Shrink Film for Pallets and Multipacks

A palletised load shrink-wrapped in polythene film

At a glance

Key points

Gauges from 15 to 100 micron
Reels cut to your width and wound to the core and diameter your machine takes
Film extruded in house in Blackburn, so the specification is set to your load
Clear or coloured, plain or printed to your artwork
Recycled grades available across much of the range

Shrink film specification
Gauge	15–100mu
Material	Polythene shrink film, extruded in house
Sizes	Reels cut to your width, wound to your core size and reel diameter
Colours and print	Clear or coloured. Plain or printed to your artwork.
Recycled content	Available across much of the range, quoted against the hold you need
Supplied as	Reels made to the format your machine or heat tunnel runs
Lead time	Typically 2 to 3 weeks for bespoke runs, quicker on repeat and standard specifications

What is shrink film and how does it work?

Shrink film is polythene film that contracts when heat is applied, pulling in tight against whatever it is wrapped around. The film is stretched as it is made and holds that tension until heat releases it, which is why a loose wrap turns into a tight, stable pack once it has been through a heat tunnel or over a heat gun.

We extrude shrink film in Blackburn from 15 to 100 micron and cut it to the width your line runs. The result is a pack that keeps its shape through storage and transit, with the contents held together rather than shifting about.

What is the difference between shrink film and stretch wrap?

Shrink film needs heat. It goes on loosely and is then shrunk down onto the load with a heat tunnel or a heat gun, giving a tight, finished-looking pack that also helps keep dust and moisture off. Stretch wrap works the other way: it is pulled around the load cold and holds by its own elasticity.

Shrink film tends to win where the pack has to look finished on a shelf, stay clean in an open yard, or hold an awkward multi-item load rigidly. If you are not sure which suits your load, tell us what you are wrapping, how heavy it is and how it is handled afterwards, and we will give you a straight answer.

What gauge of shrink film do I need?

Shrink film is manufactured from 15 to 100 micron. The lighter end of that range suits small multipacks and light retail bundles, where the film only has to hold a few items together and look tidy. The heavier end suits palletised loads, building products and anything with corners or edges that would work their way through a thin film in transit.

Gauge is not the only variable. When we extrude shrink film we can adjust strength, elasticity, slip and stiffness, so it is often possible to hold a load with less material rather than simply going thicker. Send us the load weight, the pack dimensions and the machine you run and we will specify against it.

How is shrink film supplied?

We supply shrink film on reels, cut to the width your line needs and wound to a core size and reel diameter that fits your machine. Tell us the format your equipment takes, along with the gauge, the colour and any print, and the film is made to that.

Everything is made to order, so a width nobody holds in stock is not a problem. If you are changing over from a film you already buy, send us the reel label or a sample. We will match the specification first, then look at whether the gauge can come down without losing the hold on the load.

Common applications for shrink film

Pallet unitising in warehousing and distribution
Retail multipack bundling
Building products such as blocks, bricks and insulation
Timber, window and door manufacture
Print, paper and stationery
Plastics extrusions and profiles
Flat-pack and furniture despatch

Questions

Shrink film FAQs

Do I need a heat tunnel to use shrink film?

You need a source of heat, but that does not have to be a tunnel. A heat gun is common for pallet loads and low volumes, while a tunnel suits repetitive multipack work on a line. Tell us which you use when you enquire, because the gauge and the film specification are set differently for hand shrinking than for a tunnel.

Why is my shrink film not shrinking evenly?

Uneven shrink usually comes down to heat distribution or a gauge that does not match the load, rather than the film alone. A heat gun held too close on one face, a tunnel running cool at the edges, or a film too heavy for the temperature you can reach will all leave slack patches. Send us the load details and your machine settings and we will look at whether the specification is right for the job.

Can shrink film be printed with our branding?

Yes, we print shrink film to your artwork as part of the manufacturing run. Send the artwork with the reel width, the gauge and the number of colours you want, and tell us where the print needs to land on the finished pack. Printed film is made to order, so build that into your ordering schedule.

Can you match the shrink film we already buy?

Usually, yes. Send us the reel label, the specification sheet or a sample of the film you buy now, along with the width, core size and gauge. We will quote a like-for-like film first so you can compare properly, then tell you if we think the specification could be improved for your load.