Tuck in your film tail
By Canadian Packaging Staff
General ITW Muller pallets StretchwrappingITW Muller’s Tail Tucker eliminates loose film tails on stretch wrapped pallets.
ITW Muller, a leading manufacturer of both innovative stretch wrap equipment and high quality stretch wrap film, have released the Tail Tucker.
The patented technology behind the Tail Tucker ensures that no loose film tails occur on stretch wrapped pallets meaning that manufacturers are assured pallets won’t become unraveled due to handling, film quality, or storage conditions.
It can also be a huge help to customers utilizing automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) where blocked sensors due to loose film tails can cause major problems.
Once a load is stretched wrapped, the film is cut and leaves behind a ‘tail’. This tail is often secured using a brush to wipe it down to the load. When done in this way, the tail has a tendency to come loose, especially true if the load is handled frequently, stored in a cold or outdoor environment, an irregular shape, transported on open trucks or wrapped with film that has low cling properties.
Having a loose film tail can result in unraveling of the film entirely and degrading the load. In addition, there is excess waste and costs associated with having to re-wrap the pallet.
“Although heat sealing the film tail to the load is a better option than using a wipe down system, some customers’ pallets are exposed to harsh storage conditions or left in inventory yards for weeks and months at a time and require an even more reliable attachment,” says Dan Schmidt, business development manager, ITW Muller. “The Tail Tucker has kept their loads secure through it all—saving them time and money.”
The Tail Tucker is available as an enhancement to the ITW Muller Octopus line of new stretchwrap equipment or as a retrofit to most existing machines.
It works by literally tucking the film tail behind the last two full webs of film. During the last 1/2 revolution in the cycle, the 20-inch web of film is formed into a rope. As the ring frame moves to the top of the load, it pulls the rope behind the last two full webs of film and is released after it reaches the top. The film roping device can also be programmed to add ropes at specific points on a load or to simply narrow the web at specific points in the wrap cycle to add strength and stability to unstable loads.
“This is one of those simple yet really smart ideas. As soon as the customer sees it, they recognize the value of it right away. By eliminating the need to re-wrap pallets or manually affix tails, our customers have saved nearly $30,000 annually,” explains Schmidt.
To see the application in action, watch the video at: www.itwmuller.com/video_tailtucker.php4.
About ITW Muller
ITW Muller, a division of Illinois Tool Works, is a leading manufacturer of both innovative stretch wrap equipment and high quality stretch wrap film. Headquartered in Arlington Heights, IL, the company provides a single source for all stretch packaging needs. ITW Muller’s highly regarded Octopus stretch wrapper line, along with other reliable equipment such as the Cobra and Raptor, provide customers with a wide range of solutions. With the help of an extensive engineering team and talented manufacturing technicians, Muller has a proven history of developing distinctive machines and innovative options to satisfy some of the most difficult stretch wrapping challenges. Crystal clear, high quality cast stretch films are manufactured using a sophisticated five-layer extrusion process at an ITW Muller facility in Orange, Texas. Strategically located just outside Atlanta, Georgia, ITW Muller’s Douglasville stretch film manufacturing facility produces millions of pounds of blown stretch film annually on state-of-the-art equipment. The facility adheres to strict quality control procedures to assure consistent, problem-free product.
For more information about ITW Muller, its products and services, visit: www.itwmuller.com or contact them at 1-800-OCTOPUS (1-800-628-6787) or via e-mail at sales@itwmuller.com.
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