There are several different types of Shrink Film

Shrink Film is a plastic that, when heated, shrinks tightly around the item it’s covering. This tight seal prevents damage during transportation and keeps items collected as a single unit for easier storage. Shrink wrap also enhances the appearance of items, giving them a clean and polished finish that customers will notice. This helps increase the perceived value of products and can make a significant difference in sales.

There are several different types of Shrink Film, each with their own unique properties that allow them to meet various packaging needs. Some of these include abrasion resistance, puncture and tear resistance, clarity and strength. In addition, the film can be customized with printing and etching to promote brands and products.

The Shrink Film industry is a diverse one, spanning multiple industries and applications. There is a shrink film solution for almost any business demand, whether that’s durability, recyclability or sustainability.

Most shrink film is made of polymer-based plastics, most commonly polyolefin or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These films are used for finished goods packaging. They are loosely sealed around the product using an L-bar sealer, then sent through a conveyor heat tunnel where they shrink uniformly around the package. Alternatively, they can be heated with an electric heat gun that looks similar to a hair dryer.

Whether the film is being used in a food processing plant or for retail display, it must be able to withstand the elements. It is essential to choose the correct thickness, strength and shrink ratio for a specific application. The right choice will reduce downtime, product damage and waste while providing maximum efficiency and profitability.

Some of the most common applications for shrink films are in hardware and housewares where it is used to bundle or collate products for esthetic reasons and/or tamper resistance. It is also often used to create retail packs that offer the consumer a cost savings through multi-packing. It is increasingly being used to package electronics like tablets, laptops and printers as well as pharmaceuticals and foods.

To ensure the best results when using shrink film, it is important to properly sizing each package before applying the film. A number of factors must be considered when sizing, including the actual dimensions of the package, its orientation and the type of equipment to be used. Failure to account for these factors can result in the film not shrinking correctly, leaving gaps or even tearing.

When choosing a shrink film, it’s important to choose the correct type for your particular needs. In general, high-density and cross-linked LDPE films provide the best performance with respect to puncture and tear resistance as well as clarity. However, these films can be more expensive than standard LDPE film.