Machine stretch film is the long roll sized for automatic and semi-automatic wrappers, where motorized pre-stretch and continuous speed make the difference compared to the manual format. The choice between clear and black depends on whether the operation needs visibility of the contents or discretion and added UV protection. This comparison of the two Fortemo machine films helps you decide which one fits your palletizing line.
🎯 Choose in 10 seconds
- If you palletize on an automated line with continuous flow where you need to see labels and codes: go to Clear film
- If you ship theft-sensitive goods, confidential value, or loads that travel in the sun for days: go to Black film
What to consider before choosing
Before buying, evaluate these four criteria. They define whether the film delivers only mechanical containment or adds content discretion, UV protection, and visual batch identification.
- Compatibility with the wrapper: both Fortemo rolls are 50 cm wide with gauge 90 (23 µm) and 1500 m in length, standard dimensions for turntable wrappers, rotary arm machines, and mobile robots. Always check the core diameter and the speeds of your head before 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 the view, providing visual security and discretion at the cost of requiring labeling on the outside of the film.
- Sun transit and UV exposure: the UV-stable black pigment of the colored film extends the service life of the wrap during transit under the Caribbean sun and prolonged inter-island export, where clear film can begin to degrade. For covered operations, clear is sufficient.
- Product sensitivity to light: electronics, certain chemicals, dry foods, and pharmaceutical products degrade with prolonged exposure to visible light and UV. Black film adds a light barrier to the mechanical containment, extending product service life during storage or long transit.
Clear machine stretch film: visible automatic palletizing
- Coextruded multilayer LLDPE for high pre-stretch 200-300%
- Puncture resistance over sharp edges at machine speed
- Uniform gauge 90 (23 µm) across the entire 1500 m roll
- Crystal-clear transparency for reading labels and codes
- Differential cling calibrated between layers without sticking to the product
- Does not hide the pallet contents
- No additional UV protection for prolonged sun
Clear machine stretch film roll in coextruded multilayer LLDPE, 50 cm (20 in) wide, gauge 90 (23 µm), 1500 m (4920 ft) long roll. Designed for palletizing on turntable wrappers with motorized or friction pre-stretch, rotary arm systems on high-volume continuous production lines, mobile wrapping robots for palletizing in hard-to-reach areas or variable configurations, and consolidated shipping of heavy loads (cement, blocks, palletized foods) where the film's containment force is critical for inter-island transit.
Black machine stretch film: opaque automatic palletizing with UV
- UV-stable black pigment integrated into the coextrusion
- Same multilayer LLDPE with pre-stretch 200-300%
- Total opacity for content confidentiality
- Gauge 90 (23 µm) and 1500 m roll, same as the clear
- Useful for visual batch identification in the warehouse
- Higher unit cost than the clear
- Requires labeling outside the film
- Not suitable when automatic code reading is needed
Black machine stretch film roll in coextruded multilayer LLDPE with UV-stable black pigment, 50 cm (20 in) wide, gauge 90 (23 µm), 1500 m (4920 ft) long roll. Designed for shipping electronics, pharmaceutical products, spirits, and valuable goods where content confidentiality is a priority; palletizing of loads for inter-island or international export with prolonged sun transit and third-party handling; identification of specific batches in a high-volume warehouse where visual contrast saves inventory time; and protection of light-sensitive products during outdoor or semi-covered storage.
Comparison table
| Feature | Clear film | Black film |
|---|---|---|
| Color / opacity | Crystal clear | Opaque black |
| Material | Coextruded multilayer LLDPE | Coextruded multilayer 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 → recommended product matrix
| If your case is… | Recommended product |
|---|---|
| Automated line with continuous flow of general merchandise pallets | → Clear film |
| Turntable wrapping with code reading in the warehouse | → Clear film |
| Rotary arm on a palletized food production line | → 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 contents | → Black film |
| Long inter-island transit under the Caribbean sun with sensitive product | → Black film |
| Identification of specific batches in a high-volume warehouse | → Black film |
| Outdoor or semi-covered storage with prolonged pallets | → Black film |
| Light-sensitive product (paints, dry foods, chemicals) | → Black film |
Before buying, define three data points: type of wrapper and speed, time the pallet is exposed to the sun once wrapped, and the need to read codes underneath the film. The rule of thumb: covered line with automatic reading → clear; export in the sun or sensitive product → black. The technical specification (multilayer LLDPE, gauge 90, 1500 m, 50 cm) is identical between both, so the decision is by operational scenario, not by mechanical capacity.
Do not use clear film for export that spends days under the Caribbean sun. Although the mechanical capacity is equivalent, only black film carries UV-stable pigment that extends the service life of the wrap under prolonged solar radiation. Clear film exposed to the sun becomes brittle and produces tears that compromise pallet containment in mid-transit.
All compared products
Frequently asked questions
Why gauge 90 (23 µm) for machine and not 80 (20 µm) as in manual?
Machine film is applied at continuous speed and withstands pulls from the head during pre-stretch. The higher gauge provides mechanical strength that prevents in-line tears (which would stop production). Manual film, applied at human speed, works well with gauge 80.
Does the 1500 m roll fit in any wrapper?
It fits in standard turntable wrappers, rotary arms, and mobile robots that respect the 50 cm wide format with a standard core. Always check the inner diameter and the maximum weight allowed by your head before the first roll change.
How many pallets does a 1500 m roll wrap?
It depends on the pallet size, the number of wraps applied, and the pre-stretch level of the wrapper. As an operational reference, a 1500 m roll with 250% pre-stretch covers approximately between 60 and 100 europallet pallets with 4-5 wraps each. Measure your real consumption during the first week to calibrate orders.
