What is the Difference Between Stretch Wrap and Shrink Wrap Packaging?

What is Stretch Wrapping?

Stretch wrapping consists of the use of a stretchable plastic film, that is wrapped around a set of products.

This allows users the ability to tie their things together using a stretched, yet elastic hold over them. In addition, stretch films are mostly manufactured using polyethylene plastics, and help pack a large shipment together.

This type of packing is ideal for products that are about to be transported as it holds them together in a secure manner and keeps them safe from various elements.

What is Shrink Wrapping?

On the other hand, shrink wrapping is a loose cover and only shrinks when the heat is applied. Shrink wraps are mostly manufactured using polyolefin plastics and are used over a single product.

Additionally, it can be used to combine smaller products together. This allows its users to protect the single piece, or small pieces from weather, dust, or other elements.

This type of wrapping is commonly used to pack cheese, meats, vegetables, etc.

Advantages of Stretch Wrapping:

Protection – With the help of stretch wrapping, you can easily secure and protect your goods from moisture and dust. Moreover, if you go for a UV film option, you can protect your goods from UV rays.

Cost Effectiveness – Stretch wrapping is a less expensive option when compared to other options available on the market today. This is mainly because the equipment needed for stretch wrapping is cheaper than other equipment.

Adaptability – As stretch film wrapping offers the ability to wrap a range of goods, it is more adaptable in nature than other wrapping options.

Advantages of Shrink Wrapping:

Protection – If you are looking for a way to protect your goods from all possible elements, shrink wrap is the way to go as it will suck out all the air, and leave your goods completely protected from all elements.

Damage – With the help of shrink wrapping, you can easily transport or store your goods in a secure manner.

Breathable – Shrink wrap has the ability to offer ventilation, which can help reduce damage caused by moisture.

What is Stretch Wrapping used for?

Palletized Boxes – One of the most common uses of stretch wrapping is to cover palletized boxes. Here pallet stretch film wraps around a number of boxes that have been set in the same pallet. This helps create the perfect size and keeps them secure.

Buckets – Buckets filled with liquids such as paint, oil, or dry goods are wrapped using a heavy stretch wrap. This ties them together and creates a secure body, and reliable package.

Wire Reels – Stretch wrap is used to keeping wires wrapped around perfectly, so you do not end up in a huge mess of wires as untangling thousands of meters of wire is near to impossible.

Electronics – Electronics might be lighter in weight than many products, but they need protection just the same. With the help of high-performance stretch film, you can easily protect your electronics.

What is Shrink Wrapping used for?

Securing – While shrinking wrap might not be used in the same way, but they are at times used to help secure a box or a number of boxes.

Seals – With the help of shrink wrapping, you can easily seal any canned food or raw materials as it offers a tight wrap, which will keep the goods protected from various elements.

Small Items – Shrink wrap can be used to keep your books and magazines safe from any elements, allowing you a chance to enjoy them for decades to comes.

Deciding if you are looking for high-performance stretch film, or shrink wrap depends on a number of factors. With this blog post, we hope that you can understand your needs more, and the type of wrapping you need.