Shrink Wrapping: 8 Tips for Efficient, Professional Results

If your company uses shrink film to package certain products or product groups, this article on shrink wrapping is worth a read. Bear in mind that, depending on the nature of the product, achieving the desired end result, the expected appearance and the target shrink ratio can be a little tricky at first.

Every product is different, so it takes some practice to find the right settings and make your shrink packaging optimal overall.

How to improve the look of your shrink wrapping

1. The right film quality

It will come as no surprise that the quality of the film fundamentally determines the end result. There are many types of shrink film on the market, and they differ widely in material, thickness, shrink characteristics, tensile strength and other properties.

Bear in mind that PVC shrink film is not suitable for direct food contact, unlike polyolefin. While PVC is typically used for wrapping jars and bottles, polyolefin is ideal for the uniform packaging of both small and large products. A major advantage of polyolefin is that it comes in many types, so you can choose the one that matches the specific properties of the product you want to package.

For safe and fast packaging of oversized products, polyethylene shrink film is the right choice. Here too, however, you need to consider the type and thickness of the film – otherwise you may easily end up working with a film that is not optimal.

2. Film thickness

As the first point makes clear, the thickness of the shrink film is essential to successful packaging. Film that is too thin tears easily, while film that is too thick grips the product so tightly that the pack cannot be opened easily.

How do you determine the film thickness you need? The simplest method is testing. A pack can be exposed to various stresses during storage and especially during transport, and it pays to test for these in advance.

Many companies ask their customers for feedback on the packaging and how easy it is to open. This is also an ideal opportunity to send coupons, test products or other incentives – believe us, potential customers are happy to give feedback in return. And who sees the packaging better than the end user?

If you find it hard to navigate the different types of shrink film, feel free to contact our team! With their professional experience, they will help you find the best film for efficient shrink wrapping of your product.

3. Consistent sealing

If you use a wrapping machine with an L-sealer, the machine probably uses PTFE (Teflon) tape. Once you have worked out the right bag size, we recommend marking this tape. This ensures that every shrink cycle produces a pack of the same size, using the same amount of film.

Pay particular attention to size when packaging irregularly shaped products.

4. Sealing at mid-height

Taller products are generally much easier to shrink wrap than shorter or cube-shaped ones. To give the finished pack a neat appearance and keep the film from shifting to one side as it shrinks, it is worth placing the seal at the middle of the product’s height. This is easiest to do with automatic or semi-automatic machines.

5. A clean wrapping machine

Over time – especially when large volumes of products are wrapped every day – parts of the machine become dirty and worn. This reduces the machine’s performance, some components may overheat and packaging quality declines.

To avoid this, pay proper attention to regular maintenance. Replace the PTFE tape frequently and clean the wires and cables. Keep safety in mind: always disconnect the machine from the power supply before cleaning it!

6. Even temperature

After the shrink film has been placed over the product, it has to be heated so that it shrinks and conforms to the product. The key to efficient shrink wrapping is maintaining an even temperature.

A shrink tunnel maintains a constant temperature and carries the product through on a conveyor belt. The belt also runs at a constant speed, so the whole product shrinks at the same rate. If the shrink tunnel is set up optimally, every finished product will look the same.

7. Optimal shrinkage

One of the key elements of setting up a shrink tunnel is achieving the ideal shrink rate. For most products, full shrinkage gives a uniform, wrinkle-free pack, even at the corners.

For paper or printed products, delicate items and many other products, however, full shrinkage is not an option.

So how do you achieve the right shrink ratio? Just as with finding the right thickness: by testing. Start with full shrinkage and observe the finished pack. Is the product deformed? Does it meet your aesthetic expectations?

If the product becomes distorted, shrink at a lower temperature.

If you would like answers to technical questions, book an appointment with our specialists.

8. Adjusting the perforator

Many people think that shrink wrapping creates an airtight pack. That is not the case: if the air has nowhere to escape as the film shrinks, the finished pack will not look good.

To prevent the pack from being deformed for this reason, make sure the perforators on the wrapping machine are set correctly. Align them with the corners of the product so that excess air can escape easily and full shrinkage can be achieved.

Shrink wrapping is an easy, not overly complicated packaging technique. Even so, achieving a perfectly shrink-wrapped pack can often be a challenge.

Don’t waste time searching for the best shrink film for your product! As one of Hungary’s leading film manufacturers, we are here to help – get in touch with us.