Key Takeaways
Dairy products are shrink wrapped on one of two machines. Single items and small multipacks, such as yoghurt 6-packs, butter and retail cheese blocks, run on an L-bar sealer with a shrink tunnel in food-grade polyolefin film; milk bottle bundles and crates run on a sleeve sealer in thicker polyethylene. Because dairy is chilled, the tunnel runs at a lower setting and a short dwell so the film shrinks without warming the product. A dairy shrink wrap machine protects the pack and makes it tamper evident, while the product’s shelf life comes from its own container and the cold chain. Compare the machines on the shrink wrap machines page.
The L-bar sealer and the sleeve sealer wrap most dairy packs. Compare them and see them running.
Most dairy products sold in a tub, block, bottle or carton are shrink wrapped at some point. Yoghurt tubs are bundled into multipacks such as 6-packs, and puddings, custard and cream pots are grouped the same way. Retail cheese blocks and butter are wrapped for a clean, tamper-evident finish. Milk bottles are bundled into multipacks, and crates and containers are wrapped for transport. Most of this is secondary packaging: the film goes around the dairy container rather than the dairy itself. Multipacks in general are covered in how multipacks and promotional packs are shrink wrapped.
Single dairy items and small multipacks run on an L-bar sealer and shrink wrap machine with a shrink tunnel, which fully encloses yoghurt multipacks, cheese blocks and butter in clear polyolefin. Milk bottle bundles, multi-bottle packs and crates run on a sleeve sealer and shrink tunnel in thicker polyethylene film, which holds heavier packs together for transport. Large dairies run either machine fully automatic, integrated with the filling line; smaller producers load by hand on a semi-automatic machine.
Chilled dairy passes through the shrink tunnel at a lower temperature setting and with a short dwell, so the film shrinks around the pack in seconds without warming the product. Where packs come out of cold storage and meet warmer air, anti-fog film keeps the wrap clear instead of misting with condensation. The same approach is used for chilled and frozen meat on the meat wrapping machine.
Not on its own. Shrink film such as polyolefin is a low oxygen barrier, so it does not preserve dairy the way the product’s own sealed container and an unbroken cold chain do. What the wrap does is protect the pack from dust, handling and tampering, keep multipacks together and keep the product looking clean on the shelf. Food-grade film and South African food packaging rules are covered in how to shrink wrap food safely.
Food-grade polyolefin is the usual film for dairy because it is approved for food contact, clear and strong, and it suits yoghurt multipacks, cheese blocks and butter on an L-bar sealer. Polyethylene is thicker and is used on sleeve sealers for milk bottle bundles and crates. PVC is kept to secondary packaging only and is not used in direct contact with food. Anti-fog grades help on chilled product.
Dairy products are shrink wrapped on an L-bar sealer for single items and small multipacks, or a sleeve sealer for bottle bundles and crates, with the tunnel set cool for chilled product. Send us your products, pack formats and volume, and we will specify the dairy shrink wrap machine. The shrink wrap machine cost guide explains what moves the figure.
Yes, when the film is food-grade polyolefin, which is approved for direct food contact and gives off no harmful fumes when shrunk. PVC is kept to secondary packaging only.
Yes. Retail cheese blocks are wrapped in clear polyolefin on an L-bar sealer for a clean, tamper-evident finish. Cheese that is vacuum packed for shelf life uses vacuum or shrink-bag systems, which are different machines.
Usually not. Yoghurt multipacks and other small packs suit an L-bar sealer, while milk bottle bundles and crates suit a sleeve sealer. Many dairies run both.
Send us your products, pack formats and volume, and we will specify the shrink wrap machine that suits it, with installation by our own technicians, a one-year warranty, CE marking on request and spares held in Johannesburg. You can also send samples and we will trial-wrap them at our Johannesburg showroom before you buy.
