Shrink Tunnel Information

A shrink tunnel is a heated tunnel with a conveyor system running through the tunnel. The heat settings and conveyor speed of the shrink tunnel can be adjusted to heat a shrink film properly. The heat applied to the shrink film enables the film to conform to the product within the film tightly. Shrink tunnels serve a variety of industries for retail packaging, food packaging, and industrial packaging.

Shrink tunnels are a great option to help increase production while offering a consistent shrink rate to all products. There are a variety of tunnels and combo sealer sets to choose from. The heat shrink wrap tunnels provided online are to accommodate all ranges of production. Before making a purchase, we recommend reading our blog post about how many products a shrink tunnel can package. We also sell conveyor belts, L-Bar sealers, and I-Bar sealers to work with each shrink tunnel.

Each shrink tunnel has a variety of differences, including speed, chamber dimensions, legs, control panels, and more. Below is a brief description of each tunnel we offer online. Call us for other tunnel heights and widths available.

T2016 Shrink Tunnel - The American made T2016 shrink tunnel is built for packaging thousands of products daily. The T2016 tunnel features a mesh belt conveyor ideal for a wide range of product sizes. The easy-to-use analog controls make setting adjustments quick and easy.

The T2016 shrink tunnel is designed with patented airflow technology. The patented airflow design ensures a faster and more even shrink time after time. All T2016 shrink tunnels come with a 1-year warranty on parts. Tunnels are available in tabletop models and stand-alone models with a leg kit.

1606-20 Shrink Tunnel - A perfect shrink tunnel for low to mid-sized output. The chamber dimensions for 1606-20 are 16"Wx20"Lx6"H. The 1606-20 shrink tunnel pairs perfectly with the 1519 L Bar sealer or the 13"x13" portable L Bar sealer. The 1606-20 shrink tunnel is a tabletop shrink tunnel with optional legs and locking casters. PVC or polyolefin shrink wrap are ideal shrink films for this tunnel.

The 1606-20 shrink tunnel features a  variable speed drive, variable temp. control, recirculating air system, anti-jam feature on the conveyor, automatic cool down, and more. All 1606-20 shrink tunnels are 110v. Conveyor speeds on the 1606-20 are 0-60 ft. per minute or 8-12 products per minute.

1808-28 Shrink Tunnel - A high-speed shrink tunnel made for medium to high-speed shrink wrap applications. The chamber dimensions for the 1808-28 shrink tunnel are 18"Wx 28"L x8"H. The 1808-28 shrink tunnel is an ideal fit for the 1622 L Bar sealer or the 18"x18" L Bar sealer. All 1808-28 shrink tunnels come with legs and locking casters.

The 1808-28 shrink tunnel features: legs and locking casters, variable temp control, anti-jam conveyor, recirculating air chamber, live or dead roller rod conveyor, adjustable air velocity control, chromed conveyor rollers and shafts, and more.

All 1808-28 shrink tunnels are 220v single phase 40 amp. The 1808-28 shrink tunnel heats up to 300º F in less than 10 minutes. Conveyor speeds reach 0-95 ft. per minute or 12-25 products per minute. See the 1808-28 tunnel in use with the 1622 L-Bar sealer to the right.

1808-44 Shrink Tunnel - The 1808-44 high-speed shrink tunnel is for high output operations. The chamber dimensions are 18"Wx44"Lx8"H. Optional tunnel heights are available in 12 to 28 inches. The overall machine dimensions of the 1808-44 shrink tunnel are 61"Lx26"Wx61"H. The 1808-44 shrink tunnel is an excellent fit for the 1622 MK L bar sealer.

The 1808-44 features everything the 1808-28 shrink tunnel features with a longer seal chamber. Please call to check inventory and freight costs.

Recommended Tunnel Settings

Shrink tunnel settings are essential when setting up a new shrink tunnel. The proper settings will allow packages to obtain a consistent professional look. We will go over a brief description of each setting located on the control panel. Optimal settings differ depending on the type and thickness of the shrink wrap being used.

Temperature

This is the internal temperature of the tunnel. The recommended temperature will vary depending on the type of film being used and the thickness of the film. The two most common types of centerfold shrink film used with shrink tunnels are 75 gauge PVC or Polyolefin shrink film. An optimal setting for the PVC shrink film is between 210 – 230 degrees Fahrenheit.  For a 75 gauge polyolefin film, the optimal setting is between 260 – 280 degrees Fahrenheit.

Conveyor Speed

The conveyor speed is often more important than the temperature setting. Many beginners dramatically increase temperature settings when slower conveyor speeds are needed. Setting a new shrink tunnel to the lower end of the recommended heat setting with a slower conveyor speed (1.5-3) will increase the life of the tunnel. If higher conveyor speeds are needed, slowly increase temp. settings until all dog ears and wrinkles are out of the shrink film.

Shrink Tunnel Roller Rod Replacement

Shrink tunnel roller rods can quickly be replaced if dislodged or worn out. The short video will show how to position the roller chain to easily insert roller rods.