When looking for a good silage wrap, the following points must be taken into consideration:

The main points include:

CO-EXTRUDED FILM
Mechanical Properties to ensure trouble-free operation in many vital stages of film application and bale handling. The highest performance can be best achieved from a co-extruded film, allowing the various properties of the film’s ingredients to operate at their most efficient.

TEAR RESISTANCE
The film must have good tear resistance – to reduce breakages at the start of the bale wrapping cycle

CLING
The film must have a good cling to provide an airtight seal when wrapping. This is essential to ensure all layers bond together and give the protection needed to produce and maintain the valuable forage crop. A ‘sticky’ feeling film does not always mean the long-term tack level is good, likewise if a film is noisy, it does not necessarily suggest a better cling. Films which are very ‘sticky’ to touch are at risk from leaving tack deposits on pre-stretch rollers leading to later problems.

PUNCTURE RESISTANCE
The film must have a high puncture resistance to withstand the forces of ejection from the turntable onto sharp crop stubble, as well as bale handling and stacking afterwards.

OPACITY
A consistent and uniform Opacity is essential for high quality silage production. When the film is stretched the film colour must disperse evenly, without visible ‘windows’ being produced in the film. Such problems could indicate not only a reduced film colour but also a reduction in the vital elements of UV protection and cling where the film has ‘windowed’. If your film gives a very consistent Black dispersion, with no signs of windowing, it has good opacity.

U.V.
A high and consistent UV Stabilizer in the film is essential, as harmful ultra-violet radiation from the sun will degrade the quality of the film eventually causing plastic to ‘breakdown’.

QUALITY I/D
Roll Identification and Quality Assurance. All good film manufacturers identify each roll with a unique i/d number, to provide absolute product traceability after production. Such production standards not only offer product identification but also a guarantee of quality control and assurance that all products will be to the manufacturer’s consistent standard.