Why Shrink Wrap? Advantages and Benefits

30 Dec.,2024

 

Why Shrink Wrap? Advantages and Benefits

04 February //

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Yuanlong Packaging.

Shrink Bundling SystemsFlexible Packaging

Why Shrink Wrap Packaging Could Be The Best Application For Your Packaging Process

Finding dependable packaging solutions is crucial if you&#;re a business that sells consumer-shipped products. Your team must ensure products stay protected and secure as they ship to customers &#; the right material leaves recipients satisfied and reduces replacement costs. But with all the materials available, it can be tricky to find the best one for your needs. Shrink wrap packaging is a popular option for many industries. From small personal care products to large windows and everything in between, shrink wrap can securely protect products as they travel to their destinations. It&#;s a protective and cost-effective option for many products and companies.

 

Here are more advantages of shrink wrapping and when it can be the best choice for your business.

5 Benefits of Shrink Wrap

Shrink wrap consists of polymer plastic film. Once you apply heat, it shrinks tightly over what it covers. Heat is applied to the film as it travels through a shrink tunnel hood. It wraps over and around a product to keep it tightly secure during shipping and handling.

1. High Protection Levels

Once you apply heat to a web of shrink wrap, it creates an extremely tight enclosure. The wrapping tightly covers the product inside and protects it from external elements like:

  • Dust
  • Dirt
  • Weather-related elements

 

Because the heat shrink wrap fits around a product, it can fit items of many shapes and sizes and hold them in place. Some types of shrink packaging even protect from ultraviolet (UV) rays. This high-quality protection allows products to stay safe while being shipped worldwide.  Overall, shrink wrapping provides exceptionally high protection levels for various products and companies.

2. Durability

Shrink wrap consists of extremely durable fibers and long-chain polymers.  Shrink film can are available in a variety of materials. One particular example is low-density polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE is simple to make and highly sturdy. Despite being lightweight, it&#;s tough, making it ideal for packaging solutions, LDPE properties remain constant across a wide temperature range (-30F to 120F).

 

LDPE plastics, including industrial shrink wrap and plastic shrink variants, ensure the durability and robustness of shrink wrap packaging. LDPE plastics are highly durable, making them difficult to tear or puncture. This sturdiness is beneficial during shipping, when packages encounter many stressors that would typically cause materials to break. For instance, many shipments travel in tractor-trailers, where they could be jostled around. Shrink wrap&#;s strong consistency keeps the items secure even during movement.

 

The durability of shrink film wrap also keeps it from weakening or sagging over time. After applying shrink wrap to an item, it stays tightly sealed, even when facing extreme temperatures or conditions. If your products travel long distances or through multiple distribution centers, this durability of LDPE will keep them protected and the product safe.

 

3. Versatility

Another example of the advantages of shrink wrap packaging is its versatility. As mentioned before, shrink wrap adapts to the item it covers. This adaptability means the material can protect nearly any product imaginable.

Shrink wrap&#;s versatility extends to many industries, including:

  • Cosmetics: Shrink wrap is also commonly used in the personal care and cosmetics market. The material wraps around individual products or groups them together for easier shipments.
  • Food and beverages: LDPE shrink wrap bags is heavily used as a second packaging in the food and beverage industry as well as food containers such as drink carriers and Styrofoam plates.
  • Travel: Many travelers choose to shrink wrap their luggage and other possessions during travel. This process keeps your bags airtight and safe from any outside contaminants.
  • Medical and pharmaceutical: Hospitals and other healthcare organizations sometimes want their products delivered in shrink wrap to ensure they stay secure during shipping. Fragile medical products like laboratory bottles do well in secure packaging like LDPE.
  • Pet materialsShrink wrap is also used in the pet industry. Pet materials often come in cans or plastic packaging, and you can use shrink wrap to combine items. Other pet items like toys or sleeping products can be grouped with shrink wrap, as well.
  • Construction: Shrink wrap is popular in the construction industry. Manufacturers can shrink wrap building materials such as roofing, windows, and rolls of insulation to keep them protected during delivery and at a construction site construction.

