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Shrink Wrap Film Guide

Kempner’s shrink film guide is a useful tool to help you find out which shrink wrap service means our customers have access to the most up-to-date shrink films, including a range of environmentally friendly options.

  • Polyolefin
  • PVC
  • Polythene

Presentation VS Transit Shrinkwrap Film

There are essentially two kinds of shrink film: shrink film for transit and shrink film for presentation. Notwithstanding these two distinct functions, some shrink wrap applications do overlap between transit and display shrink film, for example, where there is a requirement for the enhanced presentation offered by display, and equally, where the advantages of display are not required. Naturally, customers need to determine in their particular case the best combination of protection and unit cost when comparing the alternatives.

Of course, we are able to assist in this regard with any specific guidance a customer might need. Contact us for information on how to buy shrink wrap or for help and advice when choosing shrink wrap film or shrink wrapping machines.

Plastic Film For Presentation/ Display

Polyolefin (POF) & Polyvinylchloride (PVC) Shrink Wrap Film

Display, or presentation, shrink films are categorised into Polyolefin (POF) and polyvinylchloride (PVC). These films are mainly used where product appearance is extremely important, such as for retail, point of sale, display. They can provide enhanced appearance as well as tamper evidence. Some typical applications include, toys, books, pizza, and even foodstuffs such as swedes or broccoli. Display industrial shrink films are categorised into Polyolefin (POF) and Polyvinylchloride (PVC) shrink films.

Shrink Film For Transit

Polyolefin (POF) & Polyvinylchloride (PVC) Shrink Wrap Film

The main purpose of shrink film for transit is protect and provide strength to packs. The appearance of this type of shrink wrap is usually of secondary importance. The typical application would be for jars, or cans, possibly with the use of a cardboard tray. This type of shrinkwrap is often found on even larger items such as radiators and work surfaces. Products can be packed individually or collated. These films are mainly made of low density Polyethylene, and can often be more commonly referred to as Polythene, or PE.

Polyolefin Shrink Wrap Plastic

Polyolefin shrink films are extremely versatile, and are the first choice when using display shrink films, as they are strong, machinable, have brilliant optics, and are extremely economically efficient. Polyolefin (or POF) shrink films will generally offer an excellent solution to most display shrink film requirements, no matter what kind of shrink wrap machinery is used.

Polyolefin shrink wrap films have multiple layers of PE and Polypropylene (PP) and may be irradiated for extra strength. They can also be treated to include additional properties, such as hot slip or anti-fog.

Polyolefin shrink wrap films are very sophisticated and formulated to offer a wide sealing and shrinking window so that they can be readily used on manual, semi and fully automatic shrink wrapping machinery.

PVC Shrink Wrap Film

PVC shrink wrap films produce marvellous looking packs, but they have been largely superseded by Polyolefin (POF) shrink films. Whilst PVC shrink films have particularly easy sealing and shrinking features, they are inferior to POF shrink films in the areas of strength, low temperature flexibility and their associated cleaning regime on equipment.

However, PVC shrink wrap films continue to fulfil certain areas, such as on very flexible packs, particularly heat sensitive products and, or where older shrink wrap equipment is in use, where their particular benefits can come to the fore.

PVC shrink wrap film is also used with less plasticiser in the form of semi-rigid shrink film where it can be used to substitute BOPP overwrap film, but with the additional benefit of a shrink wrap finish.

Contact us for information on how to buy shrink wrap or for help and advice when choosing shrink wrap film or shrink wrapping machines.

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