What You Need To Know About Shrink Film and Stretch Film

Looking for the right packaging supplies to safely sell, store, or deliver your products? If you're involved in the shipping or warehousing industry, you've probably heard about stretch and shrink films. These two popular packaging solutions are often confused with one another. While both films are made of plastic, they differ significantly in terms of utility, types, and the equipment required for application.

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To make the best choice and prevent shipping complications, it's essential to understand these two options better. Read on to discover the distinctions between shrink film and stretch film, as well as where to purchase them.

Utility

Both stretch and shrink films serve as excellent packaging solutions, though they have distinct applications.

Stretch Film

Stretch film, or stretch wrap, is a long strip of clear plastic made from thin yet elastic polyethylene material. It is commonly used to wrap stacked goods and boxes to prevent wobbling or collapsing when loaded onto a pallet. Therefore, this is the optimal packaging material for transporting, storing, or selling palletized products.

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Shrink Film

Shrink film, or shrink wrap, consists of plastic materials that contract when exposed to a heat source. This characteristic makes shrink films perfect for packaging bundles of consumer goods, such as canned sodas and bottled water. The film shrinks to conform to the shape of the product it's covering. If you need to bundle your products for sale as a package, shrink film is the way to go.

Types

There are various types of stretch and shrink films that highlight the differences between these two packaging solutions.

Stretch Film

For additional details, please check out poly shrink film.