Ordering Roll Cradles for Plastic Film
Getting the right cradle under your rolls takes four steps.
Pros of Roll Cradles for Paper Rolls
Plastic cradles address the failure modes that break the web and cost runtime.
Rolls Stay Round for a Clean Unwind
An out-of-round roll bounces on the unwind and swings web tension, which shows up as wrinkles, registration drift, and web breaks on the press. The molded channel supports the roll across its body rather than on a line or an edge, keeping it round.
Moisture Stays Out of the Support
Barrier films, nylon, and adhesive laminates pick up moisture, and film often stages in warehouses or ships in ocean containers. Pulp and fiber cradles pull water from humid air and wet docks, then weaken and can wick moisture into the roll. Plastic does not absorb, so storage and container shipping stop being a packaging-driven moisture risk.
Edge and Core Protection
Crushed edges and out-of-round cores are two of the top causes of web breaks and lost run time. The cradle carries the roll on its body and keeps weight off the edges, and it holds the core round so the roll seats cleanly on the air shaft or chuck.
Crush Resistance Under Stacking
CradlePak holds its shape under stacking pressure, so the rolls stay in place and protected.
No Dust or Contamination on the Web
PET has a sealed, smooth face. Nothing flakes, powders, or transfers onto the film, so treated, printed, coated, and food or medical webs come off the roll clean. Molded pulp sheds fiber and dust that contaminate the surface and show up in the print or the lamination downstream.
Reusable and Easy to Stage
When used properly, our plastic cradles can make multiple trips, and nest far tighter than pulp, so staging inventory stops taking up a full bay of your warehouse.
A Cleaner Handoff to Your Converter
Clean cradles under clean rolls tell your converter the pallet was handled well, with no crumbling edges, no torn corners, and no dust on the wrap.
Compare Roll Cradle Options for Plastic Film
| Feature | CradlePak Plastic | Pulp / Fiber | Foam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface against the web | Smooth molded face | Rough, sheds fiber | Soft, can mark |
| Moisture resistance | Waterproof | Absorbs water | Water resistant |
| Holds rolls round | Load spread across body | Compresses, collapses | Compresses |
| Contamination risk | None | Sheds dust onto web | Low to moderate |
| Reusability | Multi-use | Rarely | Sometimes |
| Nesting footprint | Best-in-class | Moderate | Moderate |
Film and Flexible Packaging We Protect
Choosing a Cradle Size for Film Rolls
Start with the outside diameter, which sets the cradle profile, then pick the cradle length that supports your roll width. Size so the roll sits toward the top of the cradle's diameter range for a snug seat, and use your pallet dimensions as the tiebreaker when a diameter falls between two profiles. Most film customers land in these sizes:
48-5
48 inch · 5-roll
OD 8″ – 9.5″
42-4
42 inch · 4-roll
OD 9″ – 10.5″
48-4
48 inch · 4-roll
OD 10″ – 12″
42-3
42 inch · 3-roll
OD 12″ – 14″
48-3
48 inch · 3-roll
OD 14″ – 16″
36-2
36 inch · 2-roll
OD 16″ – 18″
42-2
42 inch · 2-roll
OD 18″ – 21″
48-2
48 inch · 2-roll
OD 21″ – 24″
42-4LP / 48-4LP
4-roll with lip
For rolls needing lateral support
Technical Specs
- Thermoformed PET, 0.06 inch standard wall thickness
- Load capacity up to 6000 lbs. per bottom cradle pair, varying by roll material and pallet configuration
- UV- and moisture-resistant
Handling
- Denesting flutes for fast separation
- Perforated pairs separate into singles for the top and bottom layers of a pallet
Pricing Factors for Roll Cradles
Our pricing depends on several factors:
- Cradle Size: Larger profiles use more material per unit.
- Order Volume: Higher quantities lower the per-unit cost.
- Roll Weight and Configuration: Pallet specs and/or heavier goods may call for a different profile.
- Freight Distance: Compact nesting keeps shipping cost down, and our Yakima plant shortens the haul for West Coast customers.
- Reuse Cycle: Cradles that come back for a second and third trip change the per-shipment math.
Contact us for a quote based on your roll dimensions and shipping volume.
Why Choose Tamarack?
Made in the USA
Every CradlePak is thermoformed at our plant in Yakima, WA. Domestic production means shorter lead times, direct communication, and no overseas freight schedule between you and your packaging.
Recycled and Recyclable
CradlePak is made from recycled PET, Recycling Code #1, which takes 79% less energy to produce than virgin plastic. Send used cradles back to us or drop them at any PET recycling facility, which removes the disposal line item that pulp and foam add.
Sample Before You Switch
We’re happy to send you samples! Request a sample pack, run it on your line, and see how the plastic cradles save space, time and hold your rolls before placing an order.
Put Your Film Rolls in a Cradle Made for Them
Send us your roll outside diameter, weight, and pallet configuration. We will match a cradle size, quote pricing and lead time, and get samples out so you can run them in your own process before you commit.
Send roll OD, weight, and pallet configuration
We match a cradle size and quote pricing and lead time
Samples ship out so you can run them on your line
Frequently Asked Questions
No. PET has a smooth, sealed face with nothing to shed or abrade, so corona-treated, printed, coated, and food or medical webs come off the roll clean. That is the main reason film converters move off pulp cradles.
Start with your roll outside diameter, which sets the cradle profile, then choose the cradle length that matches your roll width and pallet dimensions. Most film rolls fall in our 42 inch and 48 inch length cradles, which cover 6 inch to 48 inch diameters. Send us your dimensions and we will confirm the match.
Yes. Each bottom cradle pair supports up to 6,000 lbs., with actual capacity varying by roll material and pallet configuration.
Yes. The molded channel supports the roll across its body, so it keeps its round and the core stays true for a clean mount and unwind.
Yes. The cradles do not absorb water, so humidity, condensation, and wet docks will not degrade the support or wick moisture into the roll.
Yes. When used correctly, CradlePak can withstand repeat trips from producer to converter to co-packer.
Yes. Request a sample pack to run with your rolls before placing a full order.