
Heat shrink film is an incredibly versatile material, used in a wide range of applications. Its ability to contract when heated makes it an ideal solution for various industries.
There are several types of heat shrink film, including polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene. These materials have different properties and uses.
Polyolefin heat shrink film is a popular choice due to its high shrink ratio, which allows it to shrink down to a fraction of its original size. This makes it perfect for applications where space is limited.
Polyvinyl chloride heat shrink film, on the other hand, is known for its high clarity and UV resistance, making it ideal for packaging and labeling applications.
Check this out: Custom Shrink Wrap Labels
Types of Heat Shrink Film
KEEPTOP Packaging offers various types of cross linked POF shrink film, such as economic cross linked film, low temperature cross linked film, and anti fog cross linked film.
Cross linked POF shrink film is a cost-effective option for packaging, allowing for quick stacking and sealing without the film sticking to the product due to residual heat.
Hot Slip Low Temperature POF Shrink Film is designed to prevent the film from sticking to the product, making it ideal for applications where temperature control is crucial.
Check this out: Stretch Film vs Shrink Wrap
Polyolefin

Polyolefin is a popular type of heat shrink film that's widely used in various industries. It's a clear film that meets the requirements of most semi-automatic and automatic shrink wrap machines.
This type of film is excellent for wrapping a variety of products, making it a versatile option for many businesses.
Polyolefin Shrink Film is also specially developed for customers with printing needs. This means you can advertise your logo, company name, or brand uniquely and cost-effectively, making your packages stand out.
Polyolefin heat shrink film is available in different thicknesses, with some options being as thin as 15 microns. This high clarity premium presentation quality shrink wrap is ideal for point-of-sale displays.
Cross linked POF Shrink Film is another type of polyolefin film that's available. This film has various benefits, including allowing goods to be stacked quickly and put into cartons to seal without the shrink film sticking to the product due to residual heat.
Take a look at this: Shrink Film Wrap
Polythene

Polythene is a popular choice for heat shrink film due to its strength and versatility. It's often used for industrial applications, such as wrapping pallets and bulky goods.
One of the key benefits of polythene heat shrink film is its thickness, which can be as much as 120 micron thick. This provides a tight seal and excellent protection for the items being wrapped.
Polythene heat shrink film is suitable for a wide range of applications, from packaging to shipping and storage. Its durability and resistance to wear and tear make it an ideal choice for industries that require a high level of protection for their goods.
Advantages and Benefits
Heat shrink film offers numerous advantages and benefits that make it a popular choice for various applications. It's incredibly fast to install, with customers claiming they can do it in less than half the time of traditional materials.
One of the key benefits of heat shrink film is its strength and puncture resistance. In fact, some strapping used in conjunction with heat shrink wrap has a break strength of 1100 pounds, but Safety Strapping takes it to a whole new level with 2950 pounds of break strength.

Heat shrink film effectively protects the product by tightly wrapping around it, keeping it clean and secure. This is especially useful for heavy packaging items like beverages, floors, and building materials. By packaging multiple items together, you can also prevent theft and save money on packaging costs and labor.
Here are some of the key benefits of heat shrink film at a glance:
- Fast installation
- Stronger and more puncture resistant
- Effective protection of the product
- Saves money on packaging costs and labor
- Prevents theft
Overall, heat shrink film is a versatile and efficient solution that offers numerous benefits for various applications.
Advantages of:
Heat Shrink Wrap Film offers a range of advantages that make it a popular choice for various applications. It can be installed in less than half the time of former materials used, making it a fast and efficient solution.
One of the key benefits of Heat Shrink Wrap Film is its strength and puncture resistance. It's significantly stronger than other materials on the market, with some strapping options boasting a break strength of 2950 pounds.

Heat Shrink Wrap Film encloses the work area, allowing it to be heated, which extends the time you can work on a project. This is particularly useful for tasks that require heat, such as painting or working with blast media.
Another advantage of Heat Shrink Wrap Film is that it contains the work area, keeping contaminants like paint overspray and blast media inside. This helps maintain a clean work site and protects the environment from pollution.
Heat Shrink Wrap Film completely encapsulates whatever is being covered or protected, forming around odd shapes with ease. This makes it an ideal solution for projects that require precise coverage.
Here are some key benefits of Heat Shrink Wrap Film at a glance:
- Fast installation (less than ½ the time of former materials)
- Stronger and more puncture resistant
- Encloses work area for heating
- Contains work area to keep contaminants inside
- Completely encapsulates the project
- Forms around odd shapes
- Maintains a clean work site
- Protects the environment
- Saves money on projects
- Pleases the EPA, saving on regulatory hassles
- Stays tight and secure
By choosing Heat Shrink Wrap Film, you can increase productivity within the work area, as workers are not distracted by things outside the area. This leads to a more efficient and productive workflow.
Benefits of Using for Product Packaging

