How to Choose the Best Shrink Wrap Machine for Your Business

Many people understand the benefits of using shrink wrap machines to package their products, as it is a great packaging solution for anything from baked goods to mechanical gears. When companies choose shrink wrap packaging; they get protection, product display, and tamper evidence.

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When determining the best shrink wrap machine, you should consider the details of the machine and shrink film being used. These details include the gauge, size, and clarity of your shrink film, along with the shrink tunnel length, storage, environmental conditions, and packaging purpose should all factor into a machine purchase. We have a previous blog post focused on the right shrink wrap machine for your business. This post offers more detail to help make an informed purchasing decision.

Continue reading to learn the factors you should consider when choosing the best shrink wrap machine.

Why Do Businesses Use Shrink Wrapping?

There are many ways businesses can wrap their products, and shrink wrapping is growing in popularity. There are several reasons why they choose this method, including the following:

1. Protection: Shrink wrapping offers protection for products. Once you apply the shrink wrap, seal the ends to create a fully enclosed package and heat the material to conform to the product. It protects products against water damage, dust, rubbing and tearing.

2. Durability: Shrink wrap protects products from rubbing during transit in palletized loads. No dirt or moisture can get inside, so it creates a durable barrier to keep products safe as they ship from warehouses or directly to customers.

3. Tamper-resistance: Another reason businesses use shrink wrapping is tamper-resistance. If anyone tampers, it is obvious and the products can be pulled before going to the customer. It also helps end-users feel confident in the purchases they make.

4. Cost-efficiency: Shrink wrapping is affordable compared to other packaging options, and it also requires less storage space and is more efficient. Products can be wrapped and labeled for pennies.

5. Convenience: You can use shrink wrapping on many different shapes and sizes of products. It can cover objects with odd shapes and protect any size of product.

6 Display: Businesses can use shrink wrapping and still display the products on shelves. The transparent film allows products to be seen before customers make a purchase.

How to Choose the Best Shrink Wrap Machine for Your Business

When choosing the best shrink wrap machine for your business, selecting a suitable shrink wrap for your products is essential. Companies often choose PVC shrink wrap for everyday products, and POF is approved for direct contact with consumable items. The film thickness is rated in gauge or mil with several shrinking options available. Some POF film shrinks at low temperatures, and others require more heat for durable seals.

Shrink wrap machines come in different classifications, and different sizes are available for products that might have obscure uses. Consider the following:

1. Volume of Products: You can choose a smaller machine for smaller volumes and smaller products. These machines are affordable and work well for small eCommerce businesses and online stores. Impulse sealers, I-bar sealers, and heat guns are used for low volumes because they can all be purched with lower entry costs.

2. Full Automation: Some machines offer full automation, usually used for businesses with large scale and large production over 10,000 products daily. Full auto machines can wrap up to 30 products per minute.

3. Type of Sealers: There are three types of shrink wrap sealers: the I-bar shrink wrapper, L-bar sealer, and continuos.

I-Bar Shrink Wrapper

The I-bar shrink wrapper is a manual device, and it uses an I-bar sealer and a feed roller. It will cut the film to size and seal the side. It works with stock bags as well. This type of shrink wrap machine can pack around 200 items a day. Single I-style sealers are used with automatic bundlers and some side seal machines.

L-Bar Shrink Wrapper

The L-bar shrink wrapper has a square frame and a heat seal device on an L-shaped sealer. It seals two intersecting sides and works well for higher-level applications. This type of machine can do thousands of products daily with semi-auto or full automatic capabilities.

What Are Shrink Wrap Tunnels?

Shrink wrap tunnels are temperature controlled to heat packaging shrink film as it moves through the heated chamber. They help businesses package products more quickly. They have a conveyor system, and they are mobile. They can accommodate high volume, but they can also work for medium-sized products. Larger shrink tunnels can package tens of thousands of products daily. They are more efficient than a handheld device when you have more packages to wrap.

Industrial Machines

Businesses that do industrial-level manufacturing use larger automated machines to speed up production and increase efficiency.

Choosing a Shrink Wrap Machine: What Is Your Projected Output?

Your projected output is a critical factor that will help you decide what shrink wrap machine is best for your business. Higher output levels will require more expensive machines, but it will save you money in the long run. Take a look at the best shrink wrap machines based on output levels.

