Packing products is a crucial activity in factories that manufacture a range of goods. A common method for packaging these items involves the use of shrink film or stretch film. Shrink film is generally utilized for packaging smaller items and is often clear or semi-transparent. In contrast, stretch film is typically available in rolls of various sizes and colors. This article will provide a comparison between shrink film and stretch film. If you’re looking to learn about the distinctions between the two, keep reading. Before diving into the comparison, let’s first provide a brief overview of both shrink film and stretch film.
What is Shrink Film?
Shrink film consists of packaging plastics made from polymers like polyethylene, polyolefin, and polyvinyl chloride. Shrink film shrinks when heat is applied and wraps tightly around the desired package. This heating process is carried out using a heat gun or a shrink tunnel in a shrink wrap machine. The heat gun is used for small packages, while the shrink wrap machine is used for packaging larger volumes. Shrink film is often used for packaging various food products sold in stores.
Advantages and Applications of Shrink Film
Polyolefin shrink film is mostly used for packaging products that need air and oxygen inside the package, as this type of shrink film has tiny holes on the produced plastic sheets. For packaging products sensitive to heat, other types of shrink film can be used. Customers who are more concerned with preserving the environment and maintaining a clean earth may prefer to use biodegradable shrink film for their packaging needs.
Now that you are familiar with shrink nylon, it’s important to also understand stretch film to get a clear understanding of the differences between shrink film and stretch film.
What is Stretch Film?
Stretch film consists of stretchable plastic films made from polymer bases specifically designed for packaging product pallets in various industries. Stretch film is sequentially wrapped around a product using a stretch wrap machine to complete the packaging process. Packaging products with stretch film prevents moisture from entering the package. This film also has high tensile strength and impact resistance. The packaging process with stretch film is highly precise and fast. Generally, packaging with this film can be done either manually or with a machine.
Advantages and Applications of Stretch Film
Products packaged with stretch film are lightweight and easy to handle due to the low weight of the film. Because of its high resistance, stretch film does not require special equipment for handling, making transportation costs lower. Other important features of stretch film include its transparency and excellent adhesive properties, which is why it is also used in packaging various food products.
Now that you are more familiar with the advantages and applications of both types of films, let’s compare shrink film and stretch film.
Physical and Visual Differences Between Shrink Film and Stretch Film
When comparing shrink film and stretch film, it becomes clear that shrink film has a higher diameter, thickness, and weight compared to stretch film. Shrink film is also produced in narrower widths compared to stretch film. When heated, shrink film wraps around the product without any wrinkles or folds, whereas stretch film does not have this property. Another difference between shrink film and stretch film is their tensile strength; stretch film has a much higher tensile strength than shrink film. In fact, shrink film does not stretch during the packaging process, making stretch film a more cost-effective option.
Differences Between Shrink Film and Stretch Film in Terms of Applications
These two films also differ in their applications. Shrink film is mainly used for packaging household and industrial products, while stretch film is used for packaging products that are ready for transportation—these products have already been grouped together into a pack.
If we look at it from another perspective, shrink film is also used in the production of advertising plastics used in stores, but stretch film does not have such a capability. Additionally, shrink film is effective in enhancing the aesthetic appeal and unique design of various product packaging.
Price and Quality Differences Between Shrink Film and Stretch Film
The price of shrink and stretch films is determined by several factors, including quality, type of use, weight, thickness of the film, and so on. Generally, stretch film is more expensive than shrink film due to the costly stretch wrap machines and stretch film dispensing systems.
Conclusion
Shrink film and stretch film are commonly utilized for packaging various products. In this article, we determined that each film type possesses unique characteristics and particular uses. The primary distinction between shrink film and stretch film is based on the types of polymers employed in their production and their respective applications. The key difference between the two films is related to the kind and size of the products being packaged. For more information contact us at Keyhan Plastic.