Tag Archives: pvc shrink wrap

PVC and Polyolefin Shrink Wrap Differences

Posted on by Standard 1

Over the years we have wrote several articles about the differences in PVC and Polyolefin shrink wrap. Below are some links to a few of the blog posts as well as our shrink wrap 101.

PVC shrink wrap, Polyolefin shrink wrap, Polyethylene shrink wrap

Shrink Wrap Varieties

Shrink Wrap 101

All of these articles offer detailed information about the differences in shrink wrap materials. The only problem with these articles is they do not demonstrate and show customers the differences. We can explain all of the differences in text, but showing the differences helps customers actually see the differences in the two shrink films. This helps customers make a better decision when purchasing products.

In the video below we will be demonstrating the gloss and clarity of the two shrink films, the noise each one of them makes before being shrunk, and the tear resistance. This video is intended to be used by people wanting to buy a shrink wrap material as well as people trying to figure out what material they have been  using. If you have any questions about anything in the video feel free to call us at 1-800-441-5090 to ask questions. If you would like to place an order, all materials and machines are available at www.shrinkwrapandstretchfilm.com.

Shrink Bags – How To Choose

Posted on by Standard Respond

Many people have heard of shrink bags, but what are they and when are they best used? Shrink bags are common in a large variety of applications including: manufacturing, crafts, printing and publishing, and more. They work great for high and low output operations. In this post we will discuss some different shrink bags and when it may be beneficial to use them.

The most common type of shrink bag is a PVC shrink bag. The PVC stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride. PVC shrink wrap rolls, shrink tubing, and bags have played a large roll in the shrink film industry for years. It is a versatile film and offers manyDomed Shrink Bags After benefits. PVC film becomes harder and more crinkly after heat is applied. It works great with high speed machines. PVC shrink wrap also has a low required shrink temperature. It also offers a high shrink rate, in some cases up to 40%.

PVC shrink bags are used all over the world for a variety of products. One common and easily identifiable use of PVC shrink bags is on gift baskets. Almost any time you see a gift basket that has been shrink wrapped it is with the use of PVC domed shrink bags. Below is a short list of products that often use shrink bags for packaging.

Books

Magazines

Homemade Soap

CDs

DVDs

Gift Baskets

Boxes of Chocolates

Obviously these are not all of the uses for shrink bags, but some of the more common uses. Shrink wrap bags offer several benefits, two specific benefits are extremely helpful to appearance and efficiency.

One Required Seal

Shrink wrap bags only have one open end and only need one side sealed. For larger operations with fully automatic machines this is not an issue. For smaller operations with only an I-bar sealer, this means much much more efficient packaging. With a normal centerfold PVC or polyolefin shrink film three sides must be sealed. L-Bar sealers are made for this and work great, but small operations often can not afford L-Bar sealers. The less expensive I-Bar sealers work great, but you can only seal one side at a time. This is why we almost always try to get smaller start-up operations fit to a shrink bag. Bags help with less frustration and time spent making seals.

Consistent Fit

Once you find the right size of bag for your product, they offer a consistent fit every time. This helps to increase the packaging appeal to your products and allows a tighter and more uniform fit. A great option to have and consider when packaging products of the same size.

As mentioned above, there are several other benefits that shrink bags have to offer. The two we specified are the most common reasons for users to consider using shrink bags.

Types of Shrink Bags

As mentioned above, PVC shrink wrap bags have been the most commonly used shrink bags for years. One large drawback they have is not being able to come into direct contact with consumable products. If the PVC bags are used to package a consumable product, another form of primary packaging must be used.

Polyolefin shrink bags are becoming more and more popular. They offer some advantages over PVC bags. The main advantage they offer is the ability to come into direct contact with consumable products. Many bakeries and confectioners have waited for years for a polyolefin shrink bag to wrap consumable products in. The polyolefin shrink film has a different consistency than PVC film. It is a softer more pliable film. Because it does not contain chloride, it also puts off less odor when sealing and applying heat.

