Load Containment Solutions
At Group O, we understand that secure and stable palletization is essential for the safe transport and storage of goods. Our comprehensive range of load containment packaging solutions, including strapping, stretch film, dunnage bags, and edge protection, are designed to ensure your products remain safe throughout the supply chain.
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Stretch film is a highly effective method for stabilizing pallets and securing products.
We provide a variety of hand stretch and machine stretch films including PCR stretch films that offer superior stretchability, durability, and load retention, ensuring your goods arrive safely.
Strapping (sometimes called banding) provides essential support for heavy loads, keeping items firmly in place during transportation.
Whether you need steel or plastic strapping, we offer solutions that meet the unique demands of your products and industry.
Dunnage bags (also known as airbags) provide cushioning and support for products during transit by filling void spaces in containers or on pallets.
Available in various sizes and materials, our dunnage bags help prevent load movement and potential damage.
Edge protection is essential for safeguarding the corners and edges of your goods.
We offer a range of cornerboards and edge protectors that enhance pallet stability while preventing damage to packaging during handling and transport.
Load Containment Equipment
We complement our packaging materials with a full range of packaging equipment to streamline your processes. From automatic and semi-automatic stretch wrappers to strapping machines, our equipment enhances productivity and improves packaging consistency. Our team can help you identify the right machinery for your operation, ensuring optimal packaging performance.
Optimize with SMART Audit®
Our SMART Audit® is a unique service that tests and optimizes your stretch film application, ensuring efficiency and cost savings. During the audit, we evaluate critical factors such as:
- Stretch application
- Revolutions
- Film weight
- Film usage
- Wrap patterns
- Containment force
- Load dimensions
- On pallet pre-stretch percentage
Following the audit, we provide actionable recommendations to improve your packaging process, reduce material usage, and enhance load security.
Load Containment FAQ
A. Containment force is the total pressure applied to a pallet load by stretch film to keep it secure during handling and transit. It's essential for reducing product damage, improving load stability, and ensuring that shipments arrive safely and intact.
A. If the containment force is too low, your load may shift, lean, or collapse during transit. If it’s too high, it can damage products—especially fragile or lightweight items. The key is finding the right balance to protect the load without over-wrapping.
A. Achieving consistent and effective containment force is extremely difficult when wrapping pallets by hand. Automated and semi-automated wrapping equipment can apply force evenly and consistently, helping to reduce waste and improve load safety.
A. Containment force is measured by multiplying the number of stretch film revolutions by the applied wrap force (tightness). Tools are available that can measure containment force at different points on the load—typically the top, middle, and bottom—to ensure consistency.
A. Testing should be done regularly, especially when changing products, packaging materials, or wrapping equipment. Group O includes containment force testing as part of our SMART Audit® to help clients optimize load stability and reduce packaging costs.
A. Several factors determine the necessary containment force, including the size, weight, shape, and fragility of the products being wrapped. Heavier or unstable loads often require higher containment force, while delicate or lightweight items need a gentler approach. Liquid loads—such as beverages or cleaning solutions—typically require more force due to their viscosity and the potential for sloshing or shifting during transit. Additionally, transportation method and stacking patterns play an important role in determining optimal containment.
A. Yes. Adjusting the number of film revolutions, wrap tension, or using a different film gauge can significantly affect containment force. Making the right adjustments can improve load stability while minimizing material use and cost.
A. Start by measuring the containment force on a load that has been successfully shipped without damage. Take measurements at the top, middle, and bottom of the load, and use the lowest measured value as your baseline. If your current setup is performing well, that’s often the best place to start.
In addition to your own data, it's important to reference minimum baseline containment standards such as those outlined in ASTM D4649 – Guide for Selection and Use of Stretch Wrap Films. This standard offers recommendations and testing methods for selecting and applying stretch wrap films, including recent advancements like stretch netting, stretch tape, and stretch roping. The ongoing updates to D4649 aim to raise the industry standard by refining measurement practices and accommodating newer technologies.
If you're unsure where to begin or how to properly evaluate containment force, it’s best to consult a professional. A knowledgeable partner—like a Group O representative—can help you dial in the right containment settings for your specific products, equipment, and shipping environment.
Ready to Enhance Your Packaging?
At Group O, we are dedicated to providing solutions that improve efficiency, safety, and performance. Contact us today to learn more about our packaging security and pallet stabilization services and how we can help streamline your operations.
