Shrink wrap is a great way to package, protect and preserve products. Shrink wrap packaging is used for packaging software boxes, DVDs, soap, chocolates and more. For a small business, using an industrial volume shrink wrap machine isn’t always an option. This is were I-bar machines and sealers come into play.
I-bar shrink wrap machines are primarily designed for low to mid-volume jobs. They are affordable, but cannot be used for high-volume packaging. I-bar sealers use a single bar to seal film around a package, hence the "I" in I-bar. These are sometimes also referred to as straight-bar shrink wrap machines. Typically a total of three passes of the bar are needed to completely encapsulate a square-shaped object.
Once a product has been sealed in film, a heat gun is used to tightly shrink the film. A heat gun is similar to a hair dryer, but emits much more heat. The shrinking process usually takes a couple of minutes as the operator moves the product and shrinks all sides. The shrinking process can be sped up by use of a heat tunnel, which applies heat evenly to all sides of a product at once.
Many shrink wrap machines come in a system. This means they include a few replacement parts, a starter roll of shrink film and a heat gun. Be sure to check ahead of time to see exactly what comes with the shrink wrap system. Many people order a certain machine, not realizing it doesn’t come with everything needed to get started.
I-bar shrink wrap machines can be used with the two most common types of shrink wrap film, this being PVC and Polyolefin (Poly). Both types of film are clear. PVC shrink film is typically used for the packaging of boxes, CDs and DVDs. PVC film cannot be used with food. Polyolefin film on the other hand can be used with food. Polyolefin film is also more pliable than PVC film. Poly film emits fewer odors than PVC and is recommended over PVC for use in rooms with poor ventilation.
I-bar machines are usually available with heat or impulse sealing. Heat sealers use a heated wire to melt through the shrink wrap film. Impulse sealers use pulses of electricity to cut through film. Both types of sealers operate at about the same speed. Impulse sealers emit fewer odors and do not burn the edges.
I-bar shrink wrap machines require little maintenance. The cutting wire does need to be cleaned and changed on occasion. The pad and Teflon tape in the I-bar arm and base need to be changed as they wear out. The wire, pad and Teflon tape can be changed quickly and do not require any special skills to do.
If budget is an issue, or you belong to a small business with low to medium-volume needs, you may want to consider using an I-bar shrink wrap for your packaging needs. Contact
Office Zone for more information on
shrink wrap.