Cost

Both types of shrink bags are affordable compared to many other packaging applications. The exact cost depends  on the size and quantity ordered. The PVC shrink wrap bags are always less expensive than the Polyolefin bags. To offer an idea of the cost and cost difference between the two, below are the cost of a couple of sizes. The price is for a case containing 500 bags.

Polyolefin

4′x6′ Case of 500= $20 or .04 per bag

8′x12′ Case of 500= $42.70 or .085 per bag

PVC

4′x6′ Case of 500= $14 or .028 per bag

8′x12′ Case of 500= $31 or .062 per bag

We offer discounts for multi-case orders, but both types of shrink bags are reasonably priced with single case orders. If you have any questions about how to measure for shrink bags or questions about quotes, feel free to call us at 1-800-441-5090 or visit us online at www.shrinkwrapandstretchfilm.com

Add a Professional Touch With PVC Shrink Wrap

Posted on by Standard Respond

PVC shrink wrap stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride. For years PVC was a preferred material for shrink wrapping a large variety of objects. Recent years have brought new developments in materials used to make shrink film. Now, many people prefer polyolefin shrink wrap. Just because polyolefin is often preferred does not mean PVC is not a great material to be used for a variety of applications.

PVC shrink wrap is still one of the most economical shrink films on the market. Many manufactures and users end up wrapping products with PVC shrink film for pennies or less per product. The PVC  shrink film has distinctive characteristics that are preferred by some users. Before the film is shrunk it can easily tear and is very crinkly. After heat is applied the film stiffens and hardens. It offers great protection from external elements.

There are some great advantages PVC shrink film can offer users. Below are some advantages to wrapping with PVC Money-Signshrink wrap.

Cost- Often time much cheaper than other shrink wrap or packaging options. Start-up costs for small operations shrinking and sealing 30-100 products per day can be as low as $150.

Variety- There is a large variety of PVC shrink films on the market that can meet a variety of demands. PVC centerfold rolls, shrink bags, and tubing are commonly preferred for a wide range of applications.

Clarity- PVC offers excellent clarity after heat has been applied. Often a great low-cost option for displaying Domed Shrink Bags Afterproducts on store shelves.

Protection- With the proper seals, PVC shrink wrap is ideal for protecting products from moisture and dust.

Shrink Rate- PVC shrink wrap offers an excellent shrink rate compared to many other shrink films. Often times users can get up to a 30%-40% shrink rate.Domed Shrink Bag Before

PVC Shrink wrap can give product the professional look many users are after at an inexpensive price. It does have some drawbacks as well. Below are a list of disadvantages to expect when using PVC shrink.

Odor When Sealing- Due to the Chloride found in the film, there is an odor when sealing and applying heat. A properly ventilated room is recommend.

No Direct Contact With Food- PVC shrink film can not come into direct contact with food products. Polyolefin shrink wrap is the best film to be used for direct food contact.

 

Easy Tear- PVC film is not the best film to be used with sharp corners. Because the film becomes harder after heat has been applied it can tear easily at sharp corners.

Sealing Wire Build up- After enough seals with PVC film, a residue will build up on the sealing element. A repair wire can be easily installed once this build up occurs.

Temperature Sensitive Storage-PVC rolls and materials need to be stored in temperature controlled environments.

PVC, like many products and packaging options has advantages and disadvantages. If you feel like PVC shrink wrap may be right for you and would like to ask questions give us a call at 1-800-441-5090. If you would like to place an order online visit our store at www.uspackagingandwrapping.com.

 

 

PVC Shrink Wrap, Polyolefin Shrink Wrap and Polyethylene Shrink Wrap

Posted on by Standard 1

Several months ago we wrote a series of posts discussing the different types of shrink wrap available. This is a new refresher post to specify and reiterate the different shrink wrap films available and the different characteristics each one has. Each shrink film has its own benefits and multiple uses. Below is a description of the shrink films we offer and the characteristics of each.