Using shrink packaging for product packaging offers numerous benefits. It provides a beautiful appearance, fully displaying the product and making it visually appealing to customers.
Shrink packaging is also extremely effective at protecting the product, wrapping it tightly to prevent damage and keep it clean. This is especially important for heavy packaging items like beverages, floors, and building materials.
Another significant advantage of shrink packaging is that it saves money by reducing packaging costs and labor. This can be a major cost savings for businesses, especially those with high-volume packaging needs.
Shrink films also provide a layer of safety and tamper evidence to your packaging, protecting it from moisture, dirt, and other contaminants. This can be a major benefit for products that are sensitive to the environment.
In addition to its many practical benefits, shrink packaging is also a more eco-friendly option. It's lighter than other packaging options, reducing emissions and overall carbon footprint, and allowing more space in transit and in the retail space.
The cost of shrink packaging can vary, but it's generally between $6-$12 per inch of width for clear, non-printed films. This can be a significant investment, but it's worth considering the long-term benefits and cost savings that shrink packaging can provide.
Characteristics and Properties

Heat shrink film is a great option for packaging due to its durability. High-strength shrink films provide puncture resistance and strength to your package throughout its lifecycle.
Its ability to withstand wear and tear makes it a reliable choice for shipping and storage.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a versatile material used in various packaging applications. It's available in different forms, such as shrink wrap and shrink film.
Shrink wrap, made from polyethylene, is commonly used for packaging and protecting products. For example, candy makers and bakeries use polyolefin shrink bags, which are FDA-approved and food safe.
Shrink film, on the other hand, is highly strong and often used for heavier product packaging. This is evident in its use for bottled drinking water.
Polyethylene shrink bags come in various sizes, including popular shrink bag sizes. These sizes cater to different packaging needs, making polyethylene a convenient option.
If you're looking for more information on polyethylene shrink wrap, check out our shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap page for a detailed explanation of the differences.
Polyvinyl Chloride

Polyvinyl Chloride is a versatile plastic that can be found in a wide range of applications, from pipes and fittings to vinyl records and credit cards.
It has a relatively high melting point, around 160-220°C, making it suitable for use in high-temperature applications.
Clarity
Clarity is a crucial aspect of packaging, and shrink film is a game-changer in this regard. It helps enhance the visibility of your product on retail shelves.
Shrink film can make a big difference in how your product looks, giving it a beautiful shine that catches the eye of potential customers. This can be especially important for products that are displayed on crowded shelves or in dimly lit stores.
Durability
When you're looking for a packaging solution that can withstand the rigors of shipping and handling, durability is key. High-strength shrink films provide puncture resistance and strength to your package throughout its lifecycle.
These films are designed to keep your products safe and secure, even in the most challenging environments.
Calculator

Calculating the ideal film width for packaging is crucial for minimizing waste and maximizing cost-efficiency.
The Shrink Film Width Calculator helps you determine this ideal width based on your product's needs. This tool allows you to calculate the perfect film width for your packaging requirements.
Determining the ideal film width involves considering the product's shape and size. The calculator takes into account the product's dimensions to provide an accurate result.
A well-calculated film width ensures that the film is not too loose or too tight, which can lead to unnecessary waste and increased costs. This is where the calculator comes in handy.
By using the Shrink Film Width Calculator, you can save time and resources by getting the right film width the first time around.
Applications and Uses
Heat shrink film has a wide range of applications, from electrical to medical use. It's also used in the food industry to seal packages.
One of the most common uses for heat shrink film is in electrical applications, such as insulating and protecting electrical connections. This helps prevent damage and ensures the connections remain secure.

Heat shrink film can also be used to seal medical devices, like catheters and syringes, to prevent contamination and infection. Its aseptic properties make it an ideal choice for medical applications.
In the food industry, heat shrink film is used to seal packages and prevent moisture from entering or escaping. This helps maintain the freshness and quality of the food inside.
Poly Scrim 12 Mil Custom Order
Poly Scrim 12 Mil Custom Order is a great option for protecting large shipments from the elements. This film has a high strength cord grid, known as a scrim, which offers additional strength and stability.
It's also fire retardant, meeting safety equipment standards, and has a moisture and vapor barrier performance. This makes it perfect for protecting shipments that need to withstand harsh weather conditions.
The UV stabilizer in this film protects it from degradation when exposed to sunlight for extended periods. This means that even in outdoor environments, the film will remain effective.

