Find out about the advantages of Stretch Hood for hooding food loads at FISPAL

Advantages of the stapling for food loads

In the food industry, packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and safety of products, as well as improving presentation and facilitating storage. In this sense, the pallet packaging system Stretch Hood has stood out in recent years as a highly effective solution for protecting food loads. In a competitive market, with high hygiene standards and demand for impeccable deliveries, packaging systems Focused on protection, such as the Stretch Hood, they are increasingly present at the end of production lines.

In this article, we will analyze the advantages of the Stretch Hood packaging system for food loads and how this technology can optimize the packaging process in this industry.

What characteristics and packaging needs do food loads have?

Before we explore the advantages of the Stretch Hood system, it is important to understand the specific characteristics of food loads that make packaging a critical aspect of your supply chain. In the food industry, products vary significantly in terms of formats, types of packaging and other specific characteristics.

Some of the most common features include:

• Variety of sizes and shapes: Food products come in different sizes and types of packaging, from small packages of processed foods to pallets loaded with bulk products in bags or big bags.
• Sensitivity to moisture and contaminants: Most foods are susceptible to moisture and contamination. Therefore, protecting them from these elements in secondary or tertiary packaging is essential to maintain their quality and safety.

• Hygiene requirements: In the food industry, hygiene is fundamental. All types of packaging that protect the product must comply with strict food safety and traceability regulations and avoid cross-contamination.

• Labeling and presentation: Packaging must allow easy identification of the product, and an attractive presentation on the shelves is crucial to attract consumers.

Why hood food loads instead of packaging?

Before we look at the specific advantages of the Stretch Hood system for food, it is important to distinguish between two most common packaging systems for food loads: hooding the load and baling the load.

1. Pack the cargo: Wrapping the load involves using a pallet wrap system (either a semi-automatic or automatic wrapper) that stretches the film and wraps it around the load to hold it together. This method is widely used in the food industry due to its versatility and product fixation advantages, but it has disadvantages in terms of total protection.

2. Hood the load: On the other hand, the procedure of hooding the load, also known as “Stretch Hooding”, is a technique that applies a tubular elastic film that stretches and contracts when completely covering the load. The film creates a kind of hood, hence the English name “Hood”. As mentioned, the Stretch Hood system is gaining more and more space in the food industry due to its advantages in protection and safety, as well as the reduction in material and film consumption, since a single layer can cover the entire product.

The choice between hooding or wrapping cargo depends on several factors, including the type of cargo, protection and presentation requirements, as well as efficiency in the supply chain.

What advantages does Stretch Hood bring to food packaging?

But why choose hooding over wrapping? Let's analyze the advantages of the Stretch Hood system for packaging food loads, compared to other traditional systems, such as packaging:

1. Product Protection:

One of the main advantages of the Stretch Hood for food loads is its ability to provide complete product protection. The film fits snugly around the load, forming an airtight barrier that protects against moisture, dust and other contaminants. This is essential to maintain the freshness and quality of food.

2. Greater hygiene with baling:

In relation to the previous point, the Stretch Hood is the system that best seals the load, especially when compared to packaging, which can allow dust and moisture to pass between the packaging layers. Furthermore, the machine and the baling system itself also allow for a more hygienic process. In the case of Innova's Stretch Hood machine, it includes a barrier protection system in the hood creation area to prevent the infiltration of dust and other elements and apply a 100% hygienic hood.

3. Load stability:

The Stretch Hood system also guarantees load stability. Its elastic film stretches and contracts through vertical and horizontal forces to adapt uniformly to the load. This type of film containment prevents products from moving or falling during handling, transportation and storage. Furthermore, this type of packaging eliminates the need for additional protection and stability elements, such as top covers, corner protectors, cardboard sheets for baling, etc.

4. Packaging cost savings:

The Stretch Hood system requires much less film compared to other packaging technologies. Because Stretch Hood film efficiently adapts to the load, film weight can be reduced by up to 50%, resulting in significant packaging cost savings and greater sustainability. Furthermore, its efficiency in the packaging process allows for greater productivity and reduced labor costs.

5. Adaptability to multiple formats:

Another decisive advantage of the Stretch Hood is its versatility and ability to adapt to a wide variety of food load sizes and shapes. The Stretch Hood film is highly flexible and allows adaptation to different measurements. Additionally, Stretch Hood systems allow for the standard inclusion of 2 or 3 spools for different shapes, and the market is constantly introducing more Stretch Hood technical films with “Super Stretch” properties to allow for even more flexibility.

As it is a fully automated system, there is no need to constantly adjust machine settings for different products, which saves time and resources.

6. The most sustainable packaging system:

At a time when sustainability is a hot topic, the Stretch Hood offers broad benefits in terms of environmental responsibility. The system can be used with high-quality, low-density films that are thinner but equally strong, reducing plastic consumption. Furthermore, packaging efficiency and load stability reduce the risk of wasted products and damaged packaging. Innova's Stretch Hood system also includes high-efficiency motors and mechanisms that reduce electricity consumption.

7. Greater efficiency in the supply chain:

A key factor for the food industry is to achieve greater efficiency and productivity in its production lines and respective supply chains. The Stretch Hood system automates the packaging process and quickly adapts to different load sizes, speeding up the packaging and shipping process. This not only improves operational efficiency, but also ensures on-time deliveries and reduces the risk of delays in the supply chain.

8. Presentation quality and improvement of brand image:

Last but not least, packaging with Stretch Hood provides a cleaner and more professional presentation to food loads due to the total transparency of the hood, without folds or wrinkles, putting the customer's brand in evidence. For this reason, it has become the packaging system of choice for large food corporations. Without a doubt, this type of packaging helps to improve the brand image of the cargo and attract consumers at the point of sale. An attractive presentation in logistics centers and shelves can make a difference in a highly competitive market.

In conclusion, the Stretch Hood system is proving to be a solution that meets the demands of the food market. It offers a unique combination of product protection, cargo stability, cost savings, flexibility, sustainability, supply chain efficiency and brand image enhancement. These advantages make Stretch Hood an attractive choice for the food industry, where quality, safety and efficiency are of utmost importance.

When considering packaging options for food products, it is essential to evaluate each load's specific needs and business objectives. With hundreds of Stretch Hood installations around the world across a variety of industries, Innova can guide you on how Stretch Hood can improve the protection of your product and even test its effectiveness in our Innova Lab.

Useful Links:

FISPAL website

Source: Innova machinery