PVC Shrink Wrap- PVC shrink wrap is commonly used in a variety of industries for retail packaging. It is a more affordable shrink film than many other options available. Most companies use PVC shrink film for lighter weight retail packaging. PVC stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride. Due to the chloride in the film, PVC shrink film can not come into direct contact with consumable products. PVC shrink film is commonly sold in a 75 or 100 gauge thickness.

PVC shrink film is commonly very thin and pliable before heat is applied. Once heat is applied to the film, it become harder and more brittle. We recommend the use of PVC shrink wrap with a variety of products. Some products commonly wrapped with PVC shrink film include: CDs, DVDs, soaps, candles, boxes of chocolates, etc. There are products all around us that are wrapped with PVC shrink wrap because of the affordability and versatility it offers.

Polyolefin shrink Wrap- Until recently, PVC shrink film has been the chosen retail shrink film for many companies. Polyolefin is a newer type of shrink film that is now preferred over PVC. Polyolefin shrink wrap is more expensive, but performs exceptionally well when compared to PVC shrink film.

The ability to store polyolefin in a wide temperature range is one benefit it offers. PVC film has a tendency to degrade and lose form when exposed to wide temperature ranges. When stored in warmer temperatures PVC shrink film can crinkle and stick together. When stored in colder climates, PVC shrink film often becomes brittle and hard. Polyolefin film does not have any of those defects during storage. This benefit save companies the risk of material loss.

Another advantage of polyolefin shrink film is many types are FDA approved. Polyolefin is often used to wrap and come into direct contact with a variety of food products. It offers a strong and durable seal  Polyolefin shrink wrap works well with a variety of machines and sealers.

Polyethylene Shrink Wrap- Often used to wrap, protect, and unitize a variety of large objects. Polyethylene shrink wrap is used to winterize boats, unitize pallet loads, and wrap large boxes. Polyethylene shrink wrap is most commonly seen in grocery stores wrapped around cases of bottled water.

Polyethylene shrink wrap is normally thicker and offers more stretchability that other shrink films. For outdoor storage, some polyethylene films offer UV protection. We sell polyethylene pallet shrink bags and polyethylene shrink tubing. Our polyethylene shrink tubing is currently not offered online, but we do sell a wide variety of sizes and thicknesses starting at a 100 gauge.

If you have any questions about the products mentioned in the post, call use a 1-800-441-5090.

What Heat Shrink Wrap To Use?

Posted on by Standard Respond

The shrink wrap products we sell include: PVC and polyolefin centerfold shrink wrap, shrink tubing, shrink bags, and perforated flat shrink wrap. All of these products come in different widths, thicknesses, and lengths.  To someone who is not familiar with shrink wrap and the variety of types, it can be overwhelming.

The majority of this entire blog has been dedicated to educating and informing our clients and potential clients of the variety of shrink wrap and packaging products available and using them properly and efficiently. This specific post will be dedicated to a specific set of problems a client was having and how the proper adjustments assisted in efficiency and a better overall shrink wrap experience.

We recently had a call from someone using small boxes for packaging their products and then shrink wrapping the box to help preserve the contents in it. It was a small scale operation not doing many boxes per day, but they were still having problems with efficiency.

Issue #1 The first efficiency problem they were experiencing was using an impulse sealer with a centerfold shrink wrap. L-bar sealers are by far more efficient and a better option for centerfold shrink wrap. The L-bar sealer allows sealing for all open sides of the centerfold wrap.

Issue #2 The impulse sealer being used was a flat wire impulse sealer. Flat wire sealers have their purpose, but not ideal for what they were being used for. Flat wire sealers seal the film, but do not trim excess film. They were having to seal all open sides of the film, then trim the excess film with scissors.

Issue #3 They were also using a lighter gauged PVC shrink wrap and experiencing seals opening up during the packaging process.

Issue #4 Another issue they were experiencing was ballooning from the shrink wrap. Once the seals were made and heat was applied the shrink wrap would balloon up and trap air.

Based on the information given to us we were able to help determine some solutions to the problems they were experiencing and offer other potential options.

Solution #1 There are a couple of different options to choose from with the first issue they were having. The first option would be to upgrade to an L-bar sealer. These vary in price depending on the type of output desired. The other option that is possibly cheaper if it works is opting for shrink bags. Shrink bags only have one open end and work great with an I-bar sealer.

