What is heat shrink machine and Why Do We Use Them?

Heat shrink machines are more common than you may think and can be massively underappreciated when you consider what they do. They provide both sealing and heat shrinking in a single motion and so quickly!  Heat shrink machines dispense a film over a product, which is heated, and this forms a tighter wrap around the product, creating a secure covering. These are a much faster alternative to other desk top systems.

What is important for heat shrink machines?

It is essential that heat shrink machines are clean, smooth running and efficient, and it is for those reasons that heat shrink machine manufacturers are using igus® products. Being lubrication-free and maintenance-free ensures that there is no contamination from grease, oil or any lubricant within the machine getting onto the shrink wrap.

Low coefficient of friction is also vital to ensure the smooth running of the product across the machine. If there is any friction then it will reduce the productivity of the machine, cause drag and have a negative effect on the precision of the wrapping.

What igus® products are found on a heat shrink machine?

To be honest, many igus® products can be found on these machines thanks to the lack of lubrication required, however, there are some key products that are firm favourites:

• xiros® rollers
• igubal® self-aligning bearings
• iglidur® plain bearings
• drylin® rails and linear guides

A recent application that we were involved with on a heat shrink machine was supplying xiros® rollers. The main requirements for these were lightweight and quiet. The necessity for lightweight was crucial as we needed to avoid damaging or breaking the thin foil used on the heat-shrinkable bags. In this situation, after considering all options and working together with the customer, carbon fibre versions were used, and this gave an additional feature with electrostatic discharge.

Another advantage of using the xiros® rollers in this application is that the customer was able to fully configure the rollers online in their own time. They had full control over the parameters and were able to play with loads and external influences to ensure they had the best solution for their application.

How do igus® products help heat shrink machines?

As well as the actual wrapping element, the heat shrink machine needs to be able to position the products in the optimised position for the wrapping process. In order to achieve this, the machine needs to be accurate, precise and contamination-free.

 This can be achieved using igus® products. Many machines are using our drylin® linear systems for product placement, igubal® pillow blocks to allow for misalignment and tribo-tape for a smooth low c coefficient of friction surface.

There is also the element of heat that needs to be accounted for when deciding on parts to use in the machine. With igus® parts we can accommodate the heat source and ensure that the heat is not detrimental to the parts within the machine. We have a large range of high temperature products that can be specified if required into your application.

The xiros® rollers are ideal for these applications as they offer low inertia which means there is less time to get up to speed. Many xiros® customers are able to add new webs of material without stopping the machine by ‘stacking’ the sleeve material in a roller system keeping downtime to a minimum. Preventing downtime is crucial for all companies, especially in today’s market.

To read more about a successful collaboration in a similar application between igus® and a packaging company who used igus® products click here and if you have an application that could benefit from our igus® products please get in contact.

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!

What is important for heat shrink machines?

It is essential that heat shrink machines are clean, smooth running and efficient, and it is for those reasons that heat shrink machine manufacturers are using igus® products. Being lubrication-free and maintenance-free ensures that there is no contamination from grease, oil or any lubricant within the machine getting onto the shrink wrap.

Low coefficient of friction is also vital to ensure the smooth running of the product across the machine. If there is any friction then it will reduce the productivity of the machine, cause drag and have a negative effect on the precision of the wrapping.

What igus® products are found on a heat shrink machine?

To be honest, many igus® products can be found on these machines thanks to the lack of lubrication required, however, there are some key products that are firm favourites:

• xiros® rollers
• igubal® self-aligning bearings
• iglidur® plain bearings
• drylin® rails and linear guides

A recent application that we were involved with on a heat shrink machine was supplying xiros® rollers. The main requirements for these were lightweight and quiet. The necessity for lightweight was crucial as we needed to avoid damaging or breaking the thin foil used on the heat-shrinkable bags. In this situation, after considering all options and working together with the customer, carbon fibre versions were used, and this gave an additional feature with electrostatic discharge.

Another advantage of using the xiros® rollers in this application is that the customer was able to fully configure the rollers online in their own time. They had full control over the parameters and were able to play with loads and external influences to ensure they had the best solution for their application.

How do igus® products help heat shrink machines?

As well as the actual wrapping element, the heat shrink machine needs to be able to position the products in the optimised position for the wrapping process. In order to achieve this, the machine needs to be accurate, precise and contamination-free.

 This can be achieved using igus® products. Many machines are using our drylin® linear systems for product placement, igubal® pillow blocks to allow for misalignment and tribo-tape for a smooth low c coefficient of friction surface.

There is also the element of heat that needs to be accounted for when deciding on parts to use in the machine. With igus® parts we can accommodate the heat source and ensure that the heat is not detrimental to the parts within the machine. We have a large range of high temperature products that can be specified if required into your application.

The xiros® rollers are ideal for these applications as they offer low inertia which means there is less time to get up to speed. Many xiros® customers are able to add new webs of material without stopping the machine by ‘stacking’ the sleeve material in a roller system keeping downtime to a minimum. Preventing downtime is crucial for all companies, especially in today’s market.

To read more about a successful collaboration in a similar application between igus® and a packaging company who used igus® products click here and if you have an application that could benefit from our igus® products please get in contact.

Are you interested in learning more about Box Stretch Wrapping Machine? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

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!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website box wrapping machine.