Tama Assist Why Net Replacement Film Struggles in the Real World
Over the past few years, Net Replacement Film (NRF) has been put forward as an alternative to traditional netwrap in round baling. While it can work in certain situations, there are a number of factors that can limit its performance on farm. Many farmers have found that as soon as conditions change or bale demands increase, NRF can start to struggle.
Let’s take a look at the main issues that can crop up with NRF when you’re using it in all weathers, and what the alternative is if you want to reduce plastic waste but keep using a product that is easy to use and recycle.
Bales don’t always stay in one place. Moving them around the yard, stacking, loading, and feeding out all put extra pressure on the film. NRF can sometimes split or scuff under repeated handling, which reduces protection and increases waste. This is a factor which needs to be given critical consideration if your baling operation uses a separate wrapper or stationary wrapper.
As bale size or moisture levels change, the demands on NRF go up.
Bigger diameter bales (>128cm): More material means more pressure on the film.
Low dry matter (DM <30%): Wetter crops add weight, putting extra strain on the outer wrap.
These heavier bales can push NRF to its limits, especially if only a standard film thickness has been used.
Certain conditions create strong outward pressure inside the bale:
High dry matter (DM >60%): Drier crops expand more once baled.
Bale chamber pressure settings >80%: Tighter settings increase density, but also stress the film.
Extremely stemmy crops: Tough material pushes hard against the outer wrap.
In all of the above cases, NRF often needs extra layers or a switch from 16μm to 20μm film to cope. That means more plastic going on every bale, adding cost, time, and environmental impact.
This is exactly where EZ Web changes the game. It’s not a film in the same sense as NRF, and it’s not netwrap either, it’s a new kind of round baling solution designed to make life easier for farmers and better for the environment.
Easy to remove, quicker and simpler than netwrap, saving time during feeding.
Recycling made simple. EZ Web can be recycled together with stretchfilm, so there’s no need to separate materials.
Designed for real farm conditions. EZ Web avoids many of the performance issues that NRF faces, giving consistent results across different crops, bale sizes, and handling requirements.
While Net Replacement Film can work in certain situations, its performance is heavily affected by bale size, crop type, moisture levels, and handling. The fixes usually involve adding more layers or thicker film, which just means higher costs, more plastic and more hassle.
EZ Web offers a smarter alternative: a round baling solution that’s easy to use, easy to recycle, and built to handle the challenges farmers face every day.