Film savings from Overwrap vs. Flow wrap – not the only advantage
December 9, 2009
A consumer products customer recently asked Package Machinery to do some calculations on their wrapped package. It was a flow wrapped (fin seal wrap) tray and they wanted to know what the difference was to overwrap. We carefully took the film off their tray and rewrapped it overwrap style. We then measured the difference between the two sheets of film. There was a 14% reduction in film use in the overwrapped tray vs, flow wrap. We then looked at the corrugated box that the trays had been shipped in and realized that they could shrink the dimension on the corrugate by one inch.
The savings was not simply in the film but in the corrugate and then in the space and weight in shipping. Theses were small numbers on one box but, in volume, certainly added up.
Because we were curious, we tried the same thing with another customer’s tray. The second tray was much smaller than the first, but the film savings were basically the same: 13.5%.
The other factor we noticed was that the trays seemed more rigid with the overwrap. We realized that because the overwrap adhered closely to the tray, it added some structural integrity to an otherwise flimsy tray.
In all fairness to flow wrap, it is an airtight seal, which overwrap is not. But if saving film, structural integrity and corrugate are more important than completely airtight seal, overwrap will serve you better over the long run.
About the author:
Kate Putnam is the primary author of the Package Machinery blog and maintains the company's Twitter feed: @wrapsustainably, in which she shares her perspectives on trends in packaging – especially those involving sustainability.
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Permalink to Film savings from Overwrap vs. Flow wrap – not the only advantage
I think Overwrapping is best from flow wrapped, because a process in which a box-shaped carton, tray, bundle, etc. is wrapped and sealed. The only requirement for the package shape is that it have flat sides to be sealed. It is sometimes called diamond-fold wrapping, tuck-and fold wrapping, gift-box wrapping, cigarette wrapping and bundle wrapping. Tear tape can be used as an easy-open feature.
Regards,
Comment by All American packaging | Packaging USA | Wrapping Supplies — December 10, 2009 @ 9:36 am
Sometimes it’s really that simple, isn’t it? I feel a little stupid for not thinking of this myself/earlier, though.
Comment by pengar roulette — January 8, 2010 @ 5:54 pm
Great idea, but will this work over the long run?
Comment by sistemi ruleta — January 9, 2010 @ 8:38 pm
Yes, the longer the run, the more efficient the production for overwrap.
Comment by Kate — January 13, 2010 @ 11:17 am
well, you save more money if you buy one’s (machinery) that use rolls of film, not sheets. Money and time if you are agile enough.
Comment by novakautomation — February 9, 2010 @ 11:28 am
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