• Home
• Shop
• About Us
• Contact Us

About Us

Shrink-Film.co.uk is a specialist website from Polybags.co.uk - the UK's number one polythene packaging manufacturer - dedicated to shrink film, shrink bags and shrink wrap.

Polybags produces and stocks a fantastic range of shrink wrap products, including shrink wrap, shrink pallet covers, shrink kits, heat sealers and shrink guns. To support this, we bring you a wealth of information on shrink wrap products - see our homepage or the 'Shrink wrap systems' section below for more information.

What the web says about shrink wrap kits

Industrial shrink film has become a practical selection for securing loads because it can grasp mixed cases, strange shapes, and full pallets with far less fuss than plenty rigid pack methods. The film tightens below heat and pulls in around the load, so the package becomes more stable without adding much weight, which assists in transport and warehouse storage. That matters when pallets are moved often, stacked in storage, or exposed to damp conditions that can weaken normal outer packing. The market has grown because buyers want less losses from handling damage and better control above secondary packing. A well-chosen film gauge and sensible application settings normally give a better result than simply utilising more material.

Shrink wrap solutions will increase your productivity on any project that may be weather dependent.

Shrink wrap is often used to contain dangerous material while it is being removed, because it forms a tight outer skin that assists stop loose pollution escaping amid handling. That matters on jobs involving asbestos, lead and similar risks, where stray fibres or dust can create problems in transit as well as on site. A properly chosen film and the proper tension make the load easier to manage, nevertheless poor application leaves gaps, tears or slack corners that defeat the point. The wrap requirements to assist safe handling without splitting when moved or stacked. Used well, it gives a cleaner, more controlled pack for disposal and assists retain the work area and the transport chain better protected.

Shrink film used for food has grown fast because it gives a tight, tidy pack that protects fresh stock without adding much weight or bulk. On a running line, the material requirements the proper gauge and film tension or it will split, wrinkle, or leave loose corners that spoil shelf appeal and reduce protection. Food producers also rely on it to grasp trays, multipacks, and mixed cases together amid secondary packing and dispatch. The proper value lies in keeping packs stable through handling, cool store movement, and shopping display, since damaged packs mean more waste and more labour.

Shrink wrap suppliers need to be chosen for above only the lowest price, because film performance affects packing speed, load security, and waste at the back stop. A superb supplier will match the gauge and stretch behaviour of the film to the product, whether the job is bundling lightweight cartons or holding mixed loads together on a pallet. If the film is also thin, it tears on sharp corners and causes rework; if it is also heavy, material use rises and operatours struggle with tight wraps. The proper supply so retains packing lines moving and reduces handling damage later.

  33 Polyolefin Shrink Film Suppliers & Exporters in United Kingdom

Shrink film suppliers matter because the grade chosen determines how well packs survive the move from line to pallet. Polyolefin film that shrinks evenly gives a tight stop, nevertheless poor control of gauge or shrink ratio can leave loose corners, split seams, or panels that see wrinkled and untidy. That affects load stability in warehousing and can create handling damage when cases rub against one another in transit. A superb supplier should be able to match film behaviour to the pack shape, sealing method, and speed of the wrapping line, so the finished consignment stays tidy and secure rather than causing avoidable rework.

Thermal Pallet Covers Market to Hit USD 10469.73 Mn by 2028

Pallet covers are chosen for the job they need to transport out, not only for the price on the roll. A lightweight stretch cover may retain dust off a stable consignment, nevertheless it will not assist much if the load is being stored in a cool bay or moved through mixed warehouse temperatures. Thermal grades make more sense when the product requirements a steadier temperature for longer, because the cover assists reduce heat loss and slows down outside changes. Film gauge, fit and seal quality all matter, since a loose cover wastes material and lets air transport around the load. The proper specification reduces damage and retains stock in better condition.

Pallet Size Shrink Bags on a Roll, 50" x 44" x 57" 4 Mil Clear, 25 per Roll

Shrink bags on a roll make pallet wrapping quicker when normal loads need a tidy outer skin rather than full stretch film coverage. A 50 x 48 x 84 size suits a normal pallet footprint and taller mixed loads, while a 4 mil gauge gives enough body to grasp shape without becoming awkward to pull above the stack. Clear film assists warehouse staff see labels, barcodes and contents at a glance, which reduces handling mistakes amid put-away and despatch. Supplied 25 per roll, the format also cuts down on loose bag storage and simplifies replenishment at the packing line. That makes the pack easier to control where labour time and pallet stability both matter.

Shrink wrap kits are only as superb as the film grade inside them, because thin plastic can behave well in quiet conditions and then split at the first hard pull or gust. A sheet that sees fine on the bench may fail when tension rises, particularly if the gauge is light and the edge has been nicked amid handling. In practical packaging terms, that means additional care with cutting, folding, and storage, since sharp corners, dirty pallets, and rough dispatch routes all shorten service life. Film selected for temporary weatherproofing should be thick enough to stretch without tearing, yet still easy to apply cleanly. A proper kit saves time on site and reduces waste from torn material.

