Turntable pallet wrappers are the most widely used wrapping format in Australian warehouses. The pallet sits on a powered rotating platform while the film carriage travels vertically up and down the mast, applying stretch film in a controlled spiral. They suit standard pallet sizes, stable loads and low-to-moderate throughput, and they are the lowest-cost entry point into machine wrapping.

When a turntable wrapper is the right choice

A turntable is the right format when your loads are stable enough to spin. If a pallet holds together when rotated at 12 rpm, a turntable will wrap it well and cost considerably less than the alternatives. Typical fits include cartons on standard 1165 x 1165 mm Australian pallets, bagged goods, drums and general palletised dry freight.

If your loads are unstable, very heavy, or awkwardly shaped, a rotary arm wrapper keeps the pallet stationary and moves the film around it instead. For continuous conveyor-fed dispatch lines, an inline wrapper removes the operator from the cycle altogether.

Semi-automatic vs automatic turntables

Semi-automatic machines require an operator to attach the film tail at the start of the cycle and cut it at the end. The wrap cycle itself runs unattended. This is the most common configuration and suits operations wrapping up to roughly 30 to 50 pallets per day.

Automatic turntables add powered film cutting and clamping, so the operator drops the pallet on and presses start. Worth the step up once you are consistently above 50 pallets a day, or where operators are walking away mid-cycle.

Powered pre-stretch: where the film savings come from

The single biggest running cost of a pallet wrapper is film, not electricity. Powered pre-stretch systems stretch the film between two geared rollers before it reaches the load, typically converting 1 metre of film into 2.5 to 3.3 metres. That means fewer rolls per pallet for the same or better containment force.

On a site wrapping 40 pallets a day, moving from no pre-stretch to 250% pre-stretch commonly cuts film spend by a third or more. Over a year that difference frequently exceeds the price gap between a basic machine and a pre-stretch model, which is why we usually steer buyers toward pre-stretch even on tighter budgets.

Specifying a turntable wrapper

• Turntable diameter — 1.5 m suits standard Australian pallets. Wider tables are available for overhanging or oversized loads.
• Weight capacity — most models handle 2,000 kg. Confirm your heaviest load, not your average.
• Wrapping height — 2.2 m is standard. Extended masts are available where loads run taller.
• Power supply — most turntables run on single-phase 240V, which avoids the cost of a three-phase installation.
• Film width and core — 500 mm film on a 76 mm core is the Australian standard.

Emmoco turntable wrappers

Emmoco supplies turntable pallet wrappers to distributors and resellers across Australia and New Zealand, from entry-level friction-brake machines through to fully automatic pre-stretch models. All units are compatible with standard machine stretch film, and we hold spares and consumables locally.

Not sure which model fits your loads? Call our team on 03 8376 8088 or request a quote on any machine below.

Further reading: The 3 Types of Pallet Wrapping Machines | How to Audit Film Usage in Your Warehouse | Machine Hire vs Purchase