Machine stretch film is a long roll sized for automatic and semi-automatic wrappers, where motorized pre-stretch and continuous speed make a difference compared to manual application. The choice between clear and black depends on whether the operation requires visibility of the content or discretion and added UV protection. This comparison of Fortemo's two machine films will help you decide which one fits your palletizing line.
🎯 Choose in 10 seconds
- If you palletize on an automated line with continuous flow where labels and codes need to be visible: go to Clear Film
- If you ship theft-sensitive goods, confidential valuable items, or loads that travel for days in the sun: go to Black Film
What to consider before choosing
Before buying, evaluate these four criteria. They define whether the film only provides mechanical closure or adds content discretion, UV protection, and visual batch identification.
- Wrapper compatibility: Both Fortemo rolls are 50 cm wide with a 90 gauge (23 µm) and 1500 m length, standard dimensions for turntable wrappers, rotary arm systems, and mobile robots. Always check the core diameter and head speeds before using the first roll.
- Pallet content visibility: Clear film keeps labels, barcodes, and printed product lettering visible, which speeds up inventory and traceability. Black film completely blocks vision, providing visual security and discretion at the cost of requiring external labeling.
- Sun exposure and UV transit: The UV-stable black pigment in colored film extends the life of the wrap during transit in the Caribbean sun and prolonged inter-island export, where clear film can start to degrade. For covered operations, clear film is sufficient.
- Product light sensitivity: Electronics, certain chemicals, dry foods, and pharmaceuticals degrade with prolonged exposure to visible and UV light. Black film adds a light barrier to the mechanical closure, extending product shelf life during storage or long transit.
Clear Machine Stretch Film: visible automatic palletizing
- Multilayer coextruded LLDPE for high pre-stretch 200-300%
- Puncture resistance on sharp edges at machine speed
- Uniform 90 gauge (23 µm) across the entire 1500 m roll
- Crystal clear transparency for label and code reading
- Calibrated differential cling between layers without sticking to the product
- Does not conceal pallet content
- No additional UV protection for prolonged sun exposure
Clear machine stretch film roll made of coextruded multilayer LLDPE, 50 cm (20 in) wide, 90 gauge (23 µm), 1500 m (4920 ft) long. Designed for palletizing on turntable wrappers with motorized or friction pre-stretch, rotary arm systems in high-volume continuous production lines, mobile wrapping robots for palletizing in hard-to-reach or variable configuration areas, and consolidated shipping of heavy loads (cement, blocks, palletized food) where film containment force is critical for inter-island transit.
Black Machine Stretch Film: opaque automatic palletizing with UV protection
- UV-stable black pigment integrated into coextrusion
- Same multilayer LLDPE with 200-300% pre-stretch
- Total opacity for content confidentiality
- 90 gauge (23 µm) and 1500 m roll, same as clear
- Useful for visual batch identification in the warehouse
- Higher unit cost than clear
- Requires external labeling
- Not suitable when automatic code reading is needed
Black machine stretch film roll made of coextruded multilayer LLDPE with UV-stable black pigment, 50 cm (20 in) wide, 90 gauge (23 µm), 1500 m (4920 ft) long. Designed for shipping electronics, pharmaceuticals, liquors, and valuable goods where content confidentiality is a priority; palletizing loads for inter-island or international export with prolonged sun transit and handling by third parties; identification of specific batches in high-volume warehouses where visual contrast saves inventory time; and protection of photosensitive products during outdoor or semi-covered storage.
Comparison table
| Feature | Clear Film | Black Film |
|---|---|---|
| Color / opacity | Crystal clear | Opaque black |
| Material | Multilayer coextruded LLDPE | Multilayer coextruded LLDPE + UV |
| Gauge / thickness | 90 (23 µm) | 90 (23 µm) |
| Roll width | 50 cm (20 in) | 50 cm (20 in) |
| Length per roll | 1500 m (4920 ft) | 1500 m (4920 ft) |
| Typical pre-stretch | 200-300% | 200-300% |
| Label visibility | Yes | — |
| Additional UV protection | — | Yes |
| Application type | Automatic wrapper | Automatic wrapper |
Use case matrix → recommended product
| If your case is… | Recommended product |
|---|---|
| Automated line with continuous flow of general goods pallets | → Clear Film |
| Wrapping with turntable and code reading in warehouse | → Clear Film |
| Rotary arm in a production line for palletized food | → Clear Film |
| Mobile wrapping robot in an operation with visible identification | → Clear Film |
| Cement, blocks or heavy loads with covered transit | → Clear Film |
| Export of electronics or pharmaceuticals with confidential content | → Black Film |
| Long inter-island transit in the Caribbean sun with sensitive products | → Black Film |
| Identification of specific batches in high-volume warehouse | → Black Film |
| Outdoor or semi-covered storage with prolonged pallets | → Black Film |
| Photosensitive product (paints, dry foods, chemicals) | → Black Film |
Before purchasing, define three data points: type and speed of wrapper, sun exposure time of the wrapped pallet, and need for code reading under the film. The practical rule: covered line with automatic reading → clear; sun export or sensitive product → black. The technical specification (multilayer LLDPE, 90 gauge, 1500 m, 50 cm) is identical between both, so the decision is based on the operational scenario, not mechanical capacity.
Do not use clear film for exports that will spend days in the Caribbean sun. Although the mechanical capacity is equivalent, only black film contains UV-stable pigment that extends the life of the wrap under prolonged solar radiation. Clear film exposed to the sun becomes brittle and leads to breakages that compromise pallet containment during transit.
Not sure which machine film to use?
If you combine export routes to the sun with general palletizing in the warehouse, or have products with specific light protection requirements, ask the virtual assistant with details of the wrapper, pallet destination and product sensitivity. You will instantly receive a recommendation with the correct film and optimal mix of rolls in stock.
All compared products
Frequently asked questions
Why caliper 90 (23 µm) for machines and not 80 (20 µm) as for manual use?
Machine film is applied at a continuous speed and withstands pulls from the head during prestretch. The higher caliper provides mechanical resistance that prevents breakage on the line (which would stop production). Manual film, applied at human speed, works well with caliper 80.
Does the 1500 m reel fit in any wrapper?
It fits standard turntable, rotary arm, and mobile robot wrappers that comply with the 50 cm width format with a standard core. Always check the internal diameter and the maximum weight supported by your head before the first reel change.
How many pallets does a 1500 m reel wrap?
It depends on the size of the pallet, the number of turns applied, and the prestretch level of the wrapper. As an operational reference, a 1500 m reel with 250% prestretch covers approximately between 60 and 100 europallets with 4-5 turns each. Measure your actual consumption during the first week to calibrate orders.