Shrink Wrapping

Shrink wrapping since 2001

We'll tell you which shrink wrapper to buy

Shrink wrapping seals film around a product and shrinks it tight with heat, so the pack looks clean on the shelf, stays tamper-evident and survives handling. The right kit comes down to how much you wrap, the size of your product and the film you run. Tell us what you pack and we'll point you at the machine that fits. UK supplied, with film and spares from stock and repairs in our Solihull workshop.

Call 0121 704 0294
shrink wrapping machine and film

What decides which shrink wrapper you need

Four things set the right setup. Get these straight and the model picks itself.

Machine type

A hot air gun shrinks loose film by hand for the odd parcel. An L-sealer cuts and seals a pouch in one stroke. A heat shrink chamber seals and shrinks in one closed unit. An L-sealer paired with a tunnel runs the highest volumes with the cleanest finish.

Throughput

Count what you wrap a day. A handful of parcels suits a heat gun or a manual L-bar. Tens to low hundreds suit a chamber. Several hundred or more wants an L-sealer and tunnel line that runs continuously without a pause to cool.

Product size and film width

Measure your largest item, then size the seal area and the film to suit. We carry chambers in 400mm, 600mm and 800mm film widths, and shrink film from 200mm up to 600mm, so the wrap fits the product instead of swamping it.

Film type and supply

Polyolefin film is clear, food-safe and the usual choice. PVC costs less and shrinks at a lower temperature. We stock both, plus the unrollers and spares, and we keep film coming so the line never stops mid-run.

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Shrink wrapping FAQs

The questions we get asked most about shrink wrapping machines and film, answered straight. If your question isn't here, call us and ask.

What's the difference between an L-sealer, a heat shrink chamber and a hot air gun?

All three shrink film with heat, but they suit different volumes. A hot air gun shrinks film by hand, one parcel at a time, for occasional use. A heat shrink chamber seals and shrinks in one closed unit, which suits steady benchtop volumes. An L-sealer cuts and seals a neat pouch, then a separate tunnel shrinks it, for the highest throughput and the cleanest finish. See chamber machines

What is shrink wrapping and how does it work?

You wrap loose film around the product, seal it, then apply heat. The film shrinks tight to the shape, giving a clean, tamper-evident pack that survives handling. Most setups use a sealer to form the wrap and a heat source, a tunnel, a chamber or a gun, to shrink it. It's used across retail, food, print and industrial packing.

Polyolefin or PVC shrink film, which should I use?

Polyolefin is the usual choice: clear, strong, food-safe and approved for cold storage, with no smell or residue when heated. PVC costs less and shrinks at a lower temperature, which suits non-food retail items and lighter use. We stock both in widths from 200mm up. Tell us the product and we'll match the film. See polyolefin shrink film

Which shrink wrapping machine do I need for my volume?

Count what you wrap a day. A few parcels suit a hot air gun or a manual L-bar bench sealer. Tens to low hundreds suit a heat shrink chamber. Several hundred or more wants an L-sealer and tunnel line that runs continuously. Send us your daily count and product size and we'll size it for you.

Do I need a separate shrink tunnel, or will a chamber do?

A heat shrink chamber does both jobs in one unit, so it is the simpler buy for benchtop volumes. A separate L-sealer and tunnel splits sealing and shrinking across two stations, which is faster and gives a tighter, more even finish at high volume. Pick the chamber for compact setups and the tunnel line for production runs. See the L-sealer & tunnel

Can you shrink wrap food?

Yes. Use clear polyolefin film, which is food-safe and approved for cold storage. It wraps trays, multipacks, ready meals and produce cleanly without tainting the contents. For sealed, airtight food packaging you may want a heat sealer or vacuum packer instead, and we can advise on the right one. Food packaging machines

What shrink film width do I need?

The film has to wrap right around the product with a little to spare. Measure the girth of your item, then choose a width that covers it. We carry shrink film from 200mm up to 600mm, and chambers in 400mm, 600mm and 800mm film widths. If you are unsure, send dimensions and we'll confirm before you order.

How much does a shrink wrapping machine cost?

A hot air gun and a manual L-bar bench sealer are the low-cost entry. A heat shrink chamber runs from £1,849 ex VAT for the 400mm model up to £3,285 for the 800mm. A full L-sealer and tunnel line is £6,290 ex VAT. Price tracks throughput and seal size. Tell us your volume and we'll point you at the smallest machine that keeps up.

Why won't my film shrink evenly?

Uneven shrink usually means the heat is wrong for the film, or the air flow is uneven. PVC shrinks at a lower temperature than polyolefin, so one setting will not suit both. A chamber or tunnel gives even, repeatable heat that a hand gun cannot. If your film wrinkles or scorches, check the film type against the temperature first.

Can you supply film and parts, and do you offer UK support?

Yes. We keep polyolefin and PVC film, unrollers and machine spares in stock, and we repair the machines we sell in our Solihull workshop. Shrink wrapping runs on a steady film supply, so we keep it coming. Buying a machine with no UK film or parts behind it is a false economy, however cheap it looks.

Still deciding? Tell us what you wrap and how much you run, and we'll point you at the right machine and film.Call 0121 704 0294