Shrink wrap machines are an important aspect of many businesses, especially when large amounts of merchandise are involved. Have you wondered if a shrink wrap machine would be right for your company, and if so, which kind of machine you would need? There's no reason to look any further because we've included a comprehensive list of shrink wrap machine types to help you better understand the types of machines available and their methods of operation!
What is Shrink Wrap?
Shrink wrap is a polymer plastic film used to protect items. Using a heat source to shrink the wrap to the dimensions of the product it is covering, shrink wrap is applied to fit a product securely. Either a shrink wrap machine or a hand-held heat gun is used as the heat source.
Types of Shrink Wrap Machines and How They Operate:
Chamber Sealer
As the name implies, the chamber sealer passes the items through a chamber or compartment where a film of shrink wrap is used to wrap the item in. The shrink-wrap is compressed and forms a solid covering over the object in this chamber as it is heated enough to do so. Depending on the width of the plastic, the time for this operation varies.
L-sealer
This specific variety of shrink wrap machine was developed to accommodate larger sizes of shrink-wrapping material. If you have an automatic L-sealer handy, set it up, plug it in, and place the thing you want to seal inside. Two sealing bars on this device have the shape of a backward "L." In order to form a pouch-like aperture via the crinkle of the folds and allow your goods to pass through, shrink film bends down the two bars.
Once your object has been securely positioned inside the crease, the shrink film has three other sides that need to be securely sealed. When an object is fully loaded into the machine, the L-sealer can identify when to cover it with shrink film. Later, a shrink tunnel in the manufacturing line gets a hold of the unheated part of the shrink wrap attached to each product and warms the wrap so that it can firmly and securely fit around each item.
Side Sealer
This is the quickest and most practical way to bundle a large number of products in a short period of time. The goods are wrapped in a continuous pipe of film, with each unit being divided downstream by a crisscross seal after being covered on one side. There are typically two configurations for the side sealers: two or three belts.
Compared to an L-sealer, a sealer with two belts is a little larger and removes one of the side sealer belts to create the last seal just before the side seal. When you need to wrap larger things but don't have the time to extend the length of the production line, this type is the most effective.
The sealers with three belts, on the other hand, are slightly larger than those with two belts and have the advantage of precisely spacing the items before they enter the section where they are to be wrapped.
Combo Shrink Systems
Combo shrink systems provide a quality shrink packaging solution in a compact footprint. Systems are available as automatic combo systems or semi-automatic combo systems. Combo systems are available in greatly equipped heavy duty combos, or you can find more compact sizes and customize your options with a standard duty combo system. L-bar sealers and heat shrink tunnels are combined in one industrial shrink wrapping machine to provide tightly wrapped packaging solutions. First, sealed in a bag using the L-bar sealer, the package then moves to the shrink tunnel where the film is heated and shrinks around the package. Shrink wrap machines are used to provide a transparent, tightly wrapped package. Practical and cost effective, shrink packaging is great for packaging boxes, cartons, multi-packs, & beverage cans.
How Can Mr. Shrinkwrap Help?
With the seemingly endless amount of shrink wrap products and machines available on the market, it can be a daunting task to attempt to figure out which products are the best fit for your company. By contacting a reputable shrink wrapping company regarding your needs and questions, you can find exactly the methods and products that are right for you!
Mr. Shrinkwrap is a leading distributor of protective products, shrink wrap films and installation supplies with a dedicated team available to take your order at any time of day. We have several experienced shrink wrap installation technicians on staff to help and support you on various aspects of any shrink wrap project. If you would like to place an order over the phone or have questions for us, give Mr. Shrinkwrap a call today at 800-847-5290!