Key Takeaways
Multipacks and promotional packs are shrink wrapped by grouping several units into one pack, wrapping the group in shrink film and passing it through a shrink tunnel so the film pulls tight into a single, tamper-evident bundle. Small multipacks, multi-buy offers and gift sets run on an L-bar sealer; bottle, can and carton bundles run on a sleeve sealer. Clear film keeps every label visible, and printed film or printed inserts carry the promotion. This is how most multipack packaging for household and retail products is made. Compare the machines on the shrink wrap machines page.
The L-bar sealer and the sleeve sealer make most multipacks. Compare them and see them running.
A shrink-wrapped multipack is several units of a product, or several different products, bundled into one pack by shrink film. Household multipacks group dishwashing liquid, detergents and fabric softener, cleaning sprays, air fresheners, toilet paper and toiletries. Retail promotions use the same method for multi-buy offers such as 2-for-1 or buy 2 get 1 free, bundles such as a shampoo with its conditioner, seasonal gift sets, trial packs and combo drink or snack packs. The film holds the pack together from the factory to the shelf and shows at once if it has been opened. Single household products are covered in how household and cleaning products are shrink wrapped.
The pack decides the machine. Small multipacks, gift sets and promotional bundles that fit inside a sealing frame run on an L-bar sealer and shrink wrap machine, which encloses the whole pack. Bottle, can and carton bundles run on a sleeve sealer and shrink tunnel, which wraps a band of film around the group and leaves the ends open. Long bundles suit a side bar sealer. Where pack configurations change often, a semi-automatic sleeve sealer loaded by hand handles several formats, as it did for a bottle multipack customer. Drinks multipacks are covered in how bottles are shrink wrapped.
Promotional packs are made by grouping the products in the offer and shrink wrapping them into one unit, so a promotion can be put together or changed without new boxes or packaging tooling. The offer is carried on printed shrink film, a printed sleeve, a label or a printed insert or branded tray inside the clear wrap. Because the film is tamper evident, the promotional pack reaches the till with every item still in it. Gift and retail packs are covered in shrink wrap for toys and gift packs.
Polyolefin is the usual film for retail multipacks, gift sets and promotions because it is clear, strong and shrinks tightly on the L-bar sealer. Polyethylene is thicker and is used on sleeve sealers for heavier bundles such as bottles and bulk cleaning products. PVC is a budget option for light packs. Printed film and printed sleeves carry branding or a promotional message across the whole pack, while clear film leaves each product’s own label on show.
Shrink wrapping multipacks comes down to the pack: an L-bar sealer for small multipacks, gift sets and promotional bundles, a sleeve sealer for bottle, can and carton bundles, and a film chosen for the weight and the presentation. Send us the products, the pack configurations you run and your volume, and we will specify the machine. Compare all four machines on the shrink wrap machines page, and the shrink wrap machine cost guide explains what moves the figure.
Yes. Printed shrink film and printed sleeves carry branding or a promotional message across the whole multipack. For short promotions, a printed label or insert inside clear film does the same job without a printed film run.
Yes, with the right film. Heavier bundles such as bottles and bulk cleaning products run in thicker polyethylene film on a sleeve sealer, and a cardboard tray can give the pack a firmer base.
Yes. A semi-automatic sleeve sealer or an L-bar sealer loaded by hand handles several pack configurations; the film and settings are changed when the pack changes. Fully automatic lines suit long runs of the same pack.
Send us your products, the pack configurations you run and your 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.
