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Benefits of shrink wrapping

Each industry has a different need for shrink wrapping. From containement to protecting. Each application requires a specific material to be most effective for its intended use.

A superior product

There are many benefits to using shrink wrapping over other conventional methods. We will discuss comparisons, advantages, and unique characteristics of shrink wrap.

Shrink Wrap vs. Tarps

Durability

Because the plastic is secured, and tight as a drum, shrink wrap does not get beat up by the elements. With wind, rain, snow, and hail, a tarp can loosen and eventually rip and tear. Leading to ineffective protection, or costly replacement.

Cost Effective

Because of its durability and easy to repair, it lessens the need to replace it for both long and short-term solutions. To keep a tarp held down as tightly and secured, multiple straps needs to be used which in turn adds to the cost.

Looks

Shrink wrap not only protects better than a tarp, but it also looks better than a tarp. With shrink wrap, you can create a seamless, tightly enveloped cover that looks good. For a large structure, you’ll need multiple tarps tied together. Shrink wrap is able to cover the entire structure no matter the size in one seamless piece.

Recyclable

Shrink wrap is made of 100% virgin resins and is non-biodegradable, but easy to recycle into a number of products. So, if you want to do your part for the environment shrink wrap is the perfect blend of weather protection and environmental awareness.

Shrink Wrap vs. Shipping Crates

Size and weight

A crate is bulky and heavy. All of the wood from crates added to a shipment adds significant weight to your overall load. Shrink wrap is lightweight and compact which leads to adding more items to your shipment, creating a more efficient system.

Cost Effective

A crate is built using lumber and plywood. The prices of wood products is always fluctuating and never cheap. On top of that, there is a higher labour cost to build the crates. Nonetheless, a wood crate can offer really good protection but the cost is tenfolds over shrink wrap.

Adaptability

Crates require sizing the item appropriately and ordering and cut the right amount of material. Shrink wrap has the ability to stabilize protruding and misshapen loads. And has remarkable tear resistance for loads with jagged corners and sharper edges. Therefore it can conform to any shape and size.

Recyclable

A crate can be reused, granted the wood hasn’t been damaged during the unpacking. On the downside, the crate can only be reused for similiar sized items. So it has a finite use. Shrink wrap is made of 100% virgin resins and is non-biodegradable, which is easy to recycle into a number of products.

Other Amazing Features

Thickness

Shrink wrap can be applied using different thickness of plastic. Each thickness serves a purpose depending on its intended use.

  • 6 mil shrink wrap: The standard thickness for seasonal protection of outdoor furniture and other light-duty applications.
  • 7 mil shrink wrap: The most common, used for protecting boats, jet skis, cars and RVs.
  • 8 and 9 mil shrink: Used for covering larger boats, large scaffolding, medium-to-large size equipment, or objects that have considerably sharp edges.
  • 10 mil shrink wrap: The first choice for wrapping heavy equipment for road transportation. Also well suited for industrial or construction applications such as temporary walls and dust barriers.
  • 12 mil shrink wrap: The thickest available wrap, usually reserved for scaffolding, or any other type of job that requires an extremely durable covering. They are well suited to protect any industrial equipment for transportation under harsh elements.

Branding

Looking to brand your jobsite? KCMs shrink wrap makes for the perfect canvas to display your logo, phone numbers and products!

Repairs

Holes and tears in your shrink wrap can happen for many reasons. You might have accidentally punctured the material, the weather might have torn a hole, or you might have burned through it with the heat gun.

It can quickly be repaired using shrink wrap tape or using another piece of shrink wrap over the hole. It’s that easy.

Vents, Windows, and Doors

For many construction, repair, and renovation projects, it’s important to have the ability to both enter and exit the building that’s being worked on. We can add in windows and doors to any shrink wrap project/job.

Vents on shrink wrapped are used for moisture control as they allow air to pass through both in and out from under the cover. Keeping the temperatues steady and reducing moisture that can build up.

Windows can be created using a piece of clear shrink wrap. Functional windows can be created using straight zippers that can be opened to let in air as opposed to just a clear viewing space in the wrap.

Doors come in all shapes and sizes and are made of your choice of shrink-wrap with double reinforced stitched zippers. For larger access doors, a custom-made zipper door can be fashioned to meet any specification.

Color

Other than aesthetics, colours in shrink wrap has an impact its intended use. The most common shrink wrap options are blue, white, clear and black.

  • Blue shrink wrap absorbs the sunlight and allows snow and ice to melt and slide off the cover easily. Which is great for outdoor winter storage. However, it’s not great for transportation covers because it has a tendency to loosen up in hot conditions.
  • White shrink wrap is used most often. White shrink wrap reflects the UV rays, making it the best choice for outside storage, like scaffolding and enclosures. Because it allows sunlight into the enclosure reflecting the heat. White shrink wrap stays tight in all weather conditions, which also makes it ideal to use as transportation cover.
  • Clear shrink wrap is often used for greenhouses, but can also be used for making windows or doors in items covered in white or blue shrink wrap. The sun is able to penetrate the cover offering light, and also accentuates the buildup of heat and moisture under the cover.
  • Black shrink wrap is rarely recommended for outdoor use, as it will absorb light and get extremely hot in the sun. However, choose black wrap if you are intentionally trying to capture UV rays.

Flame Retardant

Our shrink wraps meet or exceed specifications for self-extinguishment, with an average extinguishment time of 4 seconds once the ignition source is removed. The anti-static properties in the wrap can also minimize the chances of a spark igniting if you’re wrapping equipment that has electrical motors, semi-conductors, or anything else that cannot withstand static discharge.