How To Make Sure That You Are Choosing The Right Shrink Film

Shrinkwrap is one of the significant investments that you make for your packaging applications, and it can offer a promising return on that investment. However, you will need to make sure that you are going for the right shrink wrap film.

A shrink wrap film may be composed of many materials, and it may come in different sizes and styles. A shrink film refers to any plastic wrapping material that shrinks to mold into the shape of the product after the introduction of heat through a heat gun.

In this article, we will discuss ways to find the best shrink wrap film. A lot in this regard depends on the type of material used in the making of shrink film. These materials include polyolefin, PVC, Polypropylene, and Polyethylene. Understanding the functions of each of these materials in a shrink film can help you pick the right shrink wrapping material for your packaging applications.

Know the size of your product

To pick the right shrink wrap film, you are going to need to know the dimensions of your product. Dimensions refer to the height, width, and length.

Here is what you may want to know.

• If you are packaging heavier products with sharp edges, you are going to need to use polyethylene shrink wrap film, which is available in 200-gauge. These films come in varying thicknesses, from 2 Mil to 12 Mil.
• Polyolefin shrink wrap is a very popular shrink wrapping option due to being a food-grade material. The FDA approves it for direct food contact. This film is available in different thicknesses.
• PVC Shrinkwrap is another option that you can use for the packaging of your products. It requires low heat to shrink, and the shrink rate of this material is 40%.

Estimating production levels

Another factor that you will need to consider while selecting a type of shrink wrap film is your production level. This way, you will also be able to determine the type of machinery you need.

If you are working with smaller production levels, you will need to use shrink bags and tubing with a heat sealer. This system will help you prepare 200 or fewer packages a day. To meet the requirements of higher production levels, you are going to need to use a single wound and counter folded film.

Machines also vary, depending on the production levels. Production times may range from one product to several products per minute. These machines can be semi-automatic and fully automatic.

Transportation stress

You can shrink wrap anything from small products to larger boats. The type of film you use will depend on the size and weight of the product and the distance this product has to cover to reach its destination. If the product has to remain in the open storage, you are going to need to use UVI inhibitors to prevent the ultraviolet breakdown of the outer packaging. If the product has to go through harsher shipping environments, you will need to use polyethylene shrink wrap.

You can speak with your packaging supplier to know the best option.

Difference Between Local And Online Purchase Of Packaging Supplies

New businesses or startups have to deal with a tremendous amount of challenges from all sides. First, they have the challenge of earning a name in the industry. Then, they have to make sure that their profit margin is big enough to allow them to meet their expenses and grow their business.

One of the most crucial aspects of saving a significant amount of money is to avoid any mistakes when it comes to purchasing packaging supplies. That’s where it becomes necessary to understand when to buy these supplies online and when to purchase them from local sources. You can decide about it after considering some crucial factors, including products’ weight, shipping charges, and availability. It should help you determine where to buy packaging supplies from.

In this article, we will discuss a few factors that you must consider when it comes to deciding about the purchase of your packaging supplies.

The types of supplies to purchase

Knowing the types of products you need to purchase is a crucial part of understanding where should you buy the packaging supplies from. Many of the packaging supplies are inexpensive, but having them shipped to your business place can cost you a significant amount of money. For instance, cardboard boxes are generally inexpensive, so you will want to buy them from local stores rather than ordering online. Online orders will include shipping costs, meaning that the overall purchase will become costlier.

You will want to refer to regional sources even if you intend to buy bulks of boxes. According to a rough estimate, you can save up to 20% of total costs if you stick to local sources of cardboard boxes.

Most of the expensive packaging products are heavy, but they do not cost much in terms of shipping charges. Products like packaging machinery, film rolls, containers, and bottles are better bought online.

The amount of a packaging product that you need

You can decide where to buy a packaging product after determining the amount of it you need. You do not want to order online for the products that you need in a small amount, and you can find those easily. A great example of it is the purchase of stretch wrap rolls. If you need one roll, you will want to purchase it from a local source.

To purchase larger quantities of products that you are unable to find from local stores, you may want to order online.

Purchasing custom products

Most of the time, you may not be able to find a custom product from local stores. Unless you live near a manufacturer, you are going to need to order online to purchase a custom packaging product.

Another challenge here is that most manufacturers do not sell their items to end-users. In that case, you will need to use the network of distributors to get the product you need.

In many cases, you will not get a printed product from a manufacturer. It also necessitates you to approach a distributor.

 

Packaging Supplies for High-Velocity Warehousing

A lot of packaging requires speed, and high-velocity warehousing is one example of this. High-velocity warehousing uses speed, especially with fast-moving SKUs that are pushing the items all the way through, picking done by robots rather than humans so it’s even faster, and then fulfillment that doesn’t take a break, happening all day, every day.

Now not every industry will need this. Amazon does have moments where they close, after all. But here, we’ll go over how companies are getting ready for high-velocity warehousing, making the packaging quick as can be. 

Supplies to match pace 

You want the supplies to further match the pace of such items. 

These include mailers that are friction-free, offering you next-level speed that can move things fast, with no issues at hand. 

Pre-coded barcodes are one example. These are barcodes that are made in a manner that’s naturally coded.   It will, in turn, help you with improving the packaging, offering a scan and ship experience that’s fast as can be. 

Finally, modular bins. These are bound with modular technology, helping to make this mold and shape to your needs. 

All of this comes together to create a warehousing situation that will help to improve the experience, and make things even better for you as well. 

Durability and Speed, Combined 

Yes, with this type of packaging, durability and speed are combined, in order to help make this even better, faster, and stronger. 

Minimal handling is a part of this. with packaging of this caliber, you’re reading the speed in handling that’s there, without much trouble.   It also coincides with maximum strength.   You’ve got the ultimate in strength, and also speed too. nothing will know what hits the couriers that deliver, or the customer that opens the package and sees everything in one piece. 

With high-velocity packaging, there's no sacrificing the strength of a package to get it there, they work together, in tandem, to make things magical. 

The Optimizing of Label Position for Scanners 

There's now placement of scanners, used to provide seamless automation. That way, you’re getting the item directly to the consumer, making things better, faster and stronger.   You want to make sure that it’s in a way that will improve the speed and efficiency. Keep it in a place where it will go out fast, and without flaws. 

Are Companies Using this? 

Yes. 

Though Amazon is not using robots to replace everything just yet, there are some brands which are using this type of packaging to improve the state of things.

Amazon does have some automated automation. 

Walmart is also using this. Again, with Walmart, while it can be shipped to stores and then picked up from there, there is fulfillment, which in turn will get everything to the customer quickly and effectively.

Some major brands and retailers are using this type of packaging to help improve the warehousing of these items.   You’ll be able to, with this, make things faster. 

A lot of companies that are exploring drones and fast delivery are considering this. drones are quick and speedy, and offering a packaging speed that will ensure that it gets to the customers in time is important, hence why many packaging suppliers are considering this. 

Overall, with high-velocity warehousing, more and more companies are building a packaging speed that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. Time is of the essence these days, and for companies to adopt this, they’re making everything faster, but without the quality being sacrificed, thereby improving the overall results of their packaging, and how customers react to such changes that are made as well.