Machine Stretch Film: Compare Micron, Roll Length and Cost per Pallet
Warehouse purchasing guide
Compare the roll.
Measure the result.
Choosing machine stretch film means matching the roll to your wrapper, your load and the cost of producing an acceptable finished pallet. This guide helps Australian warehouse, manufacturing and dispatch teams compare micron, roll length and clear or black film before placing a volume order.
See the cost comparison
The buying sequence
Make three decisions before comparing price.
01 / EQUIPMENT
Confirm the machine fit.
Check the wrapper's roll width, core requirements, maximum roll dimensions and permitted weight. A matching film width alone does not establish compatibility.
02 / FINISHED LOAD
Define an acceptable pallet.
Identify the load family, carton condition, edges, visibility needs and handling route. Agree how the wrapped result will be assessed before changing film.
03 / WORKING COST
Compare measured output.
Record acceptable pallets per roll, film breaks and rewraps. Use those results with your purchase price to compare the cost of the wrapping task.
01 / Read the roll
Width, length and micron describe different things.
Keep each part of the specification separate. Two rolls can be the same width and look similar while carrying different lengths of film. Neither the photograph nor the roll price tells you how many acceptable pallets the roll will wrap.
Width is the film web.
The three machine-film examples below are 500mm wide. That is the width of film presented to the load before application. Check it against your machine's requirements, then confirm the complete roll fit with the equipment documentation.
Length is film on the roll.
A listed 1790m or 1324m is the nominal supplied film length. It is not the roll diameter, a count of pallets or the distance of film applied after stretching. Keep supplied metres separate from stretched metres in purchasing records.
Micron is thickness.
17µm and 23µm identify the listed film gauges. Thickness is useful for describing the product, but it does not provide a pallet load rating. Compare the complete film specification and trial outcome rather than assigning a weight limit from micron alone.
Sales quantity is the order unit.
One roll and four rolls are different buying quantities, not different roll dimensions. Record the SKU, quantity and price basis together. This prevents a multi-roll order from being compared with a single-roll quote as though they were equivalent.
Ask for the missing measurements. The product specifications below establish film width, length, gauge and colour. They do not state core diameter, maximum roll diameter or roll weight. Confirm those details for your wrapper before ordering, particularly when replacing an existing film.
02 / Current product examples
Three machine films to put on your comparison sheet.
Pacific Packaging Australia's Machine Pallet Wrap range includes these clear and black cast films with one-sided cling. Use the verified specifications to build a shortlist, then confirm fit and performance on your equipment.
Clear / 17µm
Xceed Cast Machine Wrap
500mm x 1790m x 17um
Clear cast machine stretch film with one-sided cling.
Include this option when evaluating a 17µm clear film. Its longer listed roll length is a purchasing input, not a promise of a particular pallet yield.
1 roll: 1517-1
4 rolls: 1517-4
Clear / 23µm
UNIVERSAL Cast Machine Wrap
500mm x 1324m x 23um
Clear cast machine stretch film with one-sided cling.
Include this option when comparing a 23µm clear specification. Keep the supplied length and measured wrapping result separate from the thickness comparison.
1 roll: 1523-1
4 rolls: 1523-4
Black / 23µm
Black Machine Stretch Film Roll
500mm x 1420m x 23um
Black cast machine stretch film with one-sided cling.
Include this option where an opaque outer wrap is required. Plan exterior identification and label placement as part of the finished pack.
1 roll: 1525-1
4 rolls: 1525-4
Specifications checked against the product listings on 26 October 2026. Confirm current product details, order quantities and equipment requirements before purchase.
03 / Equipment and settings
Match the complete roll to the wrapper.
Start with the machine make, model and film-carriage instructions. Confirm the approved roll format, loading method, film threading and operating limits. Ask your equipment supplier to resolve any uncertainty about a replacement film before it goes into production.
The three products in this guide are listed for machine application, including semi-automatic and fully automatic inline wrappers. That application description should be checked against your particular machine. Do not transfer a hand-film purchasing decision to a machine simply because both rolls are 500mm wide.
Keep a copy of the approved setup with the film SKU. Purchasing, production and maintenance should be able to identify the same combination without relying on a roll's colour or appearance.
04 / Compare gauge fairly
A 17µm versus 23µm choice needs a real load.
Build the comparison around a defined load family, such as your regular cartons on a consistent pallet footprint. Record load height, approximate mass, stack arrangement and any unusual edges. Use a separate trial for a tall mixed load or a product that settles during handling.
Make the reason for the trial explicit. You might be investigating frequent breaks, changing the visibility of the finished pack or comparing film cost. A clear objective prevents the team from accepting a cheaper roll while overlooking a new production problem.
Do not make an automatic rule that 17µm is for a particular pallet weight or that every 23µm film can replace another 23µm film. The product listings do not establish those equivalences.
Set the acceptance criteria first.
Lantech's guide to effective stretch wrapping identifies containment force as the holding force applied by the film. It also cautions that different measurement tools can give results that are not directly comparable. Keep your assessment method consistent.