 

The versatility of shrink wrap makes it an ideal option, no matter your product type.

 

4. Water-Resistance

One of the most significant shrink wrap packaging benefits is its ability to deflect water. The wrap resists water for long periods, making transport through moisture-prone areas hassle-free.

If you encounter rain, snow, or something similar, your items will stay protected for significant durations underneath the shrink wrap. This is a crucial advantage for items that are sensitive to moisture, such as furniture. However, the plastic material LDPE allows water and oxygen to enter over time, so it shouldn&#;t wrap the items for too long.

5. Cost-Efficiency

In addition to these other benefits, shrink wrap packaging is a more cost-effective choice than many other packaging materials. You can use exact amounts of shrink wrap to enclose a product fully. This allows you to use less material than alternatives such as cardboard. The less material you use, the less money you have to spend.

 

Shrink wrap also takes up less space, meaning you can ship more products in the same shipment. You can fit more shrink-wrapped items onto trucks or warehouse shelves, saving you and other shipping professionals valuable space and money.

Many forms of shrink wrap are eligible for recycling. You can reuse these products or turn them into other materials, which saves both time and precious resources. In certain waste streams clean LDPE has a scarp material value and can be sold back to a film manufacturer.

 

EDL Packaging

 

 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website shrink film rolls wholesale.

what is shrink film? complete guide - Pooshan Plastic

What is shrink film? Shrink film is a packaging plastic, but why is it popular? The product that reaches the final consumer should have a great appearance to make them feel good and continue to buy. On the other hand, using suitable packaging will increase the lifespan and reduce costs in transportation and maintenance. One of the cheapest and easiest packing methods is nylon shrink wrap. 

Shrink is a type of plastic packaging that is convenient to use. By using shrink roll and heat, you can organize the products. Due to its flexibility, remarkable durability, low price and other valuable advantages, many companies use it for packaging their products. Shrink film is a versatile polymer material that is used for final packaging. Heat is applied to the film by methods such as a heat tunnel, conveyor belt, electric or gas heat gun, and sometimes manually, etc., and the film tightens very quickly around the goods inside. This process creates a clear and durable barrier, protector and retainer around the products.

Until sufficient thermal energy is applied to the molecular chains and the film shrinks, shrink remains in its initial state. These films are available with different raw materials, thicknesses, transparency, strength and shrink ratios, which can help us implement special packaging and proper protection of the items. This diversity allows us to meet specific requirements regarding sealing, design, transparency, temperature, power and maintenance.

Features of shrink film

In the following, we will examine the seven features of these films that we should know before buying to make a suitable choice for different products.

1- Shrink force

This force (pressure) is usually measured in psi and is the force the film exerts on the product after shrinking. Understanding this force will be helpful if you are packing products that need to be tightly sealed and not damaged. Especially when adjusting the shrink machine, it is better to make the adjustment based on that.

In general, polyolefin films have more contraction force. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films have a low shrinkage force. However, newer polyolefin formulations offer a lower amount of shrinking force.

2- shrink orientation

This specialized feature describes the orientation of the film molecules after cooling. There are two types of shrink film direction: preferentially and bi-axially. The film is placed bi-axially in the machine&#;s and the product&#;s directions equally. But films with preferential orientation shrink preferentially in any order.

3- Free collapsibility

In addition to changing the roll percentage using the preferred orientation film, you can reduce the roll amount and stay with a bi-axial film. Another related feature is Free shrink. This feature refers to the ability of a film to shrink before contact with the product. The high level of Free shrink allows us to have a better-looking package in complicated shapes and sizes.

4- Resistance to tears

This property tells us how likely the film is to be punctured and how tear-resistant it is when it is stuck. Most films with high puncture resistance have lower tear resistance and vice versa. Deciding which of these two features is essential depends on the product type. Be sure to store the shrink in a cool environment before use to prevent it from weakening before use.

