Shrink Wrap
Introducing our high-performance shrink wrap film - specially designed to protect your products during transportation and storage. Made from premium-grade polyethylene, our shrink wrap film is strong, durable, and resistant to tears and punctures. It conforms to any shape and size and shrinks down to form a tight barrier, ensuring maximum protection for your goods.
Tighten up Your Packaging With Our Top-quality Shrink Wrap
Say goodbye to messy and disorganised work spaces with our top-of-the-line shrink wrap products. Perfect for warehousing and logistics in the UK and Europe, our range includes shrink-wrap film, shrink guns, shrink machines, and cylinder trolleys that will make handling goods a breeze. With our solutions, your workplace will be more efficient, productive, and professional. Order now and experience the difference for yourself!
What Is Shrink Wrap?
Shrink wrap, also known as shrink film, is a plastic film that is wrapped around a product and then heated to shrink tightly over the item. This process is used to secure, protect, and stabilise products during transportation and storage. The film is made of plastic materials such as polyethylene or PVC, and is available in different thicknesses and sizes to suit various applications. Shrink wrap is commonly used in packaging of items like food, drink, books, software, and many other industrial and consumer products.
What Are Some Common Uses for Shrink Wrap?
Shrink wrap is a versatile packaging material that is used for a wide range of applications. Some of the most common uses for shrink wrap include:
- Packaging consumer goods: Shrink wrap is used to package items such as food, beverages, books, software, and other consumer products. It keeps the items fresh and protected during transportation and storage.
- Bundling items together: Shrink wrap can be used to bundle multiple items together, such as multiple cans of food or beverage, making it more convenient for both consumer and store.
- Protecting items during transportation: Shrink wrap is used to protect items during transportation by providing a barrier against moisture, dust, and other environmental factors.
- Industrial and commercial applications: Shrink wrap is used to package large and heavy items, such as furniture, machinery, and other industrial products.
- Pallet wraps: to secure and keep in place items that are placed on pallets for transportation, and storage.
- Marine and boat wrapping: protecting boats and other marine equipment from environmental damages and keeping them clean, with protective films.
Other uses such as creating weather-proof, temporary shelters or enclosures, covering irregular shaped items, and many more.
What Are the Different Types of Shrink Wrap Products?
There are several different types of shrink wrap products available, each designed for specific applications. Some of the most common types of shrink wrap include:
- Polyethylene (PE) shrink wrap: This is the most common type of shrink wrap, and it is used for a wide range of applications. It is available in different thicknesses and sizes, and it is typically used to package food, beverages, books, and other consumer products.
- PVC shrink wrap: This type of shrink wrap is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is a bit more durable and thicker than PE shrink wrap. It is typically used to package industrial and commercial products, such as machinery and furniture.
- Polyolefin shrink wrap: This is a newer type of shrink wrap that is made from a combination of polyethylene and polypropylene. It is more tear-resistant than traditional PE shrink wrap and offers greater clarity, so it is often used for packaging items that need to be seen through the shrink wrap such as gifts or collectibles.
- Specialty shrink wrap: Some shrink wraps are designed for specific applications, such as marine shrink wrap for boats, reinforced shrink wrap for heavy machinery and other industrial applications, or UV-stabilised for outdoor uses.
- Shrink guns: A handheld tool used to apply heat and shrink shrink wrap film over items.
- Shrink wrapping machines: These are electric or gas-powered devices that are used to apply and shrink shrink wrap film over items. They come in various sizes and abilities, some of them semi-automatic or fully automatic.
- Cylinder trolleys: These are mobile carts that are used to transport and store shrink wrap rolls and film.
Different types of shrink wrap and accessories are designed to cater to different needs and situations, it's important to know what will work best for the product or goods you want to wrap and the environment they are intended to be in.
What Are the Key Features to Consider When Choosing Shrink Wrap?
When choosing shrink wrap, there are several key features to consider in order to ensure that you select the right product for your specific application:
- Material: As mentioned before, shrink wrap is typically made from polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyolefin. Each material has its own set of properties and is suited for different types of applications.
- Thickness: Shrink wrap is available in different thicknesses, which is measured in microns or gauge. Thicker films provide more strength and puncture resistance, but are also more expensive.
- Width and length: Shrink wrap is available in different widths and lengths to accommodate different sized items. Choose the size that is appropriate for the items you will be packaging.
- Elongation: Elongation refers to the ability of the shrink wrap to stretch and shrink. A shrink wrap with higher elongation will be more flexible and can be used to package irregularly shaped items.
- Clarity: The clarity of shrink wrap is an important feature to consider if you want to be able to see the item inside the package. Polyolefin shrink wrap and PVC are known for its clarity rather than PE.
- Puncture resistance: This feature is important if you are packaging items that are heavy, sharp or irregularly shaped, a more puncture resistant shrink wrap film will prevent damage to the item or to the film during transportation and handling.
- UV protection: Some shrink wraps come with UV stabiliser to resist UV light, this can be important when you need to use them outdoors or in places where the goods will be exposed to sunlight.
