When businesses purchase pallet wrap, they naturally assume the product they're receiving matches the specifications on the label. After all, if you're buying a 2,500 metre machine roll, you expect to receive 2,500 metres of usable film.
Unfortunately, that isn't always the case.
At MPS Packaging Australia, we recently assisted a customer who had imported a full 20-foot container of machine stretch film. The shipment contained 20 pallets of pallet wrap, but after checking the rolls it became clear that the film was significantly under specification.
Rather than containing the advertised 2,500 meters, our calculations estimated the rolls contained only around 2,047 metres each. That's a shortfall of approximately 450 metres per roll, or close to 18% less film than expected.
Across an entire container, that represents thousands of meters of missing stretch film.
How We Calculated the Roll Length
One of the simplest ways to verify the approximate length of machine stretch film is by weighing the roll.
For this particular sample:
- Film Width: 500 mm
- Film Thickness: 12 micron
- LLDPE Density: 0.92 g/cm³
- Net Roll Weight: 11.3 kg (after deducting an estimated 1.3 kg core weight)
Using the standard density formula for LLDPE stretch film, the calculated roll length was:
Approximately 2,047 metres per roll.
For comparison, one of our genuine 500 mm x 12 micron machine rolls measures 2,536 metres and has a nett stretchwrap weight of 14 kg.
The sheer difference in weight alone immediately raised concerns before the calculations even began.
Small Differences Add Up Quickly
Many businesses only look at the roll price. But they're buying products with incomplete descriptions, presuming meters or gauge or simply just buying products shorter than the description says. Unfortunately this tactic is highly common in packaging we would estimate that around 50% of companies are being ripped off in stretchwrap.
See these 2 rolls next to each other
The MPS ROLL IS 500MMX 2526M X 12UM. (BOTTOM)
The competitor is advertised as
500mm x 2500m x 12um (TOP)
The MPS roll is significantly larger once you also consider we have a smaller width core.Â
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Even Large Companies Can Get Caught
One of the biggest misconceptions in the packaging industry is that buying from a large supplier automatically guarantees you're receiving exactly what has been advertised.
Unfortunately, that's simply not true. This isn't an issue confined to small importers or unknown brands.
It reinforces why every business should verify the products they receive, regardless of who supplied them.
Always Verify What You're Buying
Checking stretch film isn't difficult.
Some simple quality checks include:
- Weighing random rolls.
- Confirming the actual core weight.
- Calculating the expected roll length.
- Comparing against the advertised specification.
- Monitoring pallet usage over time.
These simple checks can reveal discrepancies long before hundreds of rolls have been consumed.
Buy From Suppliers Who Know Their Product
At MPS Packaging Australia, we routinely verify stretch film specifications because we understand that every meter matters.
Our Australian-made machine stretch films are supplied to genuine specifications, allowing customers to compare products based on real performance rather than what's printed on the label.
Now don't think because this customer imported a full container load it was the overseas supplier ripping them off, no, the overseas suppliers don't care, they charge by the KG. this is the Australian importer and reseller ripping the customer off.Â
Whether you're buying a few cartons or importing container quantities, it's worth remembering that pallet wrap should always be judged by the metres and weight you actually receive—not simply by the label on the outside of the roll.
The cheapest roll isn't always the cheapest film.
When hundreds of metres are missing from every roll, the real cost becomes far greater than the purchase price.
If you're unsure whether your current pallet wrap is delivering the length you've paid for, MPS Packaging Australia can help calculate the true roll length and compare it against the advertised specification. A simple weight check today could save your business thousands of dollars over the life of your packaging program.
