Description
Stretch-hood pallet film is a tubular packaging film that is applied over the top of a loaded pallet by a stretch-hood machine, which stretches the tubular film open and slides it down over the pallet load. As the machine releases the stretched film, it contracts and grips the pallet load from the top and all four sides simultaneously, creating a 360-degree enclosed load that is secured, weatherproofed, and stable without any rotation of the pallet. This is a fundamental advantage over conventional stretch wrapping, which requires the pallet to rotate – an impossibility for very heavy, fragile, or asymmetric loads.
Stretch-hood film is widely used in the building materials, beverage, chemicals, and heavy industrial sectors across Europe, where loads are often too heavy, too fragile, or too irregularly shaped for standard pallet rotation wrapping. The system also provides superior protection against rain, dust, and UV exposure during outdoor storage and transport compared to open-top stretch-wrapped pallets.
Technical Properties and Machine Compatibility
Stretch-hood film is produced as a tubular film from LLDPE and metallocene-based polyethylene resins in a blown extrusion process. The film must be capable of stretching uniformly in all directions as the hood machine expands it to fit over the pallet load, and it must recover elastically to grip the load firmly once released. The key performance parameters are transverse elongation (to allow the machine to open the tube over the load), machine direction strength (to resist tearing during the stretch-down stroke), and elastic recovery (to ensure the hood stays tight after release).
Stretch-hood machines from major European suppliers such as Lachenmeier, Signode, and Robopac all use film supplied in roll form with the layflat width and film gauge specified to the machine and pallet format. NovoPacks can supply film to the specifications required by these machines and can provide technical support for film changeover and optimisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between stretch-hood film and standard stretch film?
Standard pallet stretch film is applied by rotating the pallet (turntable) or rotating a wrapping arm around a stationary pallet, spiralling the film up from the base. Stretch-hood film is a tubular film that is stretched open by a machine and lowered over the top of a stationary pallet. Stretch-hood provides full top coverage and 360-degree side wrapping in a single operation with no pallet rotation needed. It provides much better weather protection and a cleaner, more uniform appearance than stretch wrapping.
What types of loads are best suited to stretch-hood wrapping?
Stretch-hood is particularly suitable for very heavy loads that cannot be safely rotated on a turntable, tall and top-heavy loads, loads destined for outdoor storage where full weather protection is needed, and loads where a clean, professional appearance is important (such as retail-direct product pallets). The beverage, building materials, cement, glass, and ceramic tile industries in Europe are heavy users of stretch-hood film for exactly these reasons.
Is stretch-hood film more economical than stretch-wrapping film?
Stretch-hood systems have a higher machine capital cost than stretch-wrapping lines and are best suited to medium and high-volume operations. On a per-pallet basis, stretch-hood film can be more economical than stretch wrapping because the film application is precise and consistent with no film waste from tail trimming or wrap overlap. For high-volume operations (several hundred pallets per day or more), the total system cost per pallet is typically competitive with or lower than stretch wrapping. The superior load protection can also reduce damage claims and returns.
What gauges of stretch-hood film are available?
Stretch-hood film is available in thicknesses from approximately 60 to 120 microns, with the specific gauge determined by the load weight and the pallet hood machine specification. Thicker gauges are used for heavy loads such as cement bags, blocks, and industrial products. The film is also available in UV-stabilised grades for pallets that will be stored outdoors for extended periods.
Can stretch-hood film be printed for branded pallet wrapping?
Yes. Stretch-hood film can be flexographically printed with brand logos, handling instructions, regulatory markings, or other information before it is wound onto the supply roll. When applied over the pallet, the printed film provides visible branding and product identification from all sides. Printing on stretch-hood film must account for the significant elongation the film undergoes during application – fonts and graphics are printed in compressed form so they appear normal after stretching.