STANMECH Technologies Inc.
  • Home
  • Equipment Supply
    • Flooring
    • Geomembrane
    • Industrial Fabrics
    • Manufacturing
    • Plastic Fabrication
    • Roofing >
      • Distributors
  • Engineering Services
    • Engineering Services
    • Cosmetics
    • Deflashing Systems
    • Drying Bottles & Cans
    • Heat Systems
    • Shrinking Labels
  • Repair
    • Repair Service
    • Tech Tips
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Case Studies
    • Engineering Information
    • Whitepapers
  • About
    • About Us
    • Technology Providers
  • Contact

Temperature and Time: Your Formula for Perfect Shrink Labels

2/5/2019

 
HOTWIND SYSTEM heater and shrink tunnel
Achieving a perfect shrink on a sleeve label is often easier said than done. Even with a custom built system some experimentation may be necessary as you dial in the settings needed to achieve that all-important perfect shrink on your bottle, can or other packaging. Two of the primary variables to adjust are Temperature and Time; it is important to ensure they are in balance in order to achieve an acceptable final product ready for display and sale. 
Build my shrink system

Temperature

One of the advantages of air heated shrink tunnels is their wide temperature range. This offers another variable that can be altered to compensate for increasing line speeds, beyond simply extending the length of the shrink tunnel. The operating temperature of the shrink tunnel may need to be increased if labels are exiting wrinkled or with uneven shrinking. Or the temperature may need to be decreased if labels are tearing or over-shrinking.
The best temperature setting depends on a number of factors:
  • Sleeve material
  • Container material
  • Container contents
  • Line speed
  • Residence time
  • Tunnel design

Time

Heating time, or residence time, is related to the physical length of the tunnel and the speed with which the bottle moves through the tunnel. Increasing the residence time can increase the degree of shrink (similarly to increasing temperature). However, increasing residence time and increasing temperature will not always yield the same result and should not be considered perfect substitutes for one-another.

Balancing Temperature and Time

​Achieving consistently good quality shrink results is a balancing act between temperature and time. We recommend changing only one variable at a time while testing to dial in the best parameters for your application. Generally, higher temperatures can allow for increased line speeds – although there are limits. Higher temperatures can also enable shorter heat tunnels.

This is a simplistic review of heat shrinking and there are many more variables that come into play when designing a quality heat shrink system.

Building a Heat Tunnel?

Before you start calling heat tunnel suppliers there are a few things you should know about your process:
  • What is your current line speed?
  • Do you have plans for line speeds to increase in the future?
  • What is the shrink label material? It is likely PVC or PET.
  • Do you have a specification sheet available for your label?
  • Will the system need the flexibility to do more than one bottle and/or label type?
  • What is the shape and size of your container(s)? What is the spacing between containers?
  • Are there are space constraints on the production floor or on the conveyor belt?
These are all questions a reputable equipment supplier should be asking when you approach them. Having the answers at your fingertips will make your interactions with them more efficient.

Let us do the work: We can engineer, test, and build you a custom heat tunnel to help you achieve that perfect shrink.

Recommended Further Reading:

  • Heat Shrink Tunnels Explained:
    • Part One: Types of Heat Tunnels
    • Part Two: Advantages and Disadvantages
    • Part Three: Technical Complications of Heat Shrinking
  • The Effect of Bottle Shape on Shrink Quality
  • Common Shrink Label Problems and their Solutions
Originally Published: 2/17/2014

Comments are closed.

    Index by Industry

    Flooring Installation
    Geomembrane Welding
    Industrial Fabrics Welding
    Manufacturing
    Plastic Fabrication
    Roofing

    Browse Newest

    All
    Engineering Services
    Flooring Installation
    Geomembrane Welding
    Industrial Fabrics Welding
    Manufacturing
    Plastic Fabrication
    Roofing
    Video

      Comments & Questions

    Submit
STANMECH Technologies Inc. 
​944 Zelco Drive Burlington ON L7L 4Y3 | 1-888-438-6324 | info@stanmech.com
Terms of Use    Privacy    Terms and Conditions of Sale    Warranty Policies 
Français

Proud Member of:
IFAI Logo
Industrial Fabrics Association International
IAGI Logo
International Association of Geosynthetic Installers
PEO Logo
Authorized by the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario to offer professional engineering services. 
  • Home
  • Equipment Supply
    • Flooring
    • Geomembrane
    • Industrial Fabrics
    • Manufacturing
    • Plastic Fabrication
    • Roofing >
      • Distributors
  • Engineering Services
    • Engineering Services
    • Cosmetics
    • Deflashing Systems
    • Drying Bottles & Cans
    • Heat Systems
    • Shrinking Labels
  • Repair
    • Repair Service
    • Tech Tips
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Case Studies
    • Engineering Information
    • Whitepapers
  • About
    • About Us
    • Technology Providers
  • Contact