Solution #2 The only option for this issue is to purchase a round wire impulse sealer. The flat wire sealers are great when you use them with shrink tubing or shrink bags and you want to separate the bag or tubing with a seal and not cut excess film. The round wire sealer is what they needed for sealing and trimming in one motion to help stay efficient.

Solution #3 A couple of options could be considered to address the third issue they were experiencing. A thicker shrink film could help to form a stronger seal. The other option is to have a thicker sealing wire on the impulse sealer. A thicker seal will be stronger and possibly allow the use of the same size of film without the busted seals.

Solution #4 Most all shrink wrap products experience ballooning without proper air vents. There are shrink wrap sealers that offer a hole punch to provide a vent hole on centerfold shrink wrap as it comes off the roll. Another option is using shrink bags with vent holes.

What did they do?

For the first issue they decided they were not producing enough products yet to justify a new L-bar system. They decided to use a shrink wrap bags with vent holes.

They did buy a new round wire impulse sealer. This enabled them to cut and seal the open end in one motion. It was also a fairly economic choice only costing approx. $150.

The new round wire sealer helped to address the third issue they were having with busted seals. They chose a round wire sealer with a thicker sealing wire to help gain a stronger seal.

The bags with vent holes helped to address the ballooning issue they kept experiencing and allow air to escape the film after heat was applied.

There are a variety of issues that can arise when shrink wrapping products. We like to think we can help with most issues, if you have any questions about any issues you may be having with your shrink products feel free to call us. You can reach us at 1-800-441-5090 or visit our website at www.shrinkwrapandstretchfilm.com

Centerfold PVC Shrink Wrap Costs Per Foot

Posted on by Standard Respond

We have wrote several times about shrink wrap being an affordable packaging option. Companies have a variety of options to choose from when deciding packaging for their products. We have mentioned several times on this blog and on our website about the advantages of shrink wrap for packaging.

Shrink wrap is a great option due to the clarity and ability to display the product through the film. While allowing easy display of products, shrink wrap also gives a protective barrier against exterior elements. This barrier can help protect from dust, pollen, and moisture.

We have also mentioned in the past about shrink wrap being a great option for bundling products together. In almost every retail store you go in, you will see shrink wrap used to bundle products together. Many companies prefer it because of the ability to quickly and easily bundle the products at and affordable cost.

That brings us to reason for this post. In the past we have mentioned shrink wrap being a an affordable packaging option. We have never really taken the time to break down the cost of the shrink wrap we offer.

All of these figures will be based on base website prices. We offer quantity discounts on all of our shrink wrap and stretch film products so these figures will be even less cost if you decide to order a larger amount of film.

Centerfold PVC Shrink Wrap Rolls- PVC is a great an affordable packaging option, as we have already highlighted in the past. Let’s get to the numbers on the costs. Below is the breakdown for Cost per foot for our PVC shrink wrap rolls.

Width                                                                                                   500 Ft. PVC Rolls                  2000 Ft. PVC Rolls

10 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.048/Ft.                                      $.029/Ft.

12 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.052/Ft.                                            N/A

13 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                                N/A                                            $.038/Ft.

14 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                           $.064/Ft.                                      $.041/Ft.

16 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                           $.076/Ft.                                      $.046/Ft.

18 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                           $.084/Ft.                                           N/A

20 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.092/Ft.                                       $.055/Ft.

22 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.10/Ft.                                           $.06/Ft.

24 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.11/Ft.                                           $.065/Ft.

26 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.119/Ft.                                         $.070/Ft.

28 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.127/Ft.                                         $.075/Ft.

30 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.138/Ft.                                          $.08/Ft.

32 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.148/Ft.                                              N/A

36 inch PVC shrink wrap                                                                          $.168/Ft.                                              N/A

 

If you are interested in ordering any of these shrink wrap films, feel free to call 1-800-441-5090 or click on the red links above. We will look at cost per foot on some other shrink films in future posts.