Difference Between Cast & Blown Stretch Wrap
Cast stretch wrap and blown stretch wrap are both great options, but which one is best for you and your product? Cast stretch wrap film is manufactured using the cast extrusion process and provides a protective, secure way to transport and store products. It allows for easy product and label viewing due to its clarity.
Blown stretch wrap film is manufactured using the blown extrusion process and is used to secure products for shipping and storing. It has a high stretch and load capacity and tear and puncture-resistant capabilities.
How Is Cast Stretch Wrap Made?
The manufacturing of cast stretch wrap film includes a cast extrusion process. Granular resin beads are melted by being inserted into a heated screw barrel and then fed into a narrow slot or die which determines the cast stretch wrap’s thickness and width. Then the resin sheet is quickly fed along a chilled roller that solidifies the cooled film. This method is most common for creating machine stretch film.
3 Benefits of Cast Stretch Film
The pros of cast stretch wrap include price, clarity, stretch and more. These hand-stretch films are available in a variety of colors, widths and thicknesses. The films provide a secure, protected way to store and transport products.
How Is Blown Stretch Wrap Made?
The making of blown stretch wrap starts with a blown film extrusion process.
Similar to the cast stretch wrap process, beads of resin are fed into a heated screw barrel and then inserted into a narrow slot or die. Then, the resin is vertically blown into a bubble that cools gradually by air. The amount of air blown into the bubble determines the width of the film and the speed determines the thickness. When the bubble is cooled, the film is flattened with nip rollers that are then wound and slit.
The film does have a hazy appearance due to the slower cooling process. Blown stretch wrap is generally more expensive as it takes longer to make but is known for being strong and stretchy.
3 Benefits of Blown Stretch Film
Blown stretch film may be the more expensive option, but that’s due to its benefits such as its strength, puncture and tear-resistant capabilities and more. The film is available in black or clear and comes in various sizes and thicknesses.
Which Stretch Wrap Can Stretch Farther?
Blown stretch wrap can stretch farther than cast stretch wrap but it requires more force and effort to accomplish. Cast stretch wrap may offer better yield or stretch in some cases, but this advantage can be counterbalanced by using a lower-micron blown stretch wrap.
The mechanical characteristics of blown stretch wrap allow users to potentially reduce the gauge to a thinner wrap while ensuring pallet load stability. This can provide cost savings as well as a reduction in plastic waste.
Which Stretch Wrap Has the Best Clarity?
As a result of its manufacturing process, cast stretch wrap has a high level of clarity. The chilled roller that the resin is cooled over minimizes crystallization and produces a clearer film. Its superior clarity makes it ideal for scanning labels or reading writing beneath the film.
The gradual cooling process of blown stretch wrap leads to more crystallization and reduced clarity. This can make it more difficult to read or scan barcodes through the film.
Which Stretch Wrap Has the Least Amount of Gloss?
The glossiness of the stretch wrap depends on the manufacturing and cooling process. Blown stretch wrap has a lower gloss finish that reduces reflections, while cast stretch wrap has a higher gloss finish that creates reflections.
The high gloss finish of cast stretch wrap may not be ideal in some warehouse situations as the reflections can make reading and scanning challenging depending on the lighting.
Which Stretch Wrap Is Best for Me?
Cast and blown stretch wrap have their benefits and both are a great choice for shipping and storing. Cast stretch wrap is the most common and generally less expensive, while blown stretch wrap is incredibly strong and tear-resistant. Consider the pros of each when deciding between cast vs blown stretch wrap, as one may work better than the other for your company’s process.
Why Choose The Cary Company?
At The Cary Company, we understand the importance of choosing the right stretch wrap film for your storing and shipping needs at a price that’s right for you. Have any questions or are unsure which stretch wrap is the best option for your products? Contact our product specialists at 630.629.6600 or email sales@thecarycompany.com.
