Shrink film is a packaging material made up of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied it shrinks tightly over whatever it's covering. Shrink wrap and shrink film are very versatile materials, and can be used in a large variety of packaging applications. Some common uses of shrink wrap are for wrapping food, gift baskets, boxes, toys, books, soaps, etc. 

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There are many reasons you may want to utilize shrink film for your product packaging. Along with being lightweight and durable, it keeps your products safe from outside elements, increases shelf life and tamper-proofing and makes your product shine! 

Believe it or not, there is a lot more you should know about shrink film. In addition to clarity, which we all know is important, shrink films also have different operating characteristics. Here are seven characteristics you should be aware of when considering the shrink film you need for your packaging.

Want to learn how you can save on your shrink wrap costs? Check out our Shrink Wrap Cheat Sheet to find out:

1. Shrink Force (AKA Shrink Energy)

This is typically measured in PSI, and tells you the amount of force that the shrink film will exert on your product. If you're packaging a multi-pack that needs to be tightly contained without damaging, understanding your shrink force is very helpful, especially for adjusting your shrink machinery accordingly. If the shrink force is high and you're packaging wood, this won't matter.

However, if you are packaging a small stack of paper or lightweight chipboard boxes, this could matter. Historically, Polyolefin films are high shrink force films. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) films have low shrink force. New polyolefin formulations offer reduced amounts of shrink force. 

2. Shrink Orientation

Shrink films are either bi-axially oriented, or preferentially oriented. Bi-axially oriented films shrink equally in both directions (Machine Direction or Cross Direction).*

Preferentially oriented film shrinks differently in either direction. The benefits of a preferentially oriented film include using less film, and preventing product distortion.

3. Shrink Percentages

In addition to altering your shrink percentages by using preferentially oriented film, you can also lower the shrink percentage and stay with a bi-axially oriented film e.g. 40/40 30/30, 20/20.

Another related characteristic is Free Shrink. This isn't a tip to get free shrink wrap unfortunately, but it's just as important. I know, I know...

Free shrink is the amount of shrink-ability in a film before it makes contact with your product. High levels of free shrink allow you to get a better looking package on difficult shapes and sizes. 

4. Resistance to Puncture / Tear

This measures how hard it is to actually break the film, and how hard it is to tear the film once it has been punctured.

Often, films with high resistance to puncture have lower resistance to tear, and vice versa. If you need to make this trade-off, select the characteristic that is more important (e.g., if you have a window box, puncture resistance is very important). Choose a shrink film that balances the security of your product with ease-of-access to the actual product.  Be sure to keep your shrink wrap stored in a cool (but not too cool) storage area to prevent any weakening of the film prior to use. 

5. MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate)

This characteristic is a measure of how much moisture will or will not travel through the film

If low moisture transmission into or out of your package is important, you should pay attention to this characteristic for improved shelf life. 

6. Antifog

Antifog films are used on food (fresh and frozen) to mitigate moisture build-up on the film

The moisture can cause a fog that affects the viewing of the product through the film. (If I'm buying something, you bet that I'm skipping over the fogged up package for the one with the product I can actually see).

7. Odor Barrier

Odor barrier films are used to prevent unacceptable odors from either traveling into, or out of your package. Don't disappoint your customers after they've purchased your product with a foul smell. Enough said.

There you have it, seven important characteristics of shrink film. When you are selecting packaging for your products, keep these in mind. Is your supplier making sure all of these bases are covered with your product, or could you teach them a thing or two?

Begin to understand shrink characteristics and how they can affect your bottom line, and you'll be shrinking costs in no time (insert big laughs here). Do you talk about these items with your current supplier? Or better yet, do they talk to you about these?

The Top 10 Benefits of Using Shrink Wrap

Shrink wrap is a well known lightweight and environmentally friendly plastic film used for packaging contents, whereby a sheet made from plastic or ‘polyolefin’ is wrapped fully around an item by a shrink wrap machine. With applied heat from the shrink wrap machine the plastic ‘shrinks’ around the enclosed item, wrapping it tightly and neatly. The top 10 benefits of using shrink wrap include:

1. Versatility – Wraps around any shape

Before a shrink wrap machine applies heat, the shrink wrap film is soft and quiet, unlike crinkly PVC, and after the machine applies heat, the shrink film is soft to the touch, not brittle and rigid. This versatility is key, the ability to contain irregular or non-uniform shaped items at high speed.

2. Space Saving – Items can be wrapped together

It utilizes space, crucial for large warehouses and mass storage, many items can be wrapped together – just think of the space saved by shrink wrapping drinks bottles rather than cardboard boxes of bottles.

3. Environmentally Friendly – 100% recyclable and has an LDPE rating of 4

It is now more environmentally friendly, as it is easily recyclable and is cheaper than alternatives such as carton or wrapping paper it also means it reduces packing costs by 50%.

4. Doesn’t discolour over time 

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It is more pliable than alternatives such as PVC, and does not become yellow or brittle with time.

5. Transparent, glossy finish

Polyolefin’s clear transparent nature means products can be observed and checked without the need to unpack and reseal, saving valuable processing time. The glossy finish to it means it has a professional and attractive appearance, valuable for products requiring consumer pleasing.

