When it comes to packaging, every organization is looking for efficiency and effectiveness. Shrink bundling provides you with both. Every day, you’ll see consumers carrying out bottled water and other packaged goods from the grocery store that have been through the shrink bundling process. Let’s take a closer look.
What is Shrink Bundling?
Shrink bundling, or multi-packing, is the process of making one bundle or pack out of multiple items or products. A shrink bundle may include products that are unsupported or placed in a tray or pad. The pack is then sleeved in a Low-Density Polyethylene film layer (LDPE) and moved by conveyor through a heated shrink tunnel – shrinking the film tight around the product, creating a pack. On the other hand, Shrink wrapping describes packaging individual items, such as large carpet rolls or windows.
Efficient Distribution
A shrink bundle is most commonly used for intermediate distribution of items such as food (including grains, pet food, and dairy), beverages, personal care and household products, and then manually separated to stock the store shelves. However, shrink bundling can be used in various other industries and for wrapping products such as building materials, food service consumables, textiles and carpets, and industrial goods.
When performed correctly, shrink bundling or wrapping is an efficient and cost-effective method of secondary or end-of-line packaging that provides several benefits:
- Ease in handling during distribution
- Extra protection in transit
- Low risk of loose product that could create messes, damage, and product loss
- Minimal pallet space requirements versus corrugate-packed product
Effective Manufacturing
For manufacturers, shrink bundling equipment:
- Increases production speed. Switching to a tailored bundling system mitigates bottlenecks at the end of production lines, freeing up valuable labor and resources.
- Reduces secondary packaging costs. LDPE is significantly less expensive than its corrugated or chipboard counterparts.
- Provides line flexibility. Shrink bundling equipment can be easily moved from one packaging line to another and can be configured to accept multiple product lines. Systems range from a simple hand-loaded semi-automatic to a fully automatic with in-feed collation and exit conveyors.
Want to learn more about shrink bundling packaging equipment and how it can cost-effectively streamline your processes? Contact us today, and let’s talk about how Korpack can help.