SHOP ALL STRETCH WRAP FILM
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $86.33 case
- 5 $79.42 case
- 10 $71.93 case
- 20 $67.91 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $68.43 case
- 5 $66.42 case
- 10 $63.72 case
- 20 $61.17 case
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Goodwrappers® Top Sheeting Kit
Part #: 81BDE7- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $415.53 case
- 2 $341.63 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $109.82 roll
- 5 $101.96 roll
- 10 $98.06 roll
- 20 $94.12 roll
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $119.70 case
- 5 $115.11 case
- 10 $110.50 case
- 20 $105.90 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $108.93 case
- 5 $104.57 case
- 10 $102.82 case
- 20 $100.21 case
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20" x 500' Stretch Netting, 4/pk
Part #: 81BJH4- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $116.10 case
- 2 $111.62 case
- 5 $107.16 case
- 10 $105.38 case
- 20 $102.70 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $299.78 case
- 4 $289.45 case
- 8 $268.77 case
- 16 $258.45 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $102.69 case
- 5 $98.74 case
- 10 $94.78 case
- 20 $93.21 case
- 40 $90.84 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $97.22 case
- 5 $94.39 case
- 10 $90.77 case
- 20 $87.14 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $324.68 case
- 5 $287.34 case
- 10 $282.55 case
- 20 $275.37 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $77.43 case
- 5 $73.67 case
- 10 $70.83 case
- 20 $68.00 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $93.29 case
- 5 $87.46 case
- 10 $83.96 case
- 20 $80.46 case
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Heavy Duty Handle Grip Stretch Film Dispenser
Part #: 81WJH7- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $135.10 ea.
- 5 $116.97 ea.
- 10 $107.32 ea.
- 15 $103.52 ea.
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $252.75 case
- 2 $242.65 case
- 4 $238.60 case
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20" x 1500' Clear Vented Pallet Wrap
Part #: 81BZD1- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $118.86 case
- 8 $112.20 case
- 16 $108.89 case
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100 Gauge - 20" x 4500' Blue VCI (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor) Stretch Film (Machine Roll)
Part #: 81BZC8- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $202.85 case
- 4 $195.06 case
- 8 $187.24 case
- 16 $179.45 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $106.84 roll
- 5 $102.75 roll
- 10 $98.65 roll
- 20 $94.52 roll
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $119.71 case
- 5 $115.11 case
- 10 $110.50 case
- 20 $105.89 case
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Heavy Duty Knob Grip Stretch Film Dispenser
Part #: 81BJH6- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $102.14 ea.
- 5 $99.31 ea.
- 10 $96.93 ea.
- 20 $95.34 ea.
- 40 $93.30 ea.
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $86.93 case
- 5 $84.26 case
- 10 $80.89 case
- 20 $77.52 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $134.76 case
- 5 $125.32 case
- 10 $120.31 case
- 20 $115.31 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $127.63 case
- 5 $122.72 case
- 10 $117.80 case
- 20 $115.58 case
- 40 $113.88 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $88.40 case
- 5 $91.61 case
- 10 $86.55 case
- 20 $82.95 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $101.85 case
- 5 $97.12 case
- 10 $90.64 case
- 20 $84.99 case
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60" x 60" 1.25 Mil Clear Top Sheeting, 250/sheets
Part #: 81BDE8- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $179.17 case
- 5 $162.56 case
- 10 $151.48 case
- 20 $144.96 case
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20" x 3250' Clear Vented Pallet Wrap (Machine Roll)
Part #: 81BZC9- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $411.66 case
- 5 $370.92 case
- 15 $356.10 case
- 20 $341.26 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $83.27 roll
- 5 $81.26 roll
- 10 $79.89 roll
- 20 $76.60 roll
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $119.71 case
- 5 $115.11 case
- 10 $110.50 case
- 20 $105.89 case
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Industrial Foam Grip Stretch Film Dispenser
Part #: 81BJH5- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $84.31 ea.
- 5 $82.36 ea.
- 10 $81.07 ea.
- 20 $77.82 ea.
- 40 $76.16 ea.
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $85.83 case
- 5 $82.58 case
- 10 $79.28 case
- 20 $77.97 case
- 40 $75.98 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $182.96 case
- 5 $168.89 case
- 10 $160.91 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $101.03 case
- 5 $88.95 case
- 10 $85.52 case
- 20 $82.10 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $110.81 case
- 5 $106.88 case
- 10 $102.61 case
- 20 $98.32 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $123.83 case
- 5 $115.58 case
- 10 $108.36 case
- 20 $101.98 case
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48" x 48" 1.5 Mil Clear Top Sheeting, 500/sheets
Part #: 81BZD2- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $163.91 case
- 4 $157.35 case
- 8 $150.80 case
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $108.14 roll
- 5 $103.21 roll
- 10 $95.25 roll
- 20 $91.30 roll
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $119.71 case
- 5 $115.10 case
- 10 $110.49 case
- 20 $105.91 case
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Hand-Saver Stretch Film Dispenser
Part #: 81BZU6- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $21.22 ea.
- 2 $16.37 ea.
- 5 $13.78 ea.
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- Quantity Qty Price
- 1 $85.20 case
- 5 $82.58 case
- 10 $79.28 case
- 20 $75.98 case