Pallets covered with stretch hood

Stretch Hood

Stretch hood solutions that fits your packaging

Packaging protects a product. But what protects the package? That’s a big question as e-commerce and cargo shipments drive more and more products around the world. Unsaleable or returned goods due to transport damage cost millions of dollars each year. Finding a better way to keep shipments safe and secure benefits the entire value chain.

Stretch hood protection

Stretch hood films and packaging encloses shipping pallets in a single sheath of high-performance film, top to bottom. It offers five-sided protection: The top is closed to ensure products stay dry and to provide protection against ultra-violet radiation. The four side panels are also solid and further reduce the risk of weather damage while providing exceptional stability. The bottom edge of the pallet is tightly wrapped around the bottom edge to secure the load completely. The result? Products stay put on their pallets.

Below you can discover how Dow’s polyethylene resins can produce sustainable stretch hood films that hold up during storage and distribution. 

Benefits of Stretch Hood Films across the value chain

Film converters value chain image

Efficient and cost competitive hood film production through:

  • Fast extrusion speed with best thickness tolerance 
  • Downgauge optimization 40-150 μm
  • Lower weight solutions for higher yield per roll
  • EVA-free solution
  • Single component optimization customized for end use
Packers value-chain

Efficient and cost competitive packing through:

  • Fast extrusion speed with best thickness tolerance 
  • Downgauge optimization 40-150 μm
  • Lower weight solutions for higher yield per roll
  • EVA-free solution
  • Single component optimization customized for end use
brand-owners-value-chain  

Durable stretch films for safe transport and brand promotion through: 

  • Fast extrusion speed with best thickness tolerance 
  • Downgauge optimization 40-150 μm
  • Lower weight solutions for higher yield per roll
  • EVA-free solution
  • Single component optimization customized for end use
Logistics value-chain

Stronger hood films that reduce wasted goods through:

  • Fast extrusion speed with best thickness tolerance 
  • Downgauge optimization 40-150 μm
  • Lower weight solutions for higher yield per roll
  • EVA-free solution

At Dow, we’ve been working with industry experts and developing films for stretch hood for close to 30 years. We even have our own stretch hood line and transportation packaging test labs at Pack Studios  Freeport in Texas. You can trust our portfolio of resins and our suggestions for how to mix and match them for the best results.

Resins for stretch hood film manufacturers

Take for example, ELITE™ AT Enhanced Polyethylene Resins, an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) free solution for stretch hood films offering unique holding force, elasticity recovery, optics and toughness.

Stretch hood structures must deliver excellent elasticity for films that conform tightly to the contours of the packaged goods. Excellent toughness and puncture resistance are key. Good tear resistance is another advantage. You may even achieve holding force at lower densities and be able to downgauge for lower raw material costs and CO2 reductions.


 

The stretch hood process itself offers many advantages:

 

Stretch hood

Stretch wrap

 

Pallet loads wrapped per hour

<100

~60 

 

Pallets wrapped per roll

800 - 1,200

~150

 

Roll changed in hours

5 - 12 

Several 

 

Full frame of the textures formed by the bubbles and drops of oil in the shape of circle floating - slate texture

Head to our interactive brochure to discover our full portfolio of resins and adhesives.

Collation shrink film on water    

Collation Shrink Films 

We offer a range of resins ready to help you develop the perfect product for your needs, including solutions that enable the inclusion of PCR.    

Stacks of HDSS 

Heavy Duty Shipping Sack 

Whatever you need from your heavy duty shopping sacks, our resins with downgauging and PCR integration values can help.  

Stretch Wrap Films on boxes  

Stretch Wrap Films

What if we told you we could help you downgauge your films while keeping the same high level of technical performance?

Speak to an expert

Want to collaborate? Let’s see how we can accelerate your innovation process.