For the companies which are interested to ship products with the maximum amount of protection, stretch and shrink wraps are necessary. Shrink wraps are large plastic bags used to cover different types of products. The plastic, after coverage, is shrunk with the help of a heat gun, which helps to create an airtight seal. Electronics are commonly covered packaged with the help of shrink plastics such as the ones made using polyolefin.
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Advantages of using heat shrink wrap bags
Upon application of heat, the wraps shrink over whatever they are covering. They are typically made of either polyolefin or PVC. The advantages of wrapping with heat shrink bags are as follows:
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High durability:
The shrink wrap is made of a very durable and sturdy plastic, which could either be PVC or Polyolefin. It is virtually impossible to puncture or tear this material. Also, the material does not become weak when in extreme weather.
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Check tampering:
Shrink wraps are able to seal and then hold their shapes after being applied. As a result, any form of tampering can be spotted immediately. This is the reason why several pharmaceutical companies and food manufacturers shrink-wrap their products.
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Protection from damage:
The application of heat to a shrink wrap creates a very strong seal. The seal protects items inside from conditions of dirt, dust, and moisture. Some of the wraps even come with protection against UV rays.
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Preservation:
Certain types of foods have to be preserved, either to extend their shelf lives or to ensure that they do not go bad during transportation. For these reasons, many food companies make use of food-grade shrink bags.
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Convenience:
Shrink wraps are convenient enough to pack products of any size. While small electrical wires are protected from moisture here, hardware and game pieces are also shipped. In complete contrast, shrink wrap kits weatherize boats as well. Sometimes entire buildings have been shrink-wrapped to prevent exposure from hazardous chemicals.
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Recyclable-
Once you are done with using it, the material can be tossed with other plastic bags and be easily recycled for future use
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Branding-
When designed with attractive pictures, words, colors, and logos, they can be used to establish your brands in the market. It is a wonderful marketing tool which enhances brand awareness in the eyes of your customers.
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Highly affordable:
in comparison to other packaging materials, heat shrink wraps are very reasonably priced. They are also able to minimize space, keeping items close to each other without using bulky boxes, thereby helping save money.
Industries which make maximum use of shrink wraps
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Food:
Wrapping food items in shrink wraps prevents exposure to oxygen and thereby reduces wastage. However, companies must ensure that wraps are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Fruits and vegetables are also packed into protective films, and most of us have seen this being done in malls and shopping marts. It helps to create aesthetically beautiful packages which can be displayed in showcases. Also, this packaging ensures zero loss in freshness.
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Sports goods and games-
Prevention of tampering is very important in such products, and so heat shrink wrap bags are commonly used
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Houseware and hardware:
Multiple hardware products such as taps, faucets, keys, locks, fasteners, and other materials can be stored in these bags
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Electronics:
As mentioned earlier, all electronic items are packed into PVC shrink bags and centerfold PVC shrink wraps
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Marine industry:
Boats are protected from the environment during winters using shrink wraps
Uses of heat shrink wrap machines
Any company which has to package a huge number of items every month makes use of heat shrink wrap machines. There are mainly three types of heat shrink wrap machines:
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L sealer:
This machine makes use of 2 sealing bars which create a backwards L, and so the name. The shrink film folds along the lengths of these bars to make a pocket through the crease, for the products to arrive. Once the product is in that crease, the other three sides of the film need to be sealed.
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Side sealer:
This is the swiftest and the most versatile method of packing large volumes of products. These machines wrap products in one continuous film, sealing one end of the package and then separating individual units using a cross seal.
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Chamber sealer:
This machine puts the product with the heat shrink film into a chamber where the shrink wrap is ready to cover the item. This chamber is then heated so that the film compresses and then surrounds the product, creating a protective layer. The amount of time taken depends on the size of the plastic.
Shrinkwrapping machines are very useful for inventory control. Not only can you prevent damage due to the elements with this machine, but you can also bring consistency into the amount of used shrink wrap.
