Which width for which product? Slit stretch film rolls and dispensers

The widths you can make

Slit rolls are made by cutting a jumbo roll lengthwise into equal parts while rewinding. Öncümak's SM-1300 models (SM-1300 L, SM-1300 2S, SM-1300 2S PRO) divide it into 2 to 10 equal rolls, each on its own core, down to 50 mm wide. From the most common 50 cm jumbo roll:

The SM-1300 models take jumbo rolls from 300 to 580 mm wide, so other widths are possible from other jumbo rolls. The coreless CR-1700 divides a jumbo roll into two equal coreless rolls.

Which width for which job?

The rule of thumb: the thinner and rounder the item, the narrower the roll. A narrow roll follows small diameters and curves, and wastes less film at the sides of a thin profile.

Products on the market follow the same logic: POLIFILM's mini stretch film, for example, is 100 mm wide and is offered for bundling profiles, strips and tubes and for small parts; narrow banding films from US suppliers come in widths of about 7.6 and 12.7 cm (3 and 5 inches).

Length and thickness

Narrow rolls are usually short and light so that they are easy to handle all day. POLIFILM's mini roll, for example, holds 150 m of 17, 20 or 23 µm film. Thicker film suits sharp edges and heavier bundles; thinner film goes further per roll. See stretch film thickness.

Dispensers and handles

• Mini dispensers: a small dispenser holds the roll and controls the tension, so the film goes on evenly and the hand and wrist are spared. POLIFILM sells its mini roll with a matching dispenser.
• Core size: dispensers fit a given core diameter. A US supplier of narrow banding film, for example, points out that its 3-inch (76 mm) cores fit various dispensers. Ask your customers which dispensers they use before you choose the core; Öncümak's slitting rewinders work with 38, 50 and 76 mm cores.
• Coreless narrow rolls: they need a handle that fits the centre hole; see how to use coreless stretch film.

For converters

Narrow rolls open markets that full-width rolls do not reach: workshops, profile and cable producers, furniture makers and retail. Start with the widths your customers already ask for; on the SM-1300 models, changing the number of rolls changes the width. See where slit stretch film is used.