For your own trial, document what must be checked on the finished load, who assesses it and what counts as a failure. Include the intended warehouse handling and dispatch requirements. Visual inspection is useful, but a glossy or tight-looking wrap does not establish a tested load rating.
Have the responsible packaging or equipment specialist define any measured containment target required for your loads. This guide does not prescribe a universal force, number of layers or machine setting.
05 / Compare the working cost
Calculate cost per acceptable wrapped pallet.
Price per roll is easy to collect. Cost per acceptable pallet connects that price to the work completed. Use a clearly defined load family and count only pallets that meet your agreed wrapping requirements.
film cost consumed ÷ acceptable pallets produced
For a full-roll comparison, use the actual cost of each roll consumed and include film used on failed wraps or rework. If the trial ends with a partly used roll, measure the film consumed consistently rather than charging the entire roll to the partial trial.
| Trial record | Film A | Film B |
|---|---|---|
| Film cost consumed | $80.00 | $90.00 |
| Acceptable pallets produced | 80 | 120 |
| Film cost per acceptable pallet | $1.00 | $0.75 |
In this example, the more expensive film produces a lower material cost per acceptable pallet. These figures are invented to explain the calculation. They are not Pacific Packaging product prices, measured yields or a prediction of savings.
Keep the commercial basis consistent. Record whether quotes include GST, how freight is allocated and how many rolls the price covers. Use the price your business actually pays, including any applicable purchasing terms.
Add the costs a roll price misses.
Track rewrapping time, stoppages, discarded film and roll changes alongside the material calculation. Keep those items visible instead of hiding them in an assumed saving. A film that is economical on one load family may perform differently on another.
Once a film and setup are approved, retain the trial sheet as the purchasing baseline. Review it when the film, equipment, product packaging or pallet configuration changes.
06 / Trial before the volume order
Give purchasing and production the same evidence.
A useful trial record can be simple. Choose representative loads, document the setup and assess the result consistently. Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions and your site's procedures throughout.
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Record the starting point.
Note the current film SKU, machine model, approved settings, load description and usual wrapping issues. Photograph the agreed pallet configuration so the next trial uses a comparable stack.
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Confirm the replacement roll.
Check width, length, gauge, colour, core, roll diameter and permitted weight. Resolve any missing compatibility information before loading. Record the replacement SKU and order unit.
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Run a controlled comparison.
Record each approved setup and the loads it wraps. If settings need adjustment, log the change and its result. Avoid comparing an undocumented new setup with a remembered old result.
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Count failures and rework.
Record breaks, incomplete wraps, discarded film, rewrapped pallets and stoppage time. Inspect for loose film, damaged cartons or obscured labels. Refer failures for review before dispatch.
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Assess the finished pallet.
Use the agreed inspection and any required containment measurements. Review performance through the planned handling process. Confirm the transport restraint arrangements separately with the responsible team.
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Approve a repeatable specification.
Retain the film SKU, machine setup, accepted load family, cost result and approval owner. Make the record available across shifts and to the person placing the next order.
07 / Keep the transport task in view
Wrapping the pallet is one part of dispatch.
The NHVR's stretch and shrink wrapping guidance explains that wrapping unitises smaller items into a palletised load. It also says unknown wrapping capacity should not be included in load-restraint calculations.
A successful wrapping trial does not establish the complete restraint arrangement for a vehicle. Follow the relevant loading plan and seek appropriate advice for the goods and transport task. Do not treat a film gauge or a neat finish as transport certification.
Before you order
Machine film buying questions.
Does a longer roll always wrap more pallets?
It contains more nominal film length, but finished-pallet yield depends on the approved wrapping setup and film consumed per acceptable load. Compare measured results on the same load family. Do not convert listed roll metres directly into a guaranteed pallet count.
Can I switch from 23µm to 17µm to reduce cost?
Put the alternative through a controlled trial after confirming equipment compatibility. Compare accepted loads, film consumption, breaks and rework. The lower gauge alone does not establish an equivalent result or a saving.
Does one-sided cling establish which way to thread the film?
It describes a film characteristic. Use the wrapper's threading instructions and the film supplier's guidance to establish the correct orientation. Avoid guessing from which side appears shinier.
Should I buy machine film for a manual wrapping station?
Select the roll format intended for the application and equipment. The products in this guide are machine films. For a manual process, review our hand pallet wrapping guide and confirm a suitable hand-film specification.
What should I include in a machine-film enquiry?
Send the wrapper make and model, current film SKU or specification, roll-fit requirements, load description, daily or weekly usage and the issue you want to resolve. Include your required quantity and delivery postcode for a relevant purchasing discussion.
Make the next order easier
Build your shortlist around the job.
Compare the verified machine-film specifications, confirm the missing equipment details and record a trial result before committing to a volume order.
Browse Machine Pallet WrapNeed help narrowing the options?
Contact Pacific Packaging Australia with your machine model, load details and current film specification. Those details give our team a practical starting point for discussing the range.