The 5 Advantages Of Shrink Wrap Packaging

Finding dependable packaging solutions is crucial if you are a business that sells consumer-shipped products. Your team must ensure products stay protected and secure as they ship to customers. The right material leaves recipients satisfied and reduces replacement costs.

With all the materials available, it can be tricky to find the best one for your needs. Shrink wrap packaging is a popular option for many industries. From small personal care products to large windows and everything in between, shrink wrap can securely protect products as they travel to their destinations. It is a protective and cost-effective option for many products and companies.

Here are more advantages of shrink wrapping and when it can be the best choice for your business.

5 Benefits of Shrink Wrap

Shrink wrap consists of polymer plastic film. Once heat is applied, it shrinks tightly over what it covers. Heat is applied to the film as it travels through a shrink tunnel hood. The film wraps over and around a product to keep it tightly secure during shipping and handling.

1. High Protection Levels

When heat is applied to a web of shrink wrap, it creates an extremely tight enclosure. The wrapping covers the product inside and protects it from external elements such as:

•   ·  Dust

•   ·  Dirt

•   ·  Weather-related elements

Because heat shrink wrap fits around a product, it can accommodate items of many shapes and sizes and hold them securely in place. Some types of shrink packaging even provide protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays. This high-quality protection ensures products remain safe while being shipped worldwide. Overall, shrink wrapping provides exceptionally high protection levels for various products and companies.

2. Durability

Shrink wrap consists of extremely durable fibers and long-chain polymers. Shrink film is available in a variety of materials, including low-density polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE is simple to manufacture and highly sturdy. Despite being lightweight, it is tough, making it ideal for packaging solutions. LDPE properties remain consistent across a wide temperature range (-30°F to 120°F).

LDPE plastics, including industrial shrink wrap and plastic shrink variants, ensure the durability and robustness of shrink wrap packaging. LDPE is highly durable, making it resistant to tearing or puncturing. This sturdiness is beneficial during shipping when packages encounter stressors that could typically damage materials. For example, many shipments travel in tractor-trailers, where items can be jostled around. Shrink wrap’s strength keeps the items secure even during movement.

The durability of shrink film also prevents weakening or sagging over time. After applying shrink wrap, items remain tightly sealed, even under extreme temperatures or conditions. If products travel long distances or pass through multiple distribution centers, the durability of LDPE keeps them protected and safe.

3. Versatility

Another advantage of shrink wrap packaging is its versatility. As mentioned, shrink wrap adapts to the shape of the item it covers, allowing it to protect nearly any type of product.

Shrink wrap’s versatility extends across many industries, including:

• ·  Cosmetics: Shrink wrap is commonly used in the personal care and cosmetics market. It can wrap individual products or group multiple items together for easier shipment.

• ·  Food and beverages: LDPE shrink wrap bags are widely used as secondary packaging in the food and beverage industry, as well as for food containers such as drink carriers and Styrofoam plates.

• ·  Travel: Travelers often shrink wrap luggage and other possessions to keep them airtight and protected from outside contaminants.

• ·  Medical and pharmaceutical: Hospitals and healthcare organizations use shrink wrap to secure products during shipping. Fragile medical items, such as laboratory bottles, are well protected by LDPE shrink wrap.

• ·  Pet products: Shrink wrap is used in the pet industry to bundle items such as food cans, toys, or sleeping products.

• ·  Construction: In construction, shrink wrap protects building materials such as roofing, windows, and insulation rolls during delivery and on-site storage.

The versatility of shrink wrap makes it an ideal packaging solution for virtually any product.

4. Water-Resistance

A major benefit of shrink wrap packaging is its ability to resist water. The wrap protects items from moisture during transport, keeping them safe in rain, snow, or similar conditions. This is especially important for moisture-sensitive products, such as furniture. However, over time, the LDPE material can allow some water and oxygen to pass through, so items should not remain wrapped for extended periods.

5. Cost-Efficiency

Shrink wrap packaging is cost-effective compared to many other materials. By using the exact amount of shrink wrap needed to cover a product, you reduce material usage compared to alternatives like cardboard.

Shrink wrap also occupies less space, enabling more products to be shipped in the same container or stored on warehouse shelves, saving both space and shipping costs.

Many types of shrink wrap are recyclable. They can be reused or converted into other materials, conserving resources. In some waste streams, clean LDPE has scrap value and can be sold back to film manufacturers.