5- MVTR (moisture vapour transfer rate)

This characteristic measures how much moisture will pass through the film. This feature should be considered to improve the useful life. This feature is more important for food products.

6- Anti-Fog

Films with this feature are used in the fresh and frozen food packaging industry to reduce moisture in the film. Water can cause fog (steam) that affects the appearance of the product under the film. Films with this feature are created by adding other materials to the film structure during production.

7- Odor Barrier

 Films with this feature are used to prevent unpleasant odours from entering or exiting the package. Especially for food or packaging of goods that are kept in environments with different smells and chemicals, the importance of this feature increases. For example, food and protein materials are practically unusable if the film hasn&#;t this feature.

Types of shrink plastic and their use

Three types of films are used for packaging, storage and transportation of products: polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin and polyethylene. Each of these materials has different capabilities and characteristics that make them suitable for specific applications. In addition, each can be simultaneously pressed into multiple layers with various additives to create distinct properties that increase durability or give a unique appearance.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Due to its lightweight, low price and multi-purpose capability, PVC has been one of the world&#;s most common primary materials for shrink packaging. But it has given way to polyethylene (PE) and polyolefin (POF) for various reasons, including the health hazards of creating and burning, as well as its level of sustainability.

In its hard form, PVC is durable and used in construction projects and home appliance products. In packaging, PVC film is used for flexible applications (such as shrink film and bags).

PVC is used in the building and construction industry, as well as in the healthcare, electronics and automotive sectors. Tubing, blood bags, wire and cable insulation, car windshield system components, packaging, etc are commonly made with it. One of the common uses of PVC shrink film includes CD and DVD packaging, game and software boxes, and other non-food items.

Disadvantages of PVC shrink film

PVC is a combination of three elements: carbon, hydrogen and chlorine. Due to the harmful smell it emits when heated, its use is recommended only in well-ventilated facilities. It is banned in some countries due to the chemical compounds and toxic by-products created during its creation and decomposition. If you are going to use PVC shrink film, make sure that the process of using it is entirely safe.

Another problem with PVC is its reaction to hot and cold temperature changes, which makes it brittle at low temperatures and wrinkles at high temperatures. PVC&#;s resistance to tearing after a puncture is high, but its resistance to puncture is low.

Due to the fragile nature of PVC shrink film, it is unsuitable for packing several products. Of course, PVC exerts a little contraction force on the products inside. Another important thing about it is its low recyclability. PVC is a level 3 recycler and is not recyclable in most cases.

Polyolefin (POF)

Polyolefin shrink film is durable and practical and an excellent option for making all kinds of shrink film. It has replaced PVC in many applications and is a safe, FDA-approved way to package food. POF materials are available with different properties. One option is a cross-linked film, which provides high tensile strength and incredible transparency for high-speed packaging applications. Polyolefin reduces roll changes and increases efficiency and productivity. POF shrink film has good puncture resistance and sealing power, which helps protect irregularly shaped items throughout its supply chain life cycle.

Because of POF&#;s greater strength, longer rolls of film can be made with thinner gauges. Before continuing, it is necessary to be familiar with the concept of &#;Gauge&#;. A gauge is a unit of measurement equal to one-hundredth of a mile. For example, &#;70 gauge&#; refers to 70 hundredths of a mil or a thickness of 70 mil. &#;Gauge&#; can also refer to the general specification of a roll of film. POF is available in thicknesses less than 35-gauge (0.35 mil) and typically in 45, 60, 75 and 100 (1 mil) gauges.

Advantages of polyolefin shrink film

The malleability and affordability that POF offers in packaging devices and forms make it a viable option for manufacturers of protective packaging of all sizes. In some cases, POF film needs to have small holes or seams added before application. These holes allow air to escape during the shrinking process, producing a flat pack with a shrinking surface and no air bubbles. This is why pre-punched shrink film is now available from many suppliers.

