Exterior Stretch Wrap: Parcels or Pallet Unitization
Choose exterior wrapping from the form in which the carrier receives the shipment. A group of cartons traveling as one pallet load presents a different purchasing question from individual cartons entering a parcel network. Writing “wrap for shipping” on a supply request does not resolve that difference.
Define the carrier handoff
FedEx's general packaging guidance says not to cover the exterior of small parcels with stretch wrap or bubble wrap. That guidance is specific to its parcel packaging context; a stretch-film listing for pallet preparation does not establish acceptance for an individually shipped carton.
Confirm the packaging instructions for the actual service before deciding what the outermost material will be. If a pallet will be broken down before the parcel handoff, assess the separated cartons at that point. The load may require film during an earlier warehouse movement while each final parcel needs its own complete packaging arrangement.
Map a mixed dispatch job
Consider a hypothetical order containing twelve cartons. Eight will remain on a pallet for the specified freight movement. Four will be removed and sent as separate parcels. Put these two destinations on the packing instruction before the team draws supplies.
| Group | Handoff form | Purchasing decision |
|---|---|---|
| Eight cartons | One pallet load | Select containment for the approved pallet plan |
| Four cartons | Four individual parcels | Select each parcel's approved outer packaging |
Do not calculate film requirements as though all twelve cartons follow the same route. Record where the four parcels separate from the pallet workflow and which packing station completes them. This prevents a material intended for one dispatch stage from becoming an unreviewed outer layer at another.
Buy film for its assigned operation
SF207 is 20-inch-wide, 1,000-foot, 70-gauge extended-core stretch film, supplied as four rolls per case. Its stated extended core has a 4.5-inch handle on each side. Those are purchase specifications for a hand-wrapping format; they do not prescribe a load's wrap pattern, containment force or transport approval.
Specify the film against the accepted pallet operation, with its handling equipment and actual load arrangement. Keep the parcel packaging supplies on their own job line. Use the extended-core film guide for related purchasing choices after the dispatch form is settled. The decision to buy film should identify where it will be used and where it must cease to be part of the finished package.