| In our daily life we would have come across | | | | items in an hour but certain types can pack |
| products packed in shrink wrapping many times. It | | | | hundreds in an hour. The larger machines are |
| has been considered as an effective method for | | | | often permanently installed but small machines |
| storing and transporting the products without | | | | would be portable. |
| getting damaged. Usually the shrink wrapping is | | | | In earlier days, the shrink wrapping were only |
| used to safeguard fragile products like glasses, | | | | used for industrial purposes and generally required |
| DVDs, CDs, tapes, software boxes, food items, | | | | a lot of manual labor to operate it. But with the |
| soaps etc. Shrink wrapping is a simple method | | | | advent of technology, small wrapping machines |
| where the shrink wrap film is heated to form a | | | | are also available for small industries. Commonly |
| protective seal covering the product. The shrink | | | | two types of machines are used in the wrapping |
| wrapping film would be usually made of PVC or | | | | process; the L-bar and the I-bar machines. For |
| polyolefin. | | | | low and medium volume of wrapping, I-bar |
| The shrink wrapping method is same for all | | | | machines are best suited. They use a single bar |
| products irrespective of size and brittleness. The | | | | for sealing. The bar is used to cut down the |
| process is so simple that it can be easily done in | | | | required wrapping film which is heated using heat |
| DIY (do it yourself) procedure. Some artists do | | | | gun. In turn the film would shrink and seal the |
| shrink wrapping to protect their paintings from | | | | item. CDs, DVDs and videotapes are wrapped |
| dust and also to give it a professional look. For | | | | using this type of machines and only a few items |
| casual wrappings, you can get the shrink wrap | | | | can be processed in one hour. |
| film from retailers and heat it by means of hair | | | | For large scale wrapping process, L-bar shrink |
| dryer. But if there many products to be wrapped, | | | | wrappers are generally used. In this type, the |
| it would be better to go for shrink wrapping | | | | sealer bar would be in the shape of English |
| machines. | | | | alphabet 'L'. In a single pass, the bar cuts the |
| Different types of shrink wrapping equipments | | | | required amount of film. Further, the film is heated |
| are available that would help you to perform | | | | by means of heat gun or heat tunnel and it is |
| wrapping process at home or at office. The | | | | made to shrink onto the product. For fast |
| machines would vary in sizes and function and | | | | shrinking, heat tunnel is more effective than heat |
| you would need to select the most appropriate | | | | gun. Many L-bar machines would have built-in heat |
| ones based on the amount and type of your | | | | tunnel system. The shrink wrap films also differ in |
| wrapping. Some machines are designed to wrap | | | | thickness, flexibility, clarity and the melt |
| small items like CDs and DVDs while other | | | | temperature of the film. Polyolefin films are most |
| machines are used to pack large boxes. They | | | | suited for automated machines and it has high |
| would vary in the speed of packing. Some of | | | | clarity. But the PVC films are more tear resistant. |
| them would be designed to wrap only a few | | | | |