POF produce from 100% recyclable materials. With its superior transparency and glossy appearance, polyolefin shrink film is best for consumer products where the interior display is critical. It also works well for packing multiple items, such as tissue boxes. POF is durable and less affected by temperature changes. It has excellent tensile strength and the ability to be assembled quickly and completely, and as soon as it leaves the shrink tunnel, it brings the final product that is ready to be shipped and stored. Typical applications of POF film include toy packaging, candy wrappers, books, food wraps, most retail items, and any consumer product where appearance is essential.

Polyethene (PE)

Polyethene is a type of polyolefin, which means one, and as a result, it is a single monomer film formed by adding ethylene during polymerization. PE is a raw material for manufacturing flexible packaging, including shrink film and stretch film, for which it exhibits different properties. The three most common forms of polyethylene include high-density, low-density, and linear low-density polyethene.

low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

This type of polyethene is less dense and has less mass than its volume. LDPE is highly resistant to impact, moisture and chemicals. It is also recyclable. LDPE is commonly used in applications where heat sealing is essential and in manufacturing flexible lids and packing.

Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

This film is one of the most widely used films in the packaging industry. Among all types of polyethylene film, LLDPE is the most flexible. A linear form of low-density polyethylene, LLDPE offers greater strength and flexibility and provides excellent stretch. Although it doesn&#;t shrink as well as the previous ones, it&#;s great for wrapping stretch pallets and protecting heavy loads during shipping. LLDPE and LDPE films are commonly used for pallet packaging, snacks, frozen foods and pouches.

The advantages of low-density polyethene over other shrink-film packaging include greater strength and durability for heavier and more oversized items (such as beverage boxes). These videos are also printable. While POF and PVC are limited in gauge thickness (typically around 100 gauge), greater thicknesses (higher gauges) are possible with PE up to gauge (12 mils). These thicknesses are used in marine industry applications. The disadvantages of polyethene for sheeting are the shrinkage rate (usually around 20%) and less transparency.

Comparison of shrink and stretch film

Shrink and stretch films are often confused because they are very similar, and, as mentioned above, both can be made from polyethylene. However, each has a different function. Film sheeting is gently placed on one or more items, and applying heat gathers around them, creating a strong and durable protective layer.

Polyethene stretch film is formulated differently to be stretched around goods. The elasticity of the film, combined with its adhesive ability, makes a strong protective layer around the items. Stretch film is commonly used for palletizing or consolidating multiple items on a pallet to prevent them from shifting during shipping. Stretch film is typically stretched to about 100-300%, while shrink film is roughly stretched to about 50-75%.

What is the advantage of shrink film?

1- Increased protection

The shelf life of shrink film allows us to protect and preserve the contents of the package. Cross-linked films are more resistant to tearing and punctures for goods with sharp edges, thus reducing the possibility of damage to the package during transportation. Nylon shrink is also great for reducing product manipulation. It helps to minimize product damage and waste in a vast production line. In addition, shrink film helps to increase the shelf life of perishable products and can preserve the smell of the contents inside the package.

2- Improve the appearance

Polyolefin coils can be produced as customized. Adding ingredients to its formula can be used to package any compact product. These films are transparent and bright, and as a result, they cause visual appeal in the supply of products; they are printable; Therefore, the Packing design improves, and the manufacturer can add special effects can be added.

3- Ability to recycle

One of the most significant advantages of POF and PE films is that they are recyclable. As a result, they do not harm the environment and are entirely green. In addition, unlike PVC, POF shrink film does not release harmful fumes during heat-sealing.

4- Cost reduction

Many brands have eliminated cardboard packaging by taking advantage of the strength and durability of nylon shrink. Heavy products can be safely packed without the need for cartons. Considering that the layer of shrink is thin, as a result, the space required for storage will be reduced, and more goods can be stored in the warehouse. On the other hand, nylon shrink is cheap, so the final production costs will also be reduced. Packing with them is also very easy, and labour is less tiring.

Pooshan Plastic shrink film can be ordered with a thickness of 35 to 150 microns and a final width of mm. Another advantage of our films is the ability to print; of course, you can also order the film in colourful and transparent.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of plastic film wholesale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.