Stretch wrap by the case

The printed end of a case of hand film carries the spec line: width x length x gauge, then the core and the roll count. Copy it exactly into the request and the quote will match what you have. If the case says "equivalent" next to the gauge, it is pre-stretched or high-performance film, and the number is the ordinary gauge it replaces; see gauge, mil and micron.

The simple way: count the cases you opened last month. The other way: pallets wrapped a day, times working days, divided by pallets per roll, divided by rolls per case. The film per pallet guide gives the method, with a worked example for an 18 inch roll. Round up, and allow a little for tails and the odd heavy load.

Not every case is four rolls. Heavier gauges, wider rolls and narrow bundling rolls pack differently; tell us the roll and we will say how it is cased. Use more than one size, say an 18 inch roll for pallets and a narrow roll for bundles? List both on the same request and they go on one order.

Keep cases flat, dry and out of direct sun, in the building rather than a trailer. Heat softens film and can make the layers stick to each other on the roll; cold makes it stiff and harder to stretch by hand, so bring a case from a cold store into the warm a few hours before use. Use the oldest cases first. A roll dropped on its edge gets nicks that tear every time the film passes them; set it aside for short jobs.

Before ordering a new case size, check it fits your dispensers. Standard hand dispensers take a 3 inch core; some economy or mini rolls come on smaller cores and need their own handle. Width also matters, since a dispenser built for 18 inch rolls won't hold a 20 inch roll securely.

Not every customer wraps hundreds of pallets. A shop, a small manufacturer or a site that ships a dozen pallets a week may use a case or two a month. That is still worth quoting; tell us the case count and the delivery ZIP, and we will say what it comes to delivered. Larger quantities usually bring the price per case down, so if a quarter's use is easier to store than a month's, ask for both.

• 18 in x 1,500 ft x 80 ga4 a case
• Other hand roll sizes12, 15, 20 in
• Pre-stretched hand filmEquivalent gauge
• All ways of buying

Can we mix sizes in one order?

Yes. List each roll and its number of cases; the quote will cover all of them.

What if we use less than a case a month?

Ask for a quote on a quarter's use instead; film keeps well if stored properly.

Do you sell single rolls?

Hand film is packed and quoted by the case.

Are dispensers included?

No. We supply film only; standard dispensers that take a 3 inch core are widely available from packaging suppliers.

Can we get a sample case before a standing order?

Yes, ask for a single case quote alongside the regular quantity and say it is for a trial.

Can cases be delivered to a residential address?

Business addresses with a receiving door are simplest. If yours is a home business or a unit without a dock, say so in the request.