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Wrapping products in shrink wrap is becoming increasingly popular for both food and non-food manufacturers. Not only does it keep products fresh but it also makes them easier to stack and saves storage space. Another benefit is that it prevents merchandise becoming spoilt or damaged during transit. Many manufacturers are therefore choosing to invest in shrink wrap machines.
Different Types of Sealing Machines
Sealing machines can be manual, semi-automatic or fully-automatic. They can all be adapted to work with different types of shrink wrap such as PVC, polyolefin and polythene. They are available in different sizes according to the needs of the manufacturer. Manual and semi-automatic machines usually have castors while fully-automated stand on immovable feet. Some of the most popular varieties of heat shrink machines are:
- chamber machines
- L sealer machines
- heat-shrink tunnels
A Comparison of the Different Heat-Shrinking Machines
Chamber machines are the cheapest and take up the least room since the sealing is done by one machine. However, as they are fed manually, they cost more in labour and are also much slower than other varieties sealing 10-15 products a minute. A L sealer is more versatile and can be used with both shrink and non-shrink material with heat being adding by a separate shrink tunnel. This takes up much more space. Its construction with a single vertical arm means that pressure is applied on all parts of the product ensuring it is well-sealed. Fully-automated L sealer machines, fed by a conveyor belt, are much faster and are capable of sealing around 35 products a minute.
Choosing the Right Machine
Before investing in a heat shrink machine, it is a good idea to talk to the manufacturer so they can recommend the best machine. These machines can also be hired with a full maintenance/service contract.
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