Heat Shrink Film

Heat Shrink Film for Product Bundling and Moisture Protection

Heat shrink film is a thermoplastic film that shrinks tightly around an object when heat is applied. When wrapped around a product or package and briefly exposed to a heat gun or shrink tunnel, the film contracts to form a tight, conforming seal. The result is a tamper-evident, moisture-resistant outer layer that holds multiple items together or provides individual protection for a single component.

Upackarts supplies heat shrink film in polyolefin (POF) and polyethylene (PE) variants from 60 to 200 micron thickness.

POF vs PE Shrink Film

Polyolefin film is clearer, softer, and has better shrink performance at lower temperatures. It is the standard choice for retail product packaging, multipacks (bundling 3 or 6 units together), and display packaging where visual clarity is important. Polyethylene film is heavier, stronger, and provides better moisture and physical protection. It is used for industrial applications — pallet hood protection, machinery wrapping, and monsoon-season moisture sealing of individual components.

Monsoon Application: Shrink Sealing Metal Components

For metal components being dispatched during monsoon months, heat shrink film applied to the individual component before placing it in the outer carton provides a sealed moisture barrier that prevents condensation and humidity from reaching the metal surface. Combined with moisture-resistant corrugated as the outer carton, this two-layer approach maintains component quality through the most humid months of the year in Pune's MIDC operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment is needed to apply heat shrink film?

A heat gun is sufficient for individual or small-volume shrink wrapping. For higher volumes, a shrink tunnel provides consistent, controlled heat application and is significantly faster. Entry-level shrink tunnels are available from ₹25,000-₹60,000 and are cost-effective for operations shrink-wrapping 50+ units per day.

What thickness of shrink film should I specify for industrial moisture protection?

For wrapping individual metal components for monsoon moisture protection, 100-150 micron PE shrink film provides adequate barrier properties. For pallet hood applications covering full pallets, 200 micron PE is the standard. For retail multipacks and product bundling, 60-75 micron POF is sufficient.

Can heat shrink film replace stretch film for pallet wrapping?

Not typically. Stretch film is used for pallet unitising (holding the load together). Shrink film is used for moisture protection (sealing the load from humidity and rain). For pallets requiring both unitising and moisture protection, use stretch film first, then apply a shrink hood over the top.