1. Low Output: Less Than 100 Products Per Day

If your business has low output with less than 100 products per day, you can use a hand impulse sealer and a heat gun. You can wrap your products with shrink tubing, centerfold shrink wrap, or shrink bags.

2. You will use the impulse sealer to seal open ends of the bag or film, and then the heat gun will shrink the film to match the product&#;s shape. Shrink bags are the most efficient type of wrap because you only need to seal one side. Low to Medium Output: Less Than 250 Products Per Day

If your business has an output of fewer than 250 products each day, you might consider using an I bar sealer. The best type of film to use with this machine is a centerfold shrink film. When you get an I-bar sealer, it comes with a centerfold roll of film, a sealing bar, film rack, heat gun, film separator, and gun rack. It is easy to use with centerfold film dispensing.

3. Medium Output: 250 to 750 Products Per Day

If your needs fall in this category, a few different shrink wrap machines will do the job. Many businesses choose the shrink chamber because it is an all-in-one machine and an affordable option. Place products in the centerfold shrink film, and the L-bar sealer will seal the open ends, and the chamber will shrink the material. The compact design is perfect for offices and tight spaces.

Another option is to use a tabletop L-bar sealer and a shrink tunnel. This approach is more efficient than the chamber. The L-bar sealer seals the open ends of the shrink film while the shrink tunnel applies heat to the film. This option can do more than 750 products a day, making it more popular with businesses looking to increase their output.

One advantage of the L-bar sealer and shrink tunnel combination is the continuous heat and motion of the shrink tunnel. The chamber always needs to reheat with a one-step machine, shrink tunnels maintain consistent heat with an adjustable speed conveyor moving products through the machine.

4. High Output: More Than 750 Products Per Day

You can also use the L-bar sealer and shrink tunnel combination unit for outputs as high as to per day. If exceeding this number, consider a fully automatic shrink wrap machine.

Other Factors to Consider

In addition to your output, you should consider the size of the products you are wrapping. Choose the shrink wrap machine that can accommodate your most significant products because a larger machine will do smaller products as well. Make sure that you consider your products&#; length, width, and height when determining the size.

Types of Shrink Film

It is essential to understand the basics of shrink film. Some machines do not work well with certain types of film. Having a general knowledge will make sure your machine and materials are compatible.

Polyolefin Shrink Film

This type of film is commonly used for both edible and nonedible products. It has fewer odors, a more robust seal, and more flexible storage when sealing. In addition, it doesn&#;t produce hydrogen chloride gas like PVC shrink film. It is used for nearly every product type, including toys, sporting goods, food, stationery, and more. Polyolefin shrink film is available in many different options. A low-temperature film shrinks at lower temperatures, crosslinked polyolefin requires more heat, but has stronger seals. Crosslinked shrink film is the best option for fully automatic machines, and many standard polyolefin films will not work.

PVC Shrink Film

PVC or polyvinyl chloride is the third most-produced plastic in the world. It is used to package boxes, CDs, DVDs, software, and other non-edible items. It is compatible with automated machines. The drawbacks are that it can be sensitive to extreme temperatures, releasing small amounts of hydrogen chloride gas into the air. PVC shrink film is commonly used on neck banding and tamper-evident seals for bottles.

Other Types

There are other types of shrink film, including shrink sleeves and polyethylene bundling shrink film. Polyethylene is a heavier-duty shrink film that is used for large commercial items. Shrink sleeves can be made of several different materials. Some shrink sleeves require a steam tunnel to correctly shrink the sleeve to the product.

How to Choose the Best Shrink Wrap Machine: Step by Step

The best way to choose your shrink wrap machine is by following these steps:

1. Determine the size of your most significant and largest products to make sure that the machine can accommodate all of them
2. Determine your output levels today and in the future
3. Consider the type of shrink film you need based on your products and what will happen to the products after they are packaged.
4. Understand the different shrink wrap machines that are available and how each one can provide benefits.

Final Words

Shrink wrapping is an excellent option if you want to protect your products. It provides many benefits, including protection, tamper resistance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. There are several different shrink machines available, and you can choose the one that is ideal based on your product sizes and your output. Take a look at the various choices and get one for your products today.

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All You Need To Know About Shrink Wrap Machines

What is a Shrink Wrap Machine?

