Shrink wrapping is one of the best types of secondary packaging that provides many benefits to a wide variety of products. Shrink wrapping protects items with a tight seal while still providing clear visibility for brand awareness and marketing messages. Shrink wrapping provides an upscale, polished look to many products and is a cost-effective way to maintain the integrity and appearance of items on the shelves.
What Is Shrink Wrapping?
Shrink wrapping is enclosing items in a plastic film which is then exposed to heat and shrinks to form around the item. PVC and polyolefin are two common materials used in the shrink-wrapping process, although other materials exist as well. The material that best suits your shrink-wrapping project is mainly determined by the level of protection your items need.
When choosing the best shrink-wrapped material for your process, companies should consider the following factors:
- The conditions your items are exposed to during transportation and storage
- The shape and weight of products and if any sharp edges will puncture the shrink wrap
- The amount of time products are on the shelf or in storage
- The desired final appearance of shrink-wrapped products
Options for Shrink Wrapping Retail Products
Two popular options for shrink wrapping products include cello wrap and multipacks. Cello wrap encloses items in a clear cellophane wrapping which is efficient for high-volume production runs. Clear cello wrap is available in different thicknesses with varying levels of protection to meet industry and shelf life requirements. Cello wrap is also easy to print on, allowing for customization with marketing, product warnings or usage instructions.
Shrink Wrapping for Multi-Packs
Shrink wrapping is common when creating multipacks for bundled items, 28 items typically sold together are easier to purchase. Multipacks are often used for gift items or to increase the perceived value of products. Shrink-wrapped bundled products can be placed directly on shelves already in attractive packaging.
Common Shrink-Wrapped Products
Shrink wrapping provides packaging solutions to a variety of industries and products with protective, attractive packaging that is easily customizable. Some of the most common types of shrink-wrapped products include:
- DVDs and CDs
- Cosmetics
- Boardgames
- Books
- Posters
- Software
- Candy
- Calendars
- Picture frames
- Office supplies
- Consumer electronics
- Twin packs of items including aerosols
These are all examples of some of the numerous items that are shrink-wrapped for product protection and added consumer appeal.
Vendor Considerations for Shrink Wrapping Projects
When evaluating your outsourcing shrink wrapping needs, you will want to consider some important factors:
- The overall package size to be shrink-wrapped
- The volume of your production run
- Final packing specifications
- Lead times
- Shrink wrapping experience and equipment
Contract packaging providers offering shrink wrapping services should have experience in shrink wrapping with the automated equipment and staff to meet your volume and lead time requirements.
PPS Offers Contract Packaging and Shrink Wrapping
Peoria Production Solutions, PPS, is a leading contract packaging company with more than 80 years of experience, offering various flexible packaging solutions including shrink wrapping. PPS provides high-quality packaging and wrapping services with the capacity and staff to meet your lead time and production volume requirements. As a not-for-profit packaging company, PPS offers high-quality packaging services that meet your production and budgetary goals.
PPS is an experienced contract packager providing high-quality packaging services following strict quality procedures as part of our ISO9001:2015 registration. We provide production solutions with quick turnaround time allowing customers to focus on their niche manufacturing with worry-free packaging they can rely on. Contact us to learn more about our secondary and flexible packaging solutions, including shrink wrapping.