Guide to Using Shrink Wrap

Using shrink wrap provides protection and polish to your products

By Angela Roe, Freelance Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Seal your products with shrink wrap

Purchase shrink wrap rolls by the bolt. Look for shrink wrap suppliers that reduce the price of each roll on bulk orders. Discuss colors and weight when discussing your shrink wrap options. Ask about bulk rate shipping and becoming a preferred customer as other ways to trim expenses.

I recommend: Uline has several different plastic shrink wrap options, including heavy-duty bundling wrap for large or bulky items. Papermart sells shrink wrap in tubes; the more you purchase, the more savings you'll see.

Remember the tools that work with shrink wrap

Don't forget to pick up the tools you need to work with shrink wrap. Pick up trimming knives, protective gloves and at least one heat source. Talk to your shrink wrap suppliers to learn more about other tools you may want to consider when working with shrink wrap.

I recommend: Mr. Shrinkwrap has all of the shrink wrap supplies you need, including tension tools, protective gloves and knives. Sannah Packaging Supplies has such shrink wrap tools as tabletop sealers and handheld heat guns.

Purchase shrink wrap equipment to shrink wrap large volumes of products

For high-volume shrink wrapping, you'll save time and money by opting for a shrink wrapping machine rather than a handheld heat source. Shrink wrap machines can handle a larger volume of packages and prepare more packages for sale than can be wrapped by hand.

I recommend: Stevenson Industries has a shrink wrap machine capable of handling dozens of packages a day. Polypack claims to have the fastest print registered film wrapper to allow you to shrink wrap more packages in less time.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk to shrink wrap manufacturers about custom shrink wrap items like shrink wrap bags to help you shrink wrap anything you desire.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Order your shrink wrap rolls supplies for your warehouse

Custom shrink wrap is available online in many sizes, thicknesses and even colors. Just figure out how much you need and plug in the numbers, and with a quick credit card purchase, your plastic wrap will be on the way to you.

I recommend: Try Grainger's line of shrink wrap supplies, featuring 16 and 26 inch rolls. U-Line's online ordering system is another quick option.

Get shrink wrap guns and heating machines

Lots of businesses choose to use heating systems or shrink wrap 'gun' tools to seal the wrap over smaller products. If you are packaging pint-size products like CDs or DVDs, take a look at what's available online for sealing solutions.

I recommend: The comprehensive office site aptly titled Office Zone has shrink wrap heating tools for sale online. Also try ABC Office for a wide range of models.

Find shrink wrap services

If you're looking at a one-time job, or you want to outsource your work, some online companies offer to do the wrapping for you. Shrink wrapping services provide solutions for lead or asbestos abatement as well as for long-term storage.

I recommend: Mr. Shrinkwrap in Media, PA offers an on-site shrink wrapping service through a convenient Internet portal. Busy warehouse managers can also take a look at Assembly Unlimited's list of "fulfillment services" for product lines.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For large orders and projects, study your pallet or product sizes well. It might seem like a nit-picking detail, but think about the additional time it will take to wrap several thousand pallets with a small roll of shrink wrap. You can save a lot on labor costs with a bigger setup. The pallet-rolling machines can also help out; factor this into your equation when you go to order supplies for new operations.

Guide to Pricing and Costs of Shrink Wrap

Determine the pricing and costs of shrink wrap supplies for your business

By Angela Roe, Freelance Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase shrink wrap by the roll

Pricing shrink wrap film itself depends on the gauge or strength of the shrink wrap as well as the width of the wrap you need. Another determining factor is the amount of rolls you choose to purchase. Several suppliers offer lower rates per roll when large numbers of rolls are ordered. In general you can expect to purchase shrink wrap rolls for about $50 to $300 per roll, depending on the roll's width.

I recommend: Uline Shipping Supplies has cryovac shrink film sold by the rolls in 60-, 75-or 100-gauge weights. Office Zone sells PVC shrink wrap film in 75- and 100-gauge weights in a wide array of widths. Learn about the many different applications of shrink film at IPS Packaging.

Evaluate the pricing of shrink wrap sleeves

Recognize that shrink wrap sleeves, also known as tubes, vary according the gauge and the size of the tubes. Another factor that influences the costs of shrink wrap sleeves is whether or not the materials are suitable to be used on food products. Food-grade shrink wrap sleeves will typically cost a few pennies more per sleeve than nonfood grade shrink wrap. Expect to pay between $80 and $150 per roll for shrink wrap sleeves. Each roll is typically 500 feet in length.

I recommend: Sunrise Packaging Group offers several different gauges in shrink wrap sleeves, all of which are food-grade quality. In addition, the company discounts the price of each roll a small amount based upon the quantity of rolls purchased. Associated Bag Company provides shrink wrap tubing that starts at 4 feet and extends to 24-feet widths, ensuring you can find exactly what you need.

Find price savings on shrink wrap bags

Locate suppliers that can meet your need for shrink wrap bags and that offer discounted pricing. Look for lower pricing for more orders, and ask about becoming a preferred client in order to achieve lower rates. Expect to pay between $10 and $70 for a case of shrink wrap bags depending upon the size of the bags being ordered. The number of bags per case depends upon the size of the bags. Small- and medium-sized are typically shipped in cases of 500 bags, while large bags are often shipped in cases of 100 bags.

I recommend: Nashville Wraps has a variety of shrink wrap bags in a wide array of sizes. It offers discounts for bulk orders and online expert help. APLASTICBAG.COM stands prepared to provide you with all types of shrink wrap bags, and the company guarantees the lowest prices around. Learn how to use shrink wrap bags at pacnseal.com.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consult shrink wrap manufacturers to negotiate prices for custom shrink wrap and shrink wrap supplies to come to an agreement that is satisfactory to both you and your shrink wrap manufacturer.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Gauge or strength

The 'gauge' of shrink wrap determines its strength. Shrink wrap is available in many different gauges and materials.

I recommend: For more details, read up onthe different types and gauges of shrink wrap materials at National Shrink Wrap.

Angel hair and dog ears

These terms might not be what some would think of to describe shrink wrap, but they represent some industry standards for describing conditions of wrap and wrapped objects. Angel hair is a term for loose ends on wrap and dog ears are triangles of film sticking out from corners.

I recommend: Find out about these and other shrink wrap terms at Shrink Wrap 101's Shrink Wrap Glossary.

Sleeve wrapping

This wrapping, sealing and cutting process produces neatly wrapped objects that get a lot of protection from the elements.

I recommend: For more on sleeve wrapping, go to Eastey's Buying Guide. Scroll down to the Buying Guide section to find a detailed explanation of sleeve wrapping and its benefits as well as more on equipment and applications.

Shrink wrap heat guns

These handy heating devices look similar to blow dryers. In fact, in a low-rent situation, a business owner has been known to simply use blow dryers for the job of heating shrink wrap, which shrinks and seals upon heating.

I recommend: Find details and visuals on the shrink wrap heating gun as well as a range of other shrink wrap equipment at OfficeZone.

Abatement

One big use of shrink wrap beyond retail or merchandising is in the abatement of various hazardous substances, from lead to asbestos. Shrink wrap is used to 'seal' off areas containing these volatile elements.

I recommend: Read about shrink wrap containment solutions at Performance Contracting Group.

Cryovac

Cryovac is a top shrink wrap maker that has rolled out some impressive products for wrapping merchandise and other materials.

I recommend: Get detailed descriptions of some top Cryovac products and their properties at Get Packed.