A Shrink Wrap Machine is machinery that shrinks any material to be wrapped or to call it in simple terms &#; a shrink wrapper. It is included in a plethora of industries most dominant being the food and beverages industry. However, all segments including pharmaceuticals have majorly started using the Shrink Wrap machines extensively. Shrink Wrap is done with the help of a Shrink film and shrink machine which albeit looks thin but is ultra-strong as it comprises of a few layers and bonded strongly. The purpose of this packaging can be varied like giving a compact packing which helps to brand easier and catchy so that it&#;s picked off the shelf easily. Shrink Wrap Machine wraps an item in a free sleeve or a loose polyolefin shrink film and heat is used to shrink the film tightly around. Shrink packing machines are very handy when a bulk of goods needs to be shrink-wrapped.

Why do industries need a Shrink Wrap Labeler?

Living in a globalized economy, everything is transported here and there and when things have to travel a long way, it has to be ensured that water, rough handling, or air does not destroy the actual nature of the product. A barrier would be the right word to call it a security guard. Shelf life can thus be extended of products leading to a more profitable business. Any uncertainty of bump and scratches can just be eliminated and a gift shrink wrap can just send love to your near and dear ones. A low-cost solution and an economy-friendly way of procuring business cannot beat any packaging model. The storage requirements are reduced as goods can be dispatched as per the demand and supply curve. To sum up in a nutshell why industries need a shrink wrap machine is:

Low-cost enabler

Profit doubler

Effective in Inventory management

Reduces loss and wastages in the business model

Low power consumption

Benefits of Using Shrink Wrap Machine

One benefit that just can&#;t be missed out is the sustainability it gives to products. Minimum labour with maximum output. The input of the Shrink wrapper is most commonly available and a very affordable option because the wrap material can shrink up to 50% of its size or more. Depending on the type of business, one may opt for a manual shrink wrap machine, A semi-automatic shrink wrap machine, or a fully automatic shrink wrap machine. The price variants/ Shrink wrap machine price depends on the type opted for and which Industry demands which type of machinery. High-speed version machine are also available and packs per minute define the volume the shrink packaging machine can give.

Industries that use Shrink Wrap Machine

Ever thought of packaged water available in a small refreshment shop? Well, it uses the same technology. Packaged water bottles and other PET bottles make adequate use of the automatic shrink wrap machinery. Shrink wrapping machine for bottles play a major role in the market. A shrink wrap machine manufacturer customizes manifold and presents it to the consumer.Scaffold wrap containment of bridges and building and disaster contingency and relief projects such as damaged buildings and roofs also entail its uses. The shrink wrap manufacturer customizes its product depending on the client&#;s requirement. Food Industry benefits from it like you can store your favourite Pizza or French fries. Cosmetic companies could avail this to pack cold-pressed soaps. Tamper evident shrink wrap is nowadays being used for transporting physical money shipped by an armed transport or even where portable disks or DVDs carrying information needs to reach unscathed. Given all the uses and thinking beyond for which mankind is known, the shrink wrap packaging machine in due course of time is a gadget or device which industries might see a rare possibility of avoiding.

16 Questions to Ask Before Buying an Automatic Shrink Wrap Machine

Automatic shrink wrap machines are a step up from manual or semi-auto machines. Companies using automatic machines are often packaging thousands of products daily. The initial costs are substantially more than lower volume machines. Though the capital expenditures may be higher, the efficiency will quickly pay for itself. There are always many questions when purchasing an expensive piece of machinery. Many people desire to see the machines in person or at least have products run on the machine before purchasing. We agree with that and offer in-house testing and viewing before making a purchase. Unless familiar products are being packaged, we require testing before selling a machine.

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Below are common questions asked by companies interested in an automatic shrink wrap machine.

1. What is the cost? 

The cost of a fully automatic machine with accessories will be substantially more than smaller Shrink Wrapping Machines. Many automatic machines with the right equipment can cost more than 100k. One-piece automatic machines for 30-40K will package smaller items. Like anything, you can shop and find some automatic machines for much less but question the quality and longevity of the device.

2. What size of products can the machine accommodate?

Large or small, the product size matters. There are multiple styles of auto machines; knowing the largest and smallest product being run will help determine what size and style of machine will be needed. The weight of the wrapped product is an important question to determine the proper film required in the machine.

3. Can I run samples on the machine?

Samples are strongly encouraged when purchasing an automatic shrink wrapper. Unless the machine supplier is familiar with packaging your style of products, testing should be conducted. The testing will show which machine is suitable, what shrink film is best, and if heat shrink wrapping is the right solution for the product being wrapped.

