Working Process:

The Stretch Hooder creates a cover from tubular film and stretches it over the pallet to secure the load on the pallet. When the pallet enters the machine the length of the required cover is determined by measuring the length, width and height of the load and pallet. After opening and sealing the film it is rolled-up on the film gripper arms. Each of the arms can move in two directions to adapt on the pallet load. The film gripper arms stretch the rolled-up cover and guide it downwards over the pallet. During the hooding the shape of the load is controlled. Once the hood is complete over the pallet the arms move upwards again. The machine releases the hooded pallet and is then ready for the next pallet.

Key Features & Characteristics

1. Superior Load Stability & Protection

• Full-Pallet Coverage: The film hood covers the top and all four sides of the pallet, creating a unitary, stable package that behaves like a single unit.
• Excellent Weather Resistance: Provides a waterproof, dustproof, and UV-resistant barrier (when using appropriate film), making it ideal for outdoor storage and transportation.
• High Compression Strength: The tight, conforming film application increases the load's vertical compression strength, preventing product shifting and collapse.

2. High Efficiency and Automation

• Fast Cycle Times: One of the fastest pallet packaging methods, with typical cycles of 30-60 seconds per pallet.
• Fully Automated Operation: Integrates seamlessly into production lines with automatic conveyor systems. Requires minimal manual intervention.
• Continuous Operation: Capable of handling non-stop pallet flow, significantly increasing throughput.

3. Film & Cost Efficiency

• Low Film Consumption: Uses a highly pre-stretched, sleeve-like film. It typically consumes 30-50% less film compared to traditional spiral stretch wrapping.
• Reduced Material Costs: Lower film usage directly translates to significant savings on packaging materials.
• Minimal Film Waste: The process uses a single, pre-cut hood, eliminating tail sealing and reducing film remnants.

4. Advanced Technology & Control

• Programmable Logic Controller (PLC): Offers precise control over all machine parameters (film tension, carriage movement, hood size).
• User-Friendly HMI: Features a touch-screen interface for easy setup, recipe management (for different load sizes), and monitoring.
• Integrated Safety Systems: Includes light curtains, safety doors, and emergency stops to ensure operator safety.
• Vision Systems (Optional): Advanced models can include cameras to automatically detect pallet load height and dimensions, adjusting the hood size accordingly.

5. Versatility and Application

• Wide Load Compatibility: Excellent for packaging unstable, uneven, or heavy loads (e.g., building materials, bags, bricks, beverages, paper rolls).
• Handles Various Pallet Types: Works with standard wooden, plastic, and even perimeter-base pallets, as the film is tucked under the top deck.
• Suitable for Harsh Environments: The enclosed design protects goods from rain, snow, and dirt throughout the supply chain.

6. Operational and Aesthetic Benefits

• Clean, Professional Appearance: Creates a neat, "shrink-wrapped" look that enhances brand presentation and allows for clear visibility of labels.
• Reduced Labor Costs: Automates a physically demanding task, freeing personnel for other duties.
• Low Maintenance: Robust design with fewer moving parts compared to carousel wrappers, leading to high reliability and lower maintenance costs.

Specifications:

Applications:

Food & Beverage: Bottled beverages, canned goods, bagged flour/sugar, pet food, bakery items, perishable goods
Pharmaceuticals: Sensitive medical products, tamper-proof packaging requirements
Logistics & Warehousing: Distribution centers, third-party logistics, e-commerce fulfillment
Construction & Building Materials: Bricks, cement bags, insulation rolls, lumber, plasterboard
Industrial Goods & Chemicals: Plastic resins, fertilizers, chemical bags, metal parts

Metals:

FAQ: Coils, sheets, pipes, automotive components
1.What is Stretch Hooder and how does it work
Stretch Hooder is a unique pallet packaging system, as it protects the pallet using a hood that adapts to the load without the need to apply heat. Stretch Hooder uses a tubular stretch film (Stretch Hood film) which stretches and applies to the load, covering it completely and protecting it on all sides. Unlike other systems, it only uses the exact amount of film needed to protect the load, resulting in a better-protected package with less film usage.

2. What kind of film does the stretch hooder use? What characteristics must the film have?
Stretch Hood film is an advanced packaging film under continuous development and improvement to offer different gripping and protection results. It is a multilayer tubular film composed of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (mLLDPE) and to a lesser extent EVA polymer, with properties for impermeability, stretchability, and elasticity. Its multilayer structure normally used contains inner layers that offer mechanical strength and stretch (usually composed with some EVA), while its outer layers contain additives that offer resistance to puncturing and friction, as well as sealing and waterproofing (which are those composed with LLDPE). When choosing a film to protect cargo, it is important to know the objectives of securing, protection, visibility, etc. to determine the necessary thickness, stretch properties, or protection additives (e.g. anti-UV filters).

3. Can the Stretch Hooder be integrated into an existing packaging line?
Yes, our Stretch Hooder system can be integrated into any automatic packaging line that requires it. Maybe the other systems should be of the same brand, Stretch Hood system can be retrofitted to lines with existing strapping or stretch wrapping systems to offer the advantages of stretch hooding.
In the case of such integration, our engineering team adapts both the conveyor line and the communication systems to ensure a smooth packaging process.