Polyolefin Shrink Films

Polyolefin shrink film is an excellent packaging solution for protecting goods, such as pharmaceuticals, food, and electronics. It possesses fantastic benefits to protect what you are selling or transporting. Its high transparency gives both full exposure and protection, ensuring your items look appealing to the customer, whilst also improving the security, reducing the risk of any tampering.

Shrink film is adaptable; it can be made using PVC, Polyethylene, or Polyolefin. Each type holds certain advantages, depending on your business and product.  We will explore the advantages of polyolefin shrink film, and how it can work for you.

What is polyolefin shrink film made from?

Polyolefin shrink film (POF), also referred to as polyolefin shrink wrap, is usually made of thermoplastic polymers, known as Polyolefins. It is great for consumer-based products as it is visible, low-cost, and versatile and is popular within the food industry as it is food-safe. This glossy, versatile, highly transparent material helps protect fresh produce such as apples, peppers, sweets, cakes, and meats, whilst keeping the products looking visually appealing for consumers.

Polyolefin shrink film’s excellent heat-shrink and thermo-shrinkable properties allows for supplies to be tightly packed for any shape and size, while retaining maximum protection. It is a strong, robust, and tear-resistant material.

Advantages of Polyolefin Shrink Film:

There are plenty of advantages of using polyolefin shrink wrap as a packaging solution. It improves inspection and consumer satisfaction due to its visual clarity. Secondly, as it is tightly packed and shrunk to fit the item, it also means odors cannot escape. For example, if you were to wrap a cake, and wanted to keep the smell and moisture tightly within the packaging for a better consumer experience and extended shelf life, polyolefin shrink film can successfully achieve this.

Other benefits of polyolefin shrink film includes:

Consumer Appeal:

The highly transparent material displays your items in an appealing manner. For example, if you are a consumer at a local supermarket and you were looking to buy apples and pears, it would be found on a fruit tray wrapped in polyolefin shrink film. It is more appealing to the consumer, as they will opt for what they can see visibly, leading to purchase.

Shrink Properties:  When heated, the material conforms itself to the shape of the product that is being wrapped, securing it for transit.

Durability: It is extremely durable, preventing punctures and tears to keep your packaging safely intact.

Convenient:  The shrink film is straightforward to use and can be applied for equipment involving heat.

FDA Approved:  As polyolefin shrink film is popular for food-based packaging, its material is chlorine-free, making it safe for consumers to eat.

What are cross-linked polyolefin shrink films?

Cross-linked polyolefin shrink films have been treated using a chemical process which exposes the film to high radiation, creating cross-linked molecular bonds within the film. The purpose of cross-linking polymers allows you to use a thinner type of film, yet it can still maintain its strength and durability.

Cost-effective: The thinner film material allows for faster sealing and shrinking yet keeping it at a low cost.

Durable for All Environments:  Cross-linked polyolefin shrink films provide even higher protection against chemicals and UV protection, making it suitable for the harshest environments.

When might you use cross-linked vs standard gauge polyolefin shrink film?

Cross-linked polyolefin shrink film serves its purpose when the packaging needs additional protection. Packaging meat in a cross-linked polyolefin shrink film ensures hygiene standards are kept high, due to the fact the wrapping is strong enough to protect the meat from punctures and exposure to oxygen before purchase.

However, a non-cross-linked polyolefin shrink film is most used for supplies that do not require significant additional containment or protection.

The difference between cross-linked versus standard gauge polyolefin shrink film boils down to the specific requirements of the items being packaged. Budget, strength, and temperature separate the two.

If you are interested in finding out more or would like to request a sample or quote, call us at 813 242 6995 or sales@quickpakinc.com