A key benefit of this film is its cold-crack resistance, which offers protection in very cold temperatures. This is especially important for shipments that will be transported or stored in cold environments.
The film's high strength and stability also reduce the enclosure wind whipping effect, keeping the contents secure. This is a major advantage for shipments that need to be protected from the elements.
Here's a quick rundown of the key benefits of Poly Scrim 12 Mil Custom Order:
- Fire retardant to meet safety equipment
- Moisture and vapor barrier performance from low permeability
- UV stabilization protects the film from degradation
- Cold-crack resistance offers protection in very cold temperatures
- Reduces enclosure wind whipping effect
Product Protection
Product Protection is a top priority for many businesses, and shrink films play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
Shrink films provide a layer of safety and tamper evidence to your packaging, giving customers peace of mind about the authenticity of your product.
They also protect your products from moisture, dirt, and other contaminants that can damage them during shipping and storage.
By using shrink films, you can ensure that your products arrive at their destination in the same condition they left your facility.
Pallet System

The pallet system is a game-changer for businesses that need to efficiently wrap pallets.
Ripack's shrink gun is industry leading, making it a top choice for anyone looking to get the job done quickly and effectively.
You can shrink wrap pallets with the entire system, which includes the gun and all necessary materials.
This system is designed to make the process as easy as possible, saving you time and effort in the long run.
POF for High-Speed Machine
POF shrink film is a great option for high-speed packaging applications. It can provide high tensile strength, making it suitable for demanding tasks.
This type of film is available as a single wound shrink wrap roll, which is convenient for use in high-speed machines. It's also incredibly transparent, allowing for clear visibility of the packaged goods.
POF shrink film is designed to work well with high-speed shrink wrap machines, making it a reliable choice for efficient packaging.
Differences and Comparisons
PVC 75 Ga Shrink Film performs similarly at 180 F° and 200 F°, but starts to show good shrink rates at 225 F°.
At 300 F°, PVC 75 Ga Shrink Film shrinks too much, making it difficult to control. This is also true for Polyofin (POF) 60 Ga Shrink Film and Polyofin (POF) 60 Ga Low Temp Shrink Film at 300 F°.
Polyofin (POF) 75 Ga Low Temp Shrink Film is an exception, showing good shrink rates at 225 F° and 250 F°.
Here's a summary of the shrink rates for different types of centerfold shrink film:
Differences Between Pallet Stretch
Pallet stretch wrap is a popular choice for securing pallets, but it's not without its limitations. It doesn't require heat to apply, which is a major advantage.
One notable characteristic of pallet stretch wrap is its high stretch rate, exceeding 100%. This makes it easier to wrap around pallets of varying sizes.
Broaden your view: Machine Stretch Wrap Film

Pallet stretch wrap is commonly used to wrap industrial products, as well as pallets themselves. It's not typically used to wrap retail products.
Here's a comparison of pallet stretch wrap and shrink wrap:
Pallet stretch wrap is recyclable, which is a plus for environmentally conscious businesses.
Differences and Comparisons
Shrink wrap and plastic wrap are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences.
The main difference between the two is that shrink wrap has considerable strength and can be shrunk around an object and heat sealed, making it well-suited for protective packaging applications.
PVC shrink wrap becomes hard and more brittle after heat is applied, while polyolefin shrink wrap is softer to the touch and offers more puncture resistance.
There are various types of shrink wrap, including 75 Gauge PVC, 100 Gauge PVC, 60 Gauge Polyolefin, 70 Gauge Polyolefin, and 100 Gauge Polyolefin.
The thickness of shrink wrap can also affect its characteristics and uses. For example, 75 Gauge PVC is used for products up to 10-15 lbs in weight, while 100 Gauge PVC is used for products up to 35 lbs.

Here's a comparison of some common types of shrink wrap:
Sources
- https://uspackagingandwrapping.com/heat-shrink-wrap/
- https://www.globalplasticsheeting.com/heat-shrink-wrap
- https://www.industrialpackaging.com/products/shrink-packaging-materials
- https://www.keeptoppackaging.com/products/heat-shrink-wrap/
- https://dir.indiamart.com/impcat/pvc-shrink-films.html
- https://www.kitepackaging.co.uk/mcp/heat-shrink-wrap/
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