Mail services and industrial shippers rely on shrink wrap systems to help organize, protect, and easily ship their goods. Shrink wraps are similar to the plastics used to keep food fresh in kitchens.
The shrink wrap films are sturdier, however, and are typically made from PVC or Polyolefin. Therefore, they cannot be used to wrap food. PVC films are more durable and are less likely to be torn or punctured. Polyolefin films have high clarity. Both types of films are wrapped around the product and then heated. The heat shrinks the film so it conforms to the shape of the item, sealing out air and protecting the product from dirt, moisture, and the hazards of transport.
For smaller products, though, shrink wrap bags offer a simpler and more efficient alternative. Rather than manually wrapping the shrink wrap film around each product, the supplier needs only to slip the product into a PVC bag, heat the bag, and then ship. Most bag suppliers have a range of sizes, starting at four by six inch bags for audiocassettes or batteries, up to bags 18 by 24 inches for hundreds of pages of paper. CDs, DVDs, videocassettes, jewelry boxes, photographs, frames, and mailers can all be easily shipped using shrink wrap bags. Small bags start below $20 per carton, but large bags may cost almost $150 carton. Cartons hold about 500 bags each, which means bags cost between 4 and 28 cents each. Bags can be purchased online either by carton or by bulk cartons.
Shrink wrap bags are also commonly used to contain gift or fruit baskets. The shrink wrap bags not only keep the gifts fresh and organized, but can also make a home-made gift basket look professional. The bags are clear and work just like other shrink wrap bags. Shrink wrap bags do cost more per carton than most other bags, ranging from about $30 to $60. Shrink wrap bags can contain baskets almost three feet high.
Special shipping supply companies sell shrink wrap bags online.