4. What additional machines or conveyors are needed?

Many auto sealers are the sealer only, a shrink tunnel will be needed to heat the film and form the material around the product. Be sure to consider a tunnel that will keep up with the speed of the sealer and fit the products being wrapped.

A powered infeed conveyor is standard for most automatic setups. The powered infeed conveyor allows the products to be placed in the production line. Conveyors come available with many different belts and options.

5. What are the electrical supply requirements?

One-piece auto machines may have one power cord versus a two-piece device that will have two lines with different power requirements. Most machines will come bare wire for hard wiring or installing a plug that matches the power supply.

It is crucial to have the correct power supply at the machine. Running long power cords will drop the electrical output at the device and cause problems. We recommend having a licensed professional install electrical plugs and properly check for the correct electrical supply to the machine.  

6. How many products can the machine run per minute?

Automatic shrink wrap machines can vary in the number of products per minute. More oversized products that are longer will generally take more time to move in and out of the sealing area. Smaller products can quickly move through the machine and can be run at faster speeds.

On the low end, an automatic shrink wrap machine should be able to package at least 17-20 products per minute. Other machines are capable of higher production numbers. Some machines packaging smaller products can wrap 60-80 products per minute. The average expected speed would be between 25-40 products per minute with a fully automatic heat shrink wrapper.

7. How complicated is the machine setup?

We do not recommend ordering a fully automatic packaging line without a technician setting it up and conducting training. Adjusting the machine for each product with conveyor belts and film threading would be better for someone skilled to show how to set up the equipment properly. Once set up and training is completed, employees should know how to adjust the machine for each product and reload film as needed. We strongly urge companies not to order expensive equipment based on price with no support or technical assistance. 

8. How much time does it take to adjust the machine?

Product adjustments are necessary if several sizes of products are being run. If only running one product size, skip this question and move to number 8. Some machines have manual product adjustments, consisting of crank handles to adjust the machine to fit the wrapped product. Other digital devices have product memories and automatic product adjustment to adjust the machine as needed to fit the product being wrapped.

The automatic product adjustment feature is perfect for companies wrapping dozens of different products. Each product can have a saved setting for workers to enter the right adjustment for each product. Without an auto adjustment, the sealing head, film head, conveyors, and film unwinds will need to be changed between products with significant size differences.

9. What material is recommended for use with the machine?

What type of automatic shrink wrap machine are you looking for? Different shrink materials will be needed to wrap small products, large products, heavy products, or bottles. Find out what material the shrink wrap machine uses and ensure it is readily available. Many companies get into binds when purchasing packaging machines from not knowing if the material is available from more than one source.

10. Can parts and services be found?

This should go without saying if spending tens of thousands of dollars on an automatic shrink wrapper. The availability of parts should be one of the first questions to consider. With an automated machine&#;s production, downtime can cost more than the part needed and eventually the device itself. Be sure replacement parts are available.

In addition to parts, look into the service available. There may be issues that come up demanding a trained technician. If that is not available, what will you do? Hire a third-party company to attempt to fix the machine? If possible, on the front end, inquire about parts and servicing for any automated packaging equipment you are planning on buying. 

11. Do your products need a closing gap conveyor?

Automatic sealers will have a conveyor belt transporting products into and out of the sealer. Between the two conveyors is where the sealing bar can be found. Products with small dimensions can fall into the gap.

Closing gap conveyors are used to eliminate lost products. The closing gap allows the two conveyors to come together, momentarily closing the gap between the conveyors. It is essential when packaging small products such as cosmetics and baked goods.

12. What are payment and financing options?

You know a general idea of cost, now how to pay for it. What financing or payment options are available with the machine? Some companies require a deposit, and the remaining balance due once the machine ships. Other companies offer lease options. Users pay a monthly rate, and scheduled maintenance is also provided with some lease contracts. Find an option that fits your needs and a machine that accommodates the products and estimated production levels.

13. Can the machine be synced with an existing line?

To purchase automated equipment for end-of-the-line packaging, you should consider if the device will sync with the existing line. Does it have the right drive and program to do so? If not, can the speed be matched manually to sync with an existing line?

14. How does the machine ship?

Most automated packaging machines are not small or cheap. Some are custom and one-of-a-kind. If they become damaged in shipping, it may be months before the machine can be replaced. Determine if the machine is shipped on a dedicated load or if it will be interlined between multiple freight carriers.