Shrink pallet covers work optimal when the film grade and gauge suit the load rather than the label on the roll. A light, tidy pallet of cartons requirements alternative film behaviour from a taller consignment with awkward edges, because the cover has to pull down evenly and resist splits where corners or straps press against it. If the film is also thin, it can tear amid application or fail in transit; if it is also heavy, it adds cost and can slow the wrap floor. Good tension and a clean heat cycle give tighter pallet stability and a neater stop, which assists when loads are stacked or moved by fork truck.

Heat Shrink Wrap Film Available Now and Ready To Ship

Shrink wrap film works well when the gauge, shrink ratio, and seal quality match the product and the packing line, not only when the price sees low. Used film can seem like a fast saving, nevertheless old stock may have weak shrink response, uneven roll tension, or damage from poor storage, which leads to baggy loads and wasted labour at the packing station. New film gives more predictable behaviour through the tunnel or heat gun, and that makes pallet stability easier to manage. In practice, the cheapest roll is the one that runs cleanly and retains handling damage down.

Polybags' main product categories

But shrink wrap is just part of the offering from Polybags, who produce a massive range of polythene products, including polythene rolls and bags available off-the-shelf in their millions, whilst you can custom-design much of our range and print it with your very own logo. Here are just a few of the main product categories that Polybags has to offer:

Shrink wrap systems

Want to learn about the different types of shrink wrap systems? Well you've come to the right place. Here are the most popular kinds of shrink wrap systems available today.

Straight bar sealers - A straight bar cuts and seals the film manually. For low volume applications.

L-bar sealers - An L-shaped bar used to cut and seal shrink film. Averages between 0-40 packages per minute, depending on automation level (e.g. manual, semi-automatic, automatic, automatic continuous). Also known as: impulse sealer, sealing system, sealing equipment, L-sealer, L bar sealer.

Sleeve wrappers - Designed to wrap trayed or loose collated items. Mainly used in shipping applications. These shrink wrap systems often replaces corrugated boxes and other types of packaging that are costly and need more space to use, store & dispose of. Also known as: shrink bundler, shrink wrapper, heat wrapper, sleeve shrink equipment, sleeving system.

Form fill seal shrink wrap equipment - The ultimate shrink wrapper, designed for high speed shrink packaging applications, averages between 30 -100 packages per minute on a continual basis. Most applications use polyolefin shrink film / industrial shrink wrap film.

Heat shrink wrap systems

Shrink tunnels - The final step in shrink wrapping. Package is passed through the shrink tunnel. Once inside the zone of the tunnel, it is subjected to increased levels of heat and turbulent air flow. A quality tunnel is capable of producing the required amounts of heat and air flow to cause the film to shrink around the introduced package. Also known as: heat tunnel, shrink film tunnel, shrink wrap tunnel and shrink heat tunnel.

Heat guns - Hand held tools that blow hot air to manually shrink film. Low volume output.

Shrink film sealing systems

Until recently, most sealing systems used a hot wire in order to seal and cut-off the film at the same time; now, a knife system has gained in popularity on many models due to its durability.

The wire or knife seals the film against a pad, covered with Teflon tape to protect the pad. Time, temperature and pressure are the three most critical elements affecting the seal quality. If the sealing head is not held on the film long enough, the temperature is too low, or the pressure is insufficient or uneven, the seal quality will be poor and/or won't cut.

However, if the sealing temperature is too high, the film may break just behind the seal. Following the impulse-sealing cycle, a cooling cycle allows the film to solidify into a solid seal. This dwell-time is critical in order for a seal to hold.

PVC films require only heat in order to cut seal and cut. When run on a sealing system as previously described, buildup of carbon char (black specks and flakes) will occur. This needs to be cleaned from the sealing head on a regular basis, otherwise the carbon will interfere with the sealing process and will look unsightly on the sealed ends of the package.

Since only heat is needed to form a PVC seal, some machines use a hollowed out bottom plate instead of the foam pad; direct contact with the seal wire is eliminated. Other systems employ a much thinner nichrome wire (.020" diameter vs. a standard .036" to .040" for polyolefins) against a hard bottom sealing pad. This system is insufficient to create strong polyolefin seals.

One other sealing system designed for PVCs is called a universal sealing system. Despite the name, the hot knife is typically too sharp to form a quality polyolefin seal. A rounded knife is better suited.

Shrink film shrinking systems

In order for proper shrinking to take place, polyolefin films need an air evacuation hole or multiple perforations. A bag formed with PVC film does not need 'artificially created' air escape holes. Because of the make-up of PVC, the seal typically is full of small pinholes; this is where the air escapes during the shrinking process. While this may seem advantageous (a step can be eliminated), the small holes actually weaken the seal area. These holes are often located near or in the package corners.

In order for proper shrinkage to occur, polyolefin film must be exposed to the correct temperature for the correct amount of time (which is controlled by conveyor speed), and also be surrounded by the correct air velocity, or wind turbulence. The air allows the film to stand away from the product, and a 'bubble' is formed around it. A good, even shrink should result when this occurs.

PVC films shrink readily when exposed to heat, and therefore air velocity is not critical. In the marketplace there are low-end tunnels which have no settings to control air velocity (similar to an oven) and you may find it difficult to achieve a good shrink.