Tama Assist Film vs Netwrap: Is It Worth the Switch?
The concept is simple enough. Instead of net, you use a layer of film to bind the bale. In theory, it creates a tighter, smoother finish and might help with recycling since the bale is wrapped in just one type of plastic.
In practice, though, film binding has its drawbacks. You’ll need around 3½ turns of film per bale, compared to two turns with netwrap, and even then, coverage isn’t always consistent. The film tends to bunch up towards the centre before wrapping around the bale, leaving thinner areas near the edges. That can make the bale less airtight, and that’s not what anyone wants when they’re trying to preserve good silage.
When you look at the figures, netwrap still comes out well ahead. A 4,500m roll of TamaNet can handle 500 bales or more, giving a binding cost of roughly €0.37 per bale. A roll of binding film, by comparison, only covers about 150 bales, and costs about €1.00 per bale to apply.
Then there’s the equipment. Film-binding balers can cost around €7,000 more than standard models. Add in the extra roll changes and slower process, and it’s easy to see how downtime adds up quickly.
With netwrap, a single roll can last a full day’s work. With film, you’re stopping multiple times to reload. Those few minutes each time soon turn into hours, and that’s valuable baling time lost.
For a typical farm or contracting season of 10,000 bales, you’d use about 18 rolls of netwrap, but roughly 59 rolls of film. That’s more handling, more storage, and more hassle.
Once you tally everything (the film, the wrapping, the time, and the extra machine investment) film binding works out at around 25% more per bale. And while the bales might look neat, they don’t perform any better in storage, or give any higher quality of silage.
That’s why, for most UK farmers, netwrap is still the proven, practical, and profitable choice.
If you’re keen to cut down on plastic use without compromising performance, there’s a smarter way forward. Tama’s EZ Web offers the same secure bale coverage with a design that’s easier to recycle and reduces waste. It’s an innovation made by farmers, for farmers; just like every Tama product.
Not sure which option suits your setup best? The Tama Assist team is here to help. Whether you’re baling silage, hay, or straw, they’ll give you honest, practical advice to help improve productivity, cut downtime, and boost profitability. Get in touch today to discover how we can help improve your productivity and profitability.