Shrink Tunnel Replacement Parts

Shrink tunnels have interior chambers that heat to a desired temperature and are used to shrink materials around products. The heated chamber features a conveyor that allows products to move through at a predetermined speed. The proper speed and temperature setting for products to move through the chamber vary depending on the application and equipment used.

Maintaining and caring for a shrink tunnel is easy and can be done quickly. With a few minutes once a week, tunnels can be cleaned and lubricated, greatly extending the machine life. Over time, issues will arise that can cause slowdowns in production and possibly lead to downtime.

Keeping some parts on hand can reduce costly downtime and lower maintenance costs. Thankfully, shrink tunnels have minimal wearable parts compared to other packaging equipment.

Below, we will review some wearable and non-wearable components for shrink tunnels. If you are experiencing issues with your equipment, refer to our shrink tunnel troubleshooting guide to help identify the cause of the problem.

WEARABLE PARTS

Wearable parts are often engaged and disengaged, or subjected to heavy use, during production time. Due to the frequency of use, wearable parts can malfunction and cause issues if not readily available. We recommend keeping some wearable parts on hand in case of production downtime, which may cause problems. If you do not have wearable parts on hand, be sure they are quickly accesable if needed. Below are some standard wearable parts on a shrink tunnel.

Fuses - Fuses keep excessive current from damaging the machine’s internal components. When troubleshooting begins, it typically starts at the incoming power supply and fuses.

Power surges can occur regularly, depending on the power grid, and fuses help protect the machine from these surges. If one goes out, certain functions of the machine or the entire machine will not operate. It is crucial to keep fuses on hand in case of an outage.

Roller Rods/Belts – Shrink tunnels with live roller rods will have a silicone cover to keep materials from sticking to the rods on the conveyor. With enough usage, the roller rods will become worn and can split. Having an extra roller rod or two on hand can help when this happens.

Other shrink tunnels come with belts over the conveyor. These belts can become torn over time. Keeping an extra belt on hand can help prevent down times.

Chain Lubricant – The wearing and rusting of the chain and other drive components can be prevented by applying chain lubricant on a weekly basis. This is the primary maintenance that is recommended for a shrink tunnel. Keeping the chains properly lubricated will significantly increase the machine's lifespan.

Contactor – The contactor is engaged when specific actions are required within the machine. When the main power is turned on, a contactor should engage once the switch is turned. There is usually more than one contractor within each tunnel. One will control the heater when it turns on. When the tunnel reaches temperature, the heat will turn off and then back on once it loses heat. Because of this, the contactor can wear out over time and need to be replaced.

NON-WEARABLE PARTS

Non-wearable parts are internal components that do not experience the same amount of wear as wearable parts. They can go out over time, but are not replaced as frequently.

We recommend being aware of non-wearable parts that can go out over time and replace them as needed. If a pattern of a specific non-wearable part continues to require replacement, other issues may be contributing to its failure.

Heat Sensor – The heat sensor is used during the cool-down process of the tunnel and instructs the temperature controller to shut down. If this sensor fails, it can prevent the tunnel from heating.

AC Drive Board – The AC Drive Board controls the conveyor and tells the motor how fast to go. Not a standard part to go out, but can go out frequently if overweight products are being used on the tunnel conveyor.

Temperature Controller – The temperature controller is used to set the desired temperature for the machine and provides a live readout of the internal temperature. For digital shrink tunnels, this part serves as the interface through which users control the temperature settings.

Due to the frequent contact with this part, the buttons or screen can wear out over time and require replacement. It also reads the temperature of the machine. There are occasions when the temperature reading is incorrect, and the temperature controller may need to be replaced. For most tunnels, it can be quickly replaced as required.

Conclusion

When purchasing packaging equipment, it is essential to know you can source parts as needed. Buying imported shrink tunnels without access to parts can leave production to a standstill. You can rely on U.S. Packaging & Wrapping when purchasing machines to have parts and support when needed. We can also help troubleshoot your machine if purchased from us. Visit our website at uspackagingandwrapping.com or contact us at 1-800-441-5090.