Shrink Films
Shrink films are made up of Low density polyethylene(LDPE). It is used for heavy duty industrial packaging because it has a high strength to hold objects in itself. LDPE shrink film is a single-material polyethylene film, so it can be recycled where PE film is collected. This high performance bulk packaging product provides excellent protection and stability to your goods during storage and transit. It is used as a industrial wrap to the products and shrinkage is obtained by required machinery and equipment.
Need only a single roll for your own use? Small packs of shrink film are sold on our group's online store, PackSmith. For bulk, export and custom-size orders, send us an enquiry and we will quote.
Wrapping pallets without heat? See our stretch film rolls.
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Shrink film (also known as shrink film or shrink wrap) is a versatile polymeric material used for packaging finished products. Heat is applied to the film by either a conveyor belt heat tunnel or an electric or gas-powered heat gun. This catalyzes the film to shrink tightly around the items placed inside. This process creates a transparent, durable, protective barrier around the product.
So how exactly does this happen? The science of shrink wrap can be explained in terms of molecular behaviour.
Molecules in shrink wrap or tubing are randomly entangled. They are coiled and twisted without a specific orientation. When the film is heated, the unstructured regions of the chains straighten out and align with the orientation direction. More simply, the molecules reorient from their initial random pattern, eventually conforming to the shape of the content. Proper cooling adjusts the molecular properties of the film so that it remains in this stretched state until sufficient heat energy is applied to cause the molecular chains to contract and return to their original shape.
Shrink wraps are available in a variety of types, thicknesses, clarity, callipers and shrinkage rates and can be used individually or in combination with each other to achieve the exact type of layering and protection for your product. You can create these options and constructions have been expanded over time to meet specific requirements for sealability, appearance, toughness, slip, temperature, strength and memory.
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Functions and Features of Shrink Film
Shrink Force
This is usually measured in PSI and indicates the force the shrink wrap exerts on the product. Knowing the shrinkage force is very useful when packing multipacks that need to be tightly packed together to avoid damage. Especially useful if you adjust the shrinker accordingly. It has a high shrinkage force and is fine if you are packing wood.
However, if you're packing small stacks of paper or lightweight cardboard boxes, it can make a difference. Historically, polyolefin films have been high shrink-strength films. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film has a low shrinkage force. A new polyolefin formulation reduces shrinkage forces.
Shrink Orientation
Shrink films are either bi-axially oriented or preferentially oriented. Bi-axially oriented films shrink evenly in both directions (longitudinal or transverse).
Stretched films preferably have different shrinkage in both directions. Advantages of preferentially oriented films include using less film and avoiding product distortion.
Shrink Percentages
In addition to using preferentially oriented films to change the shrinkage, it is also possible to use biaxially oriented films with reduced shrinkage. 40/40 30/30, 20/20.
Another related feature is free to shrink. Unfortunately, this isn't a tip for getting free shrink wrap, but it's equally important. Free shrink is the ability of the film to shrink before it contacts the product. High levels of free shrink allow packages with difficult shapes and sizes to look great.
Resistance to Puncture and Tear
This measures how hard it is to tear the film and how hard it is to tear the film after it has been pierced.
Films with high puncture resistance often have low tear resistance and vice versa. If you have to compromise, choose the more important properties (e.g. puncture resistance is very important if you have a window box). Choose shrink wrap for product security and easy access to the actual product. Store the shrink wrap in a cool (but not too cold) storage area to prevent the wrap from weakening before use.
Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate
This characteristic describes the amount of moisture that passes or does not pass through the film.
Consider this characteristic for extended shelf life when low moisture transfer in and out of the package is important. A consideration for reducing or eliminating haze is adjusted atmosphere packaging.
Antifog
Anti-fog films are used on food (fresh and frozen) to reduce moisture build-up on the film.Moisture causes fogging, making it impossible to see the product through the film.
Odour Barrier
Anti-odour films are used to prevent unacceptable odours from entering or exiting the package. Don't let your customers down after buying a product with a bad smell.
Types of Shrink Films and their Uses
There are three main types of films used in shrink wrap to protect and protect products in retail and shipping environments.
Polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyethylene. Each of these materials has different functions and properties that make them suitable for specific applications. Additionally, each can be coextruded with different additives into multilayer films to create different barrier properties that promote durability or specific appearances.
Shrink films can be formed into flat rolls, bags, wraps, tapes and tubes. You can add tamper-evident features to your packaged products. Below is a breakdown of the three main types of shrink wrap and their common uses.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
PVC was once the world's most widely used shrink-wrap material due to its lightweight, affordability, and versatile features. Since then, it has been superseded by polyethylene (PE) and polyolefins (POF) for a variety of reasons, including health hazards and sustainability from manufacturing and incineration.
PVC is rigid and durable and is used for construction projects, household items, and other applications. In terms of packaging, PVC applies to both rigid structures (such as blisters and clamshell packs) and flexible structures (such as shrink wraps and pouches).
Polyolefin (POF)
Polyolefin shrink wrap is a great choice as it is extremely durable and versatile. It has replaced PVC in many applications. POF materials have different properties. One option is a crosslinked film, which offers high tensile strength and incredible clarity for high-speed packaging applications. The cross-linked film also prevents adhesion to the sealing components of the machine.
The increased strength of POF allows the production of longer film rolls in thinner gauges. This reduces roll changes and increases both efficiency and productivity. POF shrink films have excellent puncture resistance and seal strength to help protect irregularly shaped items throughout their supply chain life cycle. POF is available in 35 gauge (0.35 mil) thickness, and more commonly in 45, 60, 75, and 100 (1 mil) gauges.
Polyethylene (PE)
Polyethylene is a type of polyolefin. It is a single monomer film formed by adding ethylene during polymerization. PE is used in many forms of flexible protective packaging, such as shrink wrap and stretch wrap, and each behaves very differently.
The three most common forms of PE are high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene.
Technical Specifications
Sizes We Supply
Shrink film: sizes we supply
| Widths | 102 to 670 mm |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 45 to 120 micron |
| Material | Polyethylene (LDPE / LLDPE) shrink film, natural, made in our own blown film plant |
These are common sizes. Other sizes can be made to order: tell us what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shrink film needs heat to tighten around the product, and stretch film tightens by its own stretch with no heat at all. Shrink film is used to bundle and seal products such as bottle packs, cartons and trays. Stretch film is mostly wrapped around pallets to hold the load together. If you have no heat gun or tunnel, look at our stretch film rolls instead.
Match the micron to the weight of the bundle. As a rough guide, light cartons and small packs work at around 40 to 60 micron, bottle multipacks and heavier bundles need around 70 to 100 micron, and very heavy loads go above 100 micron. We make shrink film from 45 to 120 micron, so tell us what you are wrapping and its weight, and we will suggest the right thickness.
A heat gun is enough for small quantities and odd-sized items. For regular production on a line, a shrink tunnel gives the same shrink on every pack and is much faster. Both work with our LDPE shrink film.
A common starting point for a sleeve wrap is the product width plus the product height, plus about 5 cm. The film then covers the pack and leaves neat openings at the ends after shrinking. Check it with a short trial on your own machine before ordering a full lot, because the shrink ratio and your tunnel setting change the final look.
Holes and tears usually mean too much heat or too long in the tunnel, and loose film or wrinkles usually mean too little heat or too much film around the pack. Adjust temperature and belt speed first. If the film still tears at the right settings, it may be too thin for the load, so send us the details and we will check the micron.
Why Choose Us
Customized Packaging Solutions
We offer customized packaging solutions to meet your unique requirements. Tell us what kind of packaging you are looking for and how it should be designed. And we put our heart and soul to create the packaging accordingly.
Outstanding Customer Support
We strive to provide the highest levels of service to all customers, and we are always striving to take ourselves and our clientele to higher levels of accomplishment.
Quality Packaging Solutions
Our expertise, skills, and knowledge and keeping pace with the latest trends and technical developments, let us serve our clients with the best packaging innovations, thereby saving money and time with reduces waste.
Let’s create something together!
Kindly share your Shrink Films needs with us so that we can help you find the right product for you. When you shop Shrink Films with us, you and your business are getting more than quality products for a reasonable price. We are sure to meet or exceed your requirements. Get in touch now!