6. Lightweight – Cheaper transportation

It is also much lighter than alternative wrapping, which has knock on effects with regards to transportation and shipping costs.  The benefits of shrink wrap means it is one of the most widely used wrapping materials globally.

7. Chemically Inert – No harmful chemicals

It is chemically inert, contains no toxins or coloration, thus meaning it is perfect for wrapping consumable food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and body care products. No harmful vapours or nasty smells are released during the heat sealing process either.

8. Puncture-proof – 100% protection

By design it also means it is completely sealed, with complete protection from the outside world. Puncture-proof protection, non-tearable and hardy. This keeps your products safe and sound, with any intrusion or opening easily identifiable.

9. Durability – Secure and stable

It is very durable – once wrapped, the item is secure and stable and remains in perfect condition.

10. Waterproof – Protects against spillages

Shrink wrap is waterproof! Items are protected from harsh weather or clumsy spillages, from accidental tears, bumps and knocks.

These positive traits of shrink wrap means it is an invaluable packaging source that is well used and competitive in nature. The benefits of shrink wrap mean it is a highly sought after packaging material that will only become more valuable in the future. This makes a shrink wrap machine an ideal investment when looking to use shrink wrap for your packaging needs.

3 Industries That Could Benefit From a Shrink Wrap Machine

Shrinkwrap bundling offers numerous advantages to both retailers and wholesalers. From the consumer’s perspective, shrink-wrapped products are easy to carry, and they appear fresher than items that are not.

Of course, anything that benefits the consumer also benefits the wholesaler. Still, wholesalers gain a unique advantage as well: shrink wrappers give them the ability to offer certain products in bulk.

The next logical question, then, is who specifically can benefit from using shrink wrap machines?

The Beverage Industry

Bundled packages of water bottles are perhaps the most widely recognized example of effective shrink wrapping at work. In addition to bottles of water, shrink wrap machines can aid in the packaging of beer, energy drinks, soda, and more. When properly wrapped with bullseye ends, these bundles of beverages can look great on display. 

The Canning Industry

In addition to beverages, cans can also be bundled efficiently with shrink wrap. Small bundles of cans are very easy to transport when shrink-wrapped. For large #10 cans, wholesalers can reap many benefits from adopting trays over cases.

The Personal Hygiene Industry

Bars of soap, mouthwash, deodorant, and shampoo can all be easily bundled together with the right shrink wrap machine. Everyone has run out of soap or deodorant at an inconvenient time at least once; therefore, offering these personal care items in easy-to-carry bundles will allow them to stock up easily. 

If you’re serious about improving your secondary packaging efforts, then contact us today!  

Shrink Packaging and Its Benefits

Shrink Packaging and Its Benefits

Shrinking or Shrink Packaging is the process of wrapping any single product or group of products with plastic film, then applying heat via a heat tunnel so the film takes the shape of the product. It is commonly applied as secondary packaging. Without the application of heat, the packaging stays loose around the product and this is called polywrapping.

The shrink packaging application is carried out in two stages.  In the first stage, there is a plastic film which is also called the “sealing source” is wrapped around the product to be sewed with the welding machine. In the second stage, the stage of shrinking the film the product is moved through a shrink oven, shrink tunnel, or heat tunnel via conveyors.

The product that is shrink-wrapped has clear, shiny packaging that has an appealing look to consumers. Considering the effective role product packaging plays on sales the benefit of the shrinking process and the use of shrink machines are visible. Companies can be one step ahead in the competition with their product packaging and can grab the attention of consumers with better looking, visually appealing and solid-looking products.

Use Areas of Shrink Wrapping Machines

The only use area of shrink packaging is not limited to adding appeal to the product. It also has functional use areas such as providing efficient and convenient packing for transportation, easy stacking, packaging the product in such a way as to prevent the opening of the product package, to serve as a basic barrier for meat, cheese, fish-like products, creating a protective barrier against scratches and other marks on products, packaging products with the purposes of advertising.

Shrink packaging machine also group wraps products to hold them together. This can be applied for bundle sales and has the benefit of providing bright transparency and aesthetics to the new packaging. The shrink packaging also functions as a cover to keep products clean, preserving the product’s packaging serving as a seal which indicated the product had previously been opened or not, preventing the operation of a packaged product, makes a wider package by holding more than one small packages together, keeping the product brand new and provide the delivery of the customer in its original condition, prevent the product from lubrication, water or moisture increases the durability of the packaged product, protect the product against pests, use printed film on product if desired and apply printing such as instruction, warning, barcode, advertisement, prevent product to be sold again by re-packaging or distribution or giving someone as a gift, protect products such as cardboard and beverage boxes with thick film, provide a moisture barrier for food products and draw water loss to the lowest level.

Shrinking processing is also used on an industrial scale. Although shrinking management, which is also used to manufacture and protect large-sized industrial products has the same thermoforming property, the heat gun is used which emits quite strong heat and heavier and stronger film plates are preferred. Boat shrink wrapping, wrapping of building materials for buildings and bridges, heavy pallets that can’t be moved by humans.

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