- Flame retardancy: Some shrink wraps are flame-retardant and meet safety standards, this can be important when you need to package items that are flammable or need to meet fire-regulation codes.
It is important to choose a shrink wrap product that meets your specific needs and requirements, while also being cost-effective. Consulting with an expert or doing some research before making a decision can help ensure that you select the right shrink wrap product for your application.
How Does Shrink Wrap Protect Items During Transportation?
Shrink wrap protects items during transportation by creating a tight barrier around the item. The shrink wrap film is applied over the item, and then heated to shrink tightly over the item creating a tight and secure covering. This process forms a protective barrier around the item that shields it from various environmental factors such as dust, moisture, scratches and other types of damages that could happen during transportation or storage. It also helps to hold multiple items together, creating stability and reducing the chances of individual items shifting or getting separated. The tight wrapping also can help prevent pilferage and theft of the item. The barrier created by the shrink wrap also makes it easier to identify the item and add information or labelling for easy identification.
How Is Shrink Wrap Applied?
Shrink wrap is typically applied using one of three methods: a heat gun, a shrink wrap machine, or an oven.
- Heat gun method: This method is typically used for small or irregularly shaped items. The shrink wrap film is cut to size and applied to the item, and then a heat gun is used to heat the film, causing it to shrink and conform to the shape of the item. The heat gun is moved over the surface of the film to ensure that it shrinks evenly and without any wrinkles.
- Shrink wrap machine: This method is typically used for larger or more regularly shaped items, such as pallets of goods. The shrink wrap film is fed through the machine and heated, then it is applied to the item by means of a conveyor, a roller or a hood.
- Oven method: This method is typically used for large items that cannot be moved easily, such as boats or cars. The shrink wrap film is applied to the item and then the entire item (and the shrink wrap) is placed in an oven for a certain amount of time. The heat from the oven causes the shrink wrap to shrink and conform to the shape of the item.
It is important to ensure that shrink wrap is applied correctly to ensure a secure and tight fit and maximise its protective properties. It's also important to note that depending on the size of the item, and the environment the shrink wrap will be exposed to, different type of film may be required.
What Safety Considerations Should Be Taken Into Account When Using Shrink Wrap?
When using shrink wrap, there are several safety considerations that should be taken into account in order to prevent accidents or injuries:
- Heat source safety: When using a heat gun or shrink wrap machine, it is important to keep the heat source away from flammable materials, as well as keeping a safe distance from the heat source. The gun or the machine should be properly grounded to avoid electrical hazards.
- Fire hazard: Shrink wrap can be a fire hazard if not used properly. It should not be used in the vicinity of flammable materials or used near open flames.
- Personal protective equipment: It's important to wear protective clothing, such as gloves and eye protection, when working with shrink wrap. Long sleeves and pants can also help to prevent burns from the heat source.
- Ventilation: When using an oven to shrink wrap, it's important to ensure that there is proper ventilation in the area to prevent the buildup of harmful gases.
- Film disposal: it's important to dispose of shrink wrap properly. If the shrink wrap is contaminated with hazardous materials, it should be handled as hazardous waste.
- Children and pets: when shrinking wrap is being applied and heated it can cause the film to shrink rapidly and make loud noises that can be startling and harmful to children and pets, it's important to keep them away from the work area.
- Slip and fall hazards: when shrink wrapping pallets, or other large items, there's a possibility that the film can create slip and fall hazards. It's important to keep the floor clean and dry and to take appropriate precautions such as placing warning signs or using non-slip matting.
- Electrical hazards: it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions on electrical equipment such as shrink machines and heat guns to prevent hazards caused by electricity.
It is important to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safe use of shrink wrap, not just for the operator but for others in the area as well. Being aware of the hazards and taking the appropriate measures can help prevent accidents and injuries.
Are There Any UK or European Industry Standards or Regulations That Apply to Shrink Wrap?
Yes, there are several industry standards and regulations that apply to shrink wrap in the UK and Europe. These include:
- BS EN 1143-1: British Standards Institution (BSI) standard for high-security safes, which applies to shrink wrap used to package high-security safes.
- EN 13432: The European standard for compostability of packaging, which sets guidelines for shrink wrap that is to be used in the packaging of compostable items.
- RoHS: Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive that is designed to restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This applies to shrink wrap used in packaging electronic items.
- REACH : Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulation that intends to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals.
- Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive: it's a European Union directive that aims to minimise packaging waste, reduce the environmental impact of packaging and promote the use of recycling.
- Fire safety regulations: regarding the use of shrink wraps in buildings or vehicles, the fire safety regulations must be met, this means that the shrink wrap must meet certain fire-resistance standards and be installed and used in a way that won't put the people or the building at risk in case of fire.
It's important to note that these regulations and standards vary by country and can change over time, so it's important to check the specific regulations in the country where the shrink wrap will be used and ensure that the product meets the necessary standards and regulations. Also, it is important to consult with an expert or check with your local authority for specific regulations or guidelines that may apply to your business or location.