In addition to the freight carrier transporting the equipment, how is it all crated and packaged? You will need a loading dock or forklift to unload the machine, but will forklift extensions be required? Will any tools be needed to uncrate or unpackage the device? These are essential questions to consider when the machine is ready to ship.

15. Where does the machine ship from?

Will the machine be shipping internationally direct to your facility? That can have delays at the port and possible damages or missing items upon arrival. If the machine is shipping domestically, will it be delivered via freight carrier or locally? Check the location and lead time to avoid disappointment and possible production loss.

16. How long will it take to receive the machine from the order date?

Most automatic shrink wrap machines are not stock items. There are times a stock option is available, but it does not happen often. If there is a lead time on the machine, find out how long the lead time is and when it would be expected in stock. Ensure you are dealing with a reputable company that accurately quotes lead times and keeps promises.

Conclusion

The difference in efficiency and output of an automatic shrink wrap machine compared to a manual or semi-auto machine is a game-changer. Many questions should be addressed along with logistics and setup issues, but a suitable machine is well worth it. Take the time to ensure you are working with the right company to fit your needs when purchasing your next automated shrink wrapper.

How Do Shrink Machines Work?

Shrink wrap machines are an important aspect of many businesses, especially when large amounts of merchandise are involved. Have you wondered if a shrink wrap machine would be right for your company, and if so, which kind of machine you would need? There's no reason to look any further because we've included a comprehensive list of shrink wrap machine types to help you better understand the types of machines available and their methods of operation!

What is Shrink Wrap?

Shrink wrap is a polymer plastic film used to protect items. Using a heat source to shrink the wrap to the dimensions of the product it is covering, shrink wrap is applied to fit a product securely. Either a shrink wrap machine or a hand-held heat gun is used as the heat source.

Types of Shrink Wrap Machines and How They Operate:

Chamber Sealer

As the name implies, the chamber sealer passes the items through a chamber or compartment where a film of shrink wrap is used to wrap the item in. The shrink-wrap is compressed and forms a solid covering over the object in this chamber as it is heated enough to do so. Depending on the width of the plastic, the time for this operation varies.

L-sealer

This specific variety of shrink wrap machine was developed to accommodate larger sizes of shrink-wrapping material. If you have an automatic L-sealer handy, set it up, plug it in, and place the thing you want to seal inside. Two sealing bars on this device have the shape of a backward "L." In order to form a pouch-like aperture via the crinkle of the folds and allow your goods to pass through, shrink film bends down the two bars.

Once your object has been securely positioned inside the crease, the shrink film has three other sides that need to be securely sealed. When an object is fully loaded into the machine, the L-sealer can identify when to cover it with shrink film. Later, a shrink tunnel in the manufacturing line gets a hold of the unheated part of the shrink wrap attached to each product and warms the wrap so that it can firmly and securely fit around each item.

Side Sealer

This is the quickest and most practical way to bundle a large number of products in a short period of time. The goods are wrapped in a continuous pipe of film, with each unit being divided downstream by a crisscross seal after being covered on one side. There are typically two configurations for the side sealers: two or three belts.

Compared to an L-sealer, a sealer with two belts is a little larger and removes one of the side sealer belts to create the last seal just before the side seal. When you need to wrap larger things but don't have the time to extend the length of the production line, this type is the most effective.

The sealers with three belts, on the other hand, are slightly larger than those with two belts and have the advantage of precisely spacing the items before they enter the section where they are to be wrapped.

Combo Shrink Systems

Combo shrink systems provide a quality shrink packaging solution in a compact footprint. Systems are available as automatic combo systems or semi-automatic combo systems. Combo systems are available in greatly equipped heavy duty combos, or you can find more compact sizes and customize your options with a standard duty combo system. L-bar sealers and heat shrink tunnels are combined in one industrial shrink wrapping machine to provide tightly wrapped packaging solutions. First, sealed in a bag using the L-bar sealer, the package then moves to the shrink tunnel where the film is heated and shrinks around the package. Shrink wrap machines are used to provide a transparent, tightly wrapped package. Practical and cost effective, shrink packaging is great for packaging boxes, cartons, multi-packs, & beverage cans.

How Can Mr. Shrinkwrap Help?

With the seemingly endless amount of shrink wrap products and machines available on the market, it can be a daunting task to attempt to figure out which products are the best fit for your company. By contacting a reputable shrink wrapping company regarding your needs and questions, you can find exactly the methods and products that are right for you!

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