OUR QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO PERFECTLY WRAPPED PALLETS
Supplying secure and undamaged loads for distribution is a crucial ingredient in the supply chain. Utilising ventilated stretch wrap to keep food fresh and undamaged enables agricultural supplies to last longer and is essential for keeping our farmers' precious stock in perfect condition for retail sale. Major supermarkets have strict guidelines on incoming goods, with incorrectly wrapped pallets often being rejected on delivery.
Use our handy guide to pallet wrapping standards to ensure your pallets are wrapped right, every time.
1. Use smart engineered ventilation
Regular ventilated pallet wrap acts as an insulation for the load, as opposed to string or netting, which doesn't provide adequate "load containment force." Wrapping pallets with VentX Unico applies three bands of film through a roping mechanism, allowing air to flow freely through the load. Regular air temperature is maintained while providing correct load containment force.
2. Eliminate film tails
Pallet wrap must not have loose, tailing ends or "tails/dags." Ends must be secured, as they can pose a safety risk and interfere with automation. Pallet wrapping machines with a blowing device at the base that blows the film tail upwards at the beginning of the cycle and welds the film to the top of the previous rotation will eliminate these issues.
3. Create sufficient tension.
Each load type requires the pallet wrap to be applied with sufficient tension to secure the load. The required load containment force is dependent on the load configuration and its weight. Using a load containment force testing tool can ensure correct tension is tested for and applied.
4. Secure load to pallet.
Pallet wrap must be secured to the top 30-50% of the wooden pallet at the base of the load, with the load firmly secured. Utilising a pallet wrapping machine with a roping mechanism allows this, to then enable the load to be safely secured to the pallet.
5. Reduce plastic.
Sustainability award-winning pallet wrapping solutions by Omni Group can give users guaranteed cost reductions on pallet wrap usage, as well as environmental waste reduction, all while increasing load containment.
How to Wrap a Pallet Correctly: Step-by-Step
Getting pallet wrapping standards right starts with the wrapping process itself. Whether you're wrapping by hand or with a machine, following the correct sequence reduces waste, improves load containment, and keeps your pallets compliant with major retailer requirements.
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Inspect the pallet first. Check for damaged boards, protruding nails, or an uneven base before you start. A compromised pallet undermines even the best wrapping technique.
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Anchor the film at the base. Begin wrapping at the bottom of the load, securing 3-4 wraps around the pallet itself (not just the goods) to lock the load in place.
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Wrap upward in overlapping layers. Use a 50% overlap on each rotation to build a consistent film layer with no gaps, working from base to top.
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Apply consistent tension throughout. This is where load containment force comes in: too little tension and the load shifts in transit, too much and you risk crushing product or excessive film usage.
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Reinforce the top and bottom. These are the highest-stress points during transport, so add extra wraps here, particularly for top-heavy or irregular loads.
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Secure the tail. Weld or tuck the loose end so there are no flapping tails or dags left exposed, a requirement under most retailer wrapping standards.
Choosing the right film also makes a measurable difference to how easily you can hit these steps consistently. Browse our range of pallet stretch wrap to find the right film weight and type, hand-applied, machine, or ventilated, for your load type.
Pallet Wrapping Safety Tips
Pallet wrapping isn't just about load containment. It's a workplace safety issue too. Poorly wrapped pallets are a common cause of warehouse injuries and transport incidents. Keep these safety tips in mind:
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Never leave loose film tails. Beyond looking untidy, tails and dags create trip hazards on the warehouse floor and can catch in machinery or automation.
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Don't overload beyond the pallet's rated capacity. Even correctly wrapped film can't compensate for a load that exceeds the pallet's weight rating.
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Use the right PPE when hand-wrapping. Gloves and appropriate footwear reduce the risk of cuts and strain injuries during manual wrapping.
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Check machine guarding on automatic wrappers. Turntable and ring wrappers should have safety guarding and e-stops clearly accessible to operators.
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Store wrapped pallets away from walkways and racking edges. Even a well-wrapped load can become unstable if bumped or stacked incorrectly.
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Train staff on correct tension settings. Under-wrapped pallets are a leading cause of in-transit load collapse, which creates risk for anyone unloading the truck at the other end.
Following these pallet wrapping safety tips alongside the standards above reduces the risk of injury, product damage, and rejected deliveries.
Guide to Packing Pallets Before You Wrap
Correct wrapping only works if the pallet is packed properly underneath. Use this quick guide to packing pallets before the film goes on:
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Build from heaviest to lightest. Place heavier, denser items at the base and lighter items on top to keep the load's centre of gravity low and stable.
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Keep the load within the footprint of the pallet. Overhanging boxes are more likely to be damaged in transit and make consistent wrapping difficult.
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Align box edges where possible. A column-stacked, squared-off load wraps more evenly and holds tension better than a load with staggered or mismatched edges.
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Use interlocking or brick-pattern stacking for stability. This is especially useful for uniform cartons, as it ties the layers together mechanically before the wrap even goes on.
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Leave space for airflow if wrapping ventilated goods. For produce or perishables, packing too tightly can defeat the purpose of ventilated stretch wrap.
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Use corner boards or edge protectors for fragile loads. These help the stretch wrap apply even pressure without crushing product corners.
A well-packed pallet combined with the correct film, see our full range of pallet stretch wrap, is the foundation of meeting pallet wrapping standards consistently, every time.
Browse our range of pallet wrapping machines and pallet stretch wrap to find the right solution for your load type, or contact our specialists for a free pallet wrap review.
