Shrink Wrap Film 101: How to Choose the Right Type of Film for ...

When it comes to shrink wrap film, there are a wide variety of options available on the market. Not only do you need to decide what type of film is best for your product, but you also need make sure it's the right type of packaging for your application. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of shrink wrap film and how to choose the right one for your application.

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What is shrink film?

Shrink wrap film is a polyethylene plastic film that is used to protect and wrap products. It is heated and then tightly wrapped around the product, causing it to shrink in size. This creates a watertight and tamper-proof seal. There are three main types of products that are most commonly found in the shrink film market.

General Shrink Applications

Polyolefin shrink film is a type of shrink wrap film that is made from polyethylene. It is the most common type of shrink film and more affordable option than PVC shrink wrap. Polyolefin films have a wide range of shrink solutions because of it's well balanced shrink characteristics. This type of shrink film can be used for stationary, food, electronics and many other applications. It is also non-toxic and recyclable.

Candle and Soap Applications

PVC shrink film is a type of shrink wrap film that is made from polyvinyl chloride. PVC shrink film is available in both clear and opaque varieties. It used to be the most common style of shrink film but has since changed because of its shrink properties and characteristics, it requires very special handling and storage. PVC shrink film is most commonly used in candle and soap applications.

Bundling Applications

Polyethylene shrink film is also known as bundling film. This film lacks ideal optical characteristics which results in very limited shrink potential. Bundling shrink film is a type of shrink wrap film that is used to secure multiple items together. It is most commonly used in the packaging industry to keep products together during shipping.

Types of Specialty Films

Glossy

When it comes to shrink wrap film, glossy is often the preferred type for packaging products. There are several benefits of using glossy film, including:

• A high gloss finish that makes products look more appealing
• Improved clarity and vibrancy of colors
• Enhanced printing quality
• Greater protection from UV radiation

These benefits make glossy shrink wrap ideal for packaging products that need to look their best, such as food items, cosmetics, and high-end retail products. If you're not sure whether glossy or opaque would be better for your product, our team of experts can help you make the right decision.

Opaque

Opaque shrink wrap is beneficial for a few reasons. First, it provides extra security and tamper evidence for products. If a customer tries to remove the shrink wrap, they will be easily able to tell that it has been tampered with. Additionally, opaque shrink wrap can help protect products from UV light damage. It is a great option for products that are sensitive to light or need to be stored in a dark environment. Finally, opaque shrink wrap can also help control temperature inside of a package. This is beneficial for products that are temperature sensitive or need to be kept cold during shipping.

Metallized

Metallized shrink wrap is a type of film that has a metallic coating. The metallic coating reflects heat and light, which helps to keep the product inside the packaging cool by preventing the product from being exposed to light. This type of film is beneficial for applications where the product needs to be protected from heat or light.

Colored

There are a number of reasons why colored shrink wrap can be beneficial for your packaging application. Some of the benefits include:

1. Colored shrink wrap can add a visual pop to your product and make it more eye-catching. This can help your product stand out on store shelves and increase sales.
2. Colored shrink wrap can also help you track and identify inventory. This can be especially helpful if you have a large inventory of products.
3. Colored shrink wrap can also provide UV protection for your product. This is important for products that are sensitive to light or heat.

When choosing colored shrink wrap for your packaging application, it is important to consider the following factors:

• The type of product you are packaging.
• The environment in which the product will be stored or used.
• The type of equipment you have for packaging.

If you have any questions about choosing the right type of shrink packaging film for your application, please contact a packaging expert.

Thanks for reading!

Choosing the right type of shrink wrap film for your product and application can be difficult. That's why it’s important to know about all of the different types that are available, their benefits, and what they should be used for. In this article we reviewed what shrink film is and the most popular types of shrink film available. Keep in mind, you will also need to consider your shrink film size, thickness of shrink film, and length of the roll of film. If you're still unsure which shrink wrap film is right for you, reach out and speak with a shrink film specialist today. 

Shrink film is a packaging material made up of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied it shrinks tightly over whatever it's covering. Shrink wrap and shrink film are very versatile materials, and can be used in a large variety of packaging applications. Some common uses of shrink wrap are for wrapping food, gift baskets, boxes, toys, books, soaps, etc. 

There are many reasons you may want to utilize shrink film for your product packaging. Along with being lightweight and durable, it keeps your products safe from outside elements, increases shelf life and tamper-proofing and makes your product shine! 

Believe it or not, there is a lot more you should know about shrink film. In addition to clarity, which we all know is important, shrink films also have different operating characteristics. Here are seven characteristics you should be aware of when considering the shrink film you need for your packaging.

Want to learn how you can save on your shrink wrap costs? Check out our Shrink Wrap Cheat Sheet to find out:

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Good Gloss Shrink Film.

1. Shrink Force (AKA Shrink Energy)

This is typically measured in PSI, and tells you the amount of force that the shrink film will exert on your product. If you're packaging a multi-pack that needs to be tightly contained without damaging, understanding your shrink force is very helpful, especially for adjusting your shrink machinery accordingly. If the shrink force is high and you're packaging wood, this won't matter.

However, if you are packaging a small stack of paper or lightweight chipboard boxes, this could matter. Historically, Polyolefin films are high shrink force films. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) films have low shrink force. New polyolefin formulations offer reduced amounts of shrink force. 

2. Shrink Orientation

Shrink films are either bi-axially oriented, or preferentially oriented. Bi-axially oriented films shrink equally in both directions (Machine Direction or Cross Direction).*

Preferentially oriented film shrinks differently in either direction. The benefits of a preferentially oriented film include using less film, and preventing product distortion.

3. Shrink Percentages

In addition to altering your shrink percentages by using preferentially oriented film, you can also lower the shrink percentage and stay with a bi-axially oriented film e.g. 40/40 30/30, 20/20.

Another related characteristic is Free Shrink. This isn't a tip to get free shrink wrap unfortunately, but it's just as important. I know, I know...

Free shrink is the amount of shrink-ability in a film before it makes contact with your product. High levels of free shrink allow you to get a better looking package on difficult shapes and sizes. 

4. Resistance to Puncture / Tear

This measures how hard it is to actually break the film, and how hard it is to tear the film once it has been punctured.

Often, films with high resistance to puncture have lower resistance to tear, and vice versa. If you need to make this trade-off, select the characteristic that is more important (e.g., if you have a window box, puncture resistance is very important). Choose a shrink film that balances the security of your product with ease-of-access to the actual product.  Be sure to keep your shrink wrap stored in a cool (but not too cool) storage area to prevent any weakening of the film prior to use. 

5. MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate)

This characteristic is a measure of how much moisture will or will not travel through the film

If low moisture transmission into or out of your package is important, you should pay attention to this characteristic for improved shelf life. 

6. Antifog

Antifog films are used on food (fresh and frozen) to mitigate moisture build-up on the film

The moisture can cause a fog that affects the viewing of the product through the film. (If I'm buying something, you bet that I'm skipping over the fogged up package for the one with the product I can actually see).

7. Odor Barrier

Odor barrier films are used to prevent unacceptable odors from either traveling into, or out of your package. Don't disappoint your customers after they've purchased your product with a foul smell. Enough said.

There you have it, seven important characteristics of shrink film. When you are selecting packaging for your products, keep these in mind. Is your supplier making sure all of these bases are covered with your product, or could you teach them a thing or two?

Begin to understand shrink characteristics and how they can affect your bottom line, and you'll be shrinking costs in no time (insert big laughs here). Do you talk about these items with your current supplier? Or better yet, do they talk to you about these?

Are you interested in learning more about Environmentally Friendly Shrink Film? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!