Shrink sleeves
applied by hand are done using a shrinking-specific hot air gun or heat tunnel.
Consolidated
Label can manufacture single cut sleeves or provide sleeves on rolls for
machine application. Mechanical application is generally preferred over hand
application because it’s less labor intensive and quicker. Mechanical shrinking
equipment like radiant heat tunnels, hot air tunnels, steam tunnels and hybrid
tunnels (combines heat and steam) are some of the most popular methods for shrinking
sleeves onto containers.
Consolidated Label uses a steam tunnel for internal
quality checks and prototyping. We recommend that customers use a steam tunnel
for their shrink sleeve applications because it uses less energy to run than other
types of tunnels, produces better results and is easier to configure. Steam
tunnels are becoming the label industry’s standard method of shrinking sleeves
onto filled product containers because its relatively low temperatures (usually
between 170-180 degrees) make it safe for filled products to pass through.
Steps of Shrink Sleeve Label Printing
1. The label design is mirrored and printed on the
inside of the shrink sleeve material using a flexographic or digital printing
press.
2. The printed material is checked for quality
control by machine and human inspection.
3. The printed material is seamed together by
machine using a small amount of a heated adhesive to create the sleeves for
application.
4. The roll of sleeves goes through an air
inspection machine to ensure the integrity of the seam.
5. The sleeves are wound up on a roll or cut into
individual sleeves depending on the order.
