Shrink Wrap: What Is It?
A wide range of goods and materials are referred to as shrink wrap. It is crucial to begin by defining what shrink wrap is not in order to properly explain what it is. View the pictures below to learn which items are frequently confused with shrink wrap.
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Items Frequently Conceded as Shrink Wrap
1. Stretch Film: Pallet wrap, stretch wrap, and shrink wrap are common names for stretch film. Pallet wrap is actually a stretch film, even though it’s frequently referred to as shrink wrap. A “shrunk look” is produced around the wrapped objects by the film’s stretching around them.
2. Vacuum packing: Similar to shrink wrap, vacuum packing produces a tight-fitting look. An air vacuum is used in vacuum packaging to extract air from the container. The box seems smaller due to the loss of air, much as shrink wrapping.
3. Cling Wrap – Also known as Saran Wrap – is a food-grade plastic wrap with one or more sides that are tact. With the cling, users may glue the film to itself and twist it securely around an item. Shrink wrap is a common misnomer for this snug fit.
What is Shrink Wrap, anyway?
Let’s examine what shrink wrap is now that we know what it isn’t. Heat is the primary differentiator for shrink tubing, shrink wrap packaging, and industrial shrink wrap. A shrink wrap material shrinks and conforms to the article being wrapped when heat is applied.
Depending on its intended function, shrink wrap can be created from a wide variety of materials. The four most often used materials for shrink wrap are polypropylene, polyethylene, polyolefin, and PVC. For larger shrink wrapping applications, polyethylene and polypropylene shrink wrap are most frequently utilized. The retail packaging sector is where shrink wrap made of PVC and polyolefin is most frequently utilized.
Here are a few pictures of various shrink-wrapped goods along with a synopsis of each. Heat is necessary for all shrink wrapped products to shrink and adhere to the product, despite the fact that each one is unique.
1. Industrial Shrink Wrap: Usually used with a propane heat gun to provide heat, this thicker polyethylene shrink wrap is utilized for this purpose. Industrial shrink wrap is used to wrap and enclose pallets of products, wrap huge items for weather protection, and winterize vessels.
2. Wire Shrink Tubing: Shrink tubing is used to hold and safeguard electrical wires in a variety of manufacturing operations. The majority of wire shrink tubing is heated and compressed securely around the wires being wrapped using an electrical or butane heat gun.
3. Shrink Wrap Packaging: Shrink wrap packaging makes up the majority of shrink wrap utilized globally. See the several types of shrink packing below; each one uses heat to cause the material to shrink.
Shrink Wrap for Retail
Retail shrink wrap is used to completely surround the goods being wrapped and is often comprised of PVC or polyolefin materials. The most common applications for center-fnewed shrink wrap are in high-output procedures. Smaller hand sealers are also used with shrink bags. The whole enclosure gives the goods a clear view while shielding it from the weather.
Banding the neck
The main purpose of neck banding is to prevent tampering with bottles. To keep the top of a container from being removed, neck banding is pre-cut shrink tubing that is fitted over the cap. PVC is the most common material used to make neck bands.
Sleeves that shrink
Similar to neck banding, shrink sleeves are pre-cut tubing that is frequently printed on for marketing and advertising purposes. PVC and PET are only two of the various materials that may be used to make shrink sleeves. For certain shrink sleeves to effectively shrink around the bottle, steam heat is necessary.
Bundling Film Shrinkage
Cases of soda and water are packaged using shrink bundling film. The most popular type is a polyethylene lay-flat shrink film. Cases of heavy merchandise are bundled using shrink bundling film and a shrink bundling machine. After applying heat, shrink bundling film shrinks as it cools down.