) or 76 mm (3″) ID; extended-core handle option |
| Pre-stretch applied | typically approx. 200 – 250% at the factory |
| Residual stretch | approx. 10 – 20% remaining at the point of use |
| Roll weight | typically approx. 1.2 – 2.5 kg per roll |
| Cling | One-side or two-side cling available |
| Colour options | Clear standard; black or tinted on request |
| Operating temperature | approx. -20 °C to +50 °C in service |
| Packaging | Rolls boxed and palletised |
Figures shown are indicative typical ranges for this product line and are provided for guidance only. Exact specification, tolerances, roll size and packaging are confirmed against your order — request a signed technical datasheet from our sales team before specifying.
Applications
Performance Characteristics
Pre-stretched film is bought for cost per pallet and for the operator. These are the properties that decide both — and one of them is deliberately near zero.
Stretchability
10 – 20% residualDeliberately low. The stretch was applied at the factory, which is the whole point: nothing is left for the operator to pull out by hand.
Load retention
High for gaugeContainment force held after wrapping. Pre-stretched film delivers retention at 8 micron that conventional hand film needs 20 micron to reach.
Cling performance
One- or two-sideLayer tack does the work that tension does on conventional film, so the wrap locks without a heavy pull.
Tear resistance
High for gaugeThe film is thin, so tear strength matters more, not less — it is engineered up to compensate.
Puncture resistance
Moderate to highAdequate for cartoned and regular loads. For sharp or protruding goods, specify a conventional hand or machine grade instead.
Film memory
Near zeroAlmost no elastic pull-back left. This is what removes the snap at the corners and the strain on the operator's shoulder.
Optical clarity
HighThin, well-worked film with good light transmission — labels stay scannable through several overlaps.
Film usage per pallet
up to 55% lowerCompared with conventional hand film on the same load. The figure that justifies the change on a purchase order.
Performance values are typical for the standard grade and vary with gauge, wrapping method and load profile. Ask for the test report covering your specification.
Equipment Compatibility
Pre-stretched film is a manual product. It runs from a light dispenser or straight off an extended core, and must not be fed through a powered pre-stretch carriage — there is no stretch left for the carriage to apply.
Pre-Stretched Film Against The Rest Of The Range
Six stretch film grades. Pre-stretched film is the manual answer to high pallet counts; machine film is the powered one.
| Product | Primary application | Stretch | Machine | Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Rolls | Manual pallet wrapping | Standard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Machine Rolls | Semi- & fully-automatic lines | High | ✓ | ✗ |
| Jumbo Rolls | Converting, slitting & distribution | Custom | ✓ | ✗ |
| Coloured Stretch Film | Load security & colour coding | Standard – High | ✓ | ✓ |
| UV Stretch Film | Outdoor & yard storage | Standard – High | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-Stretched Film | High-volume manual wrapping | Pre-applied | ✗ | ✓ |
Machine and Hand columns indicate the wrapping method each grade is formulated for. Coloured and UV grades are produced to either a hand or a machine specification — state which you need when you enquire.
You May Also Need
Hand Rolls
Manual pallet wrap with easy dispensing and consistent tension, no machinery needed.
View DetailsMachine Rolls
High pre-stretch pallet wrap engineered for semi-automatic and automatic wrappers.
View Details
Shrink Film
Heat-shrink film for multi-pack bundling, pallet hooding and tamper-evident wrapping.
View DetailsDatasheets & Downloads
Documentation for Pre-Stretched Film is issued on request, so you always receive the revision that matches your order. Tell us the width and gauge you are specifying and we will send the current set by email — usually within two business days.
Technical Data Sheet
Full specification, tolerances and test data for the width and gauge you are specifying.
Request DocumentProduct Brochure
Product overview and application guidance, formatted for circulation internally.
Request DocumentSafety Information
Handling, storage and safe-use guidance, including material safety data.
Request DocumentCompany Catalogue
The complete Maximum Global Packaging range in a single reference document.
Request DocumentNeed something else — a compliance declaration, certificate of analysis or bespoke specification sheet? Ask our technical team.
Ready To Order Pre-Stretched Film?
Send us your product type, dimensions, estimated monthly quantity, delivery location and required timeline — we come back with a specification, price and lead time.