9 Misconceptions About Shrink Wrap Debunked

Shrink film is a wonderful option for anyone looking for a packaging solution. Perhaps you are having hesitation to take the plunge. This might be because of the misconceptions flying about regarding shrink wrapping. These are based on falsehoods and are spread by people unwilling to adapt to this wonderful packaging solution. This article seeks to set the record straight about shrink wrap making a great packaging material. Here they are.

Not environmentally friendly:

It is not true that plastic film LDPE in shrink wrap is not recyclable making it not environmentally friendly. It is possible to recycle LDPE film to limit its presence on landfills. More industries are embracing plastic film for its minimal impact on the environment throughout its lifecycle. Shrink wrap promotes lowering energy cost during production with less transportation cost from the supplier to the consumer for being lightweight. 

Shrink film is weak:

Are you one of those people who think shrink film is weak and requires corrugated containers for support? Perhaps you have not noticed that water bottles and soda are bundled with shrink wrap. It comes in various thickness options to meet various requirements. Products that might have collapsed when palletized are enclosed with shrink film to remain intact. 

Expensive run and maintain:

Shrink wrapping machines are not expensive and the tunnels don’t use a lot of energy. With the growing improvement in technology, more energy efficient and budget-friendly heat shrink wrap is available from reputable suppliers. The shrink wrap machines run at low temperatures while running on less energy compared to heat tunnels that used to run on old technology. 

Difficult to open:

This is another misconception regarding shrink wrapping. You just need a simple knife to open the package without potentially damaging the contents. This maintains the safety of fully enclosed items by avoiding non-authorized people from seeing them. Apart from opening shrink wrap with a knife, you can just tear it apart with bare hands. Thick shrink film is perforated to make opening easy. Additionally, shrink wrap doesn’t make the package complicated in any way. It is easy to tell the collation pattern and design of the product to lessen the chances of damage when opening.                 

Not suitable for heat sensitive items:

Shrink wrapping an item doesn’t require too much heat. The film requires little heat to become shrunk. An item only stays in the shrink tunnel for a few seconds for a tight wrap. Even when packaging very heat sensitive items like CDs, DVDs, and dairy products, it is possible to get a tight wrap without compromising the integrity of the product. 

Shrink film sticks to primary package:

Various plastic blends can stick to each other but you have to take appropriate precautions so the item doesn’t get exposed to extreme temperatures in the shrink tunnel. Ensure to do a sample test to identify the right blend of film that will give the best results. Where film adhesion is obvious, consider appropriate wrapping options including forming a tight wrap. 

Not ideal for products in a bag or pouch:

There is no need to worry about the right packaging solution  for your items in a bag or pouch. Tight wrap technology is making wrapping items in bags possible. With the items collated into an appropriate pack size, double shrink film layers are wrapper perpendicularly. The package becomes a brick-like bundle ideal for palletizing and distributing.  

Not for irregular shaped items:

Shrink wrapping is for any item regardless of shape. You just need accurate pack detection by the wrapping machine for placement of the film all over the item. It is possible to invest in a shrink wrapping machine specially designed for items with an irregular shape. This should have multi-pack detection programmed to any dips, gaps, and troughs in the product dimensions. 

Non-rigid items curl up and bend:

It is possible to shrink printed items like calendars without curling up and bending. Adding some cardboard stiffener to the packs at intervals when wrapping keeps the items in a good position. Another option is to use energy shrink film to prevent bendy items from becoming rolled up and misshapen. The film stops the shrinking earlier in the resistance process compared to regular shrink film specifications. 

With less energy, the film has less shrink force and shrink ratio. Adding a flat pack roller to the shrink tunnel also prevents non-rigid items from quashing. The pack roller has a series of rollers sitting directly atop the tunnel belts to prevent the shrink-wrapped items from getting becoming curled up. This allows all items regales of shape to benefit from shrink wrap packaging. 

Bottom line:

Have you been having hesitations to use shrink film for your packaging? Well, hope you have realized how you have been missing this wonder packaging solution. Advancement in technology has made shrink wrap the go-to packaging solution for various items regardless of size, shape, and quantity.