Understanding POF shrink film and its application

POF shrink film is a transparent polyolefin film that shrinks tightly around products when exposed to heat in a shrink tunnel or under the hood of a heat shrink machine. The film is center-folded, forming a half tube along its length, which is the standard format for L-sealers. The shrink film on this page is 15 microns thick and comes in 200, 500, or 550 mm widths. Roll length is 1259 m for 200 mm and 1335 m for 500 mm and 550 mm.

Polyolefin shrink film is clear, so your product remains visible after heat shrinking.

Each width is available as a separate option on the product page.

Shrink film is stretched during manufacturing. When heat is applied, the film contracts and forms a tight seal around the product. This process protects the product from dust and keeps grouped items together.

Compared to PVC, POF shrink film stays flexible at low temperatures and contains no chlorine, so sealing does not produce corrosive fumes like PVC shrink film. PE shrink film is thicker and used for heavy bundles, such as bottles. POF is intended for single items and small groups, including boxes, cosmetics, books, printed materials, and toys.

Polyolefin shrink film shrinks both along the length of the roll and across its width. This ensures the film tightens on all sides of the package, not just the top and bottom. The degree of shrinkage depends on the temperature of the hot air in the tunnel or under the hood, so the tunnel or hood temperature is set for the film, not the product inside.

Once polyolefin shrink film has been shrunk, it cannot be shrunk again. If a package comes out with a burn mark, an open seam, or a hole, it cannot be fixed by reheating. The film must be removed and the product rewrapped with new film.

Compatible machines for this shrink film

POF shrink film is listed as the film type on every shrink wrapping machine page in our shop. The T5040 uses POF film 0.015–0.019 mm thick and up to 570 mm wide. The T4535 uses POF film 15–25 microns thick and 100–550 mm wide. AUTOSHRINK uses POF film 0.01–0.03 mm thick and 200–550 mm wide. The B4255 accepts POF rolls up to 250 mm across and 600 mm wide. The 15 micron film in all three widths fits within the ranges for T5040, T4535, and AUTOSHRINK.

The F7060 and A450 machines can use either POF or PVC film, and the V4530 tunnel shrinks POF or PE film that has been sealed around the product.

Machines compatible with this film include the B4255, F7060, T5040, T4535, A450, the V4530 tunnel, SHRINKCOMBO, and AUTOSHRINK.

Like the B4255, AUTOSHRINK accepts rolls up to 250 mm across (see its manual). The F7060 and A450 product pages do not specify a film thickness.

The V4530 is a tunnel that shrinks POF or PE film after a sealer, such as the A450 in the SHRINKCOMBO, has sealed the film around the product. Before your first order, please specify your machine in a Get offer or Add to inquiry request on the product card, and we will confirm compatibility.

According to the A450 manufacturer’s manual, the film thickness range is 0.015 to 0.10 mm, making the 15 micron film the thinnest it lists for that model. This matches the lowest thickness listed for the T5040 and T4535.

The product size must also fit the machine, not just the film. The B4255 has a sealing area of 420 × 550 mm and can handle products up to 200 mm high. The F7060 has a sealing size of 700 × 600 mm. The T5040 has a sealing area of 500 × 400 mm, and the A450 can pack products where the width plus height is under 420 mm. For AUTOSHRINK, the largest pack size is 500 × 400 × 120 mm, with the width plus height up to 400 mm. If using a tunnel, check that the wrapped pack fits the tunnel entrance: 450 × 230 mm on the T5040 and 450 × 250 mm on AUTOSHRINK. The V4530 tunnel can handle products up to 1400 × 350 × 200 mm.

Film types and sizes for each shrink wrapping machine

The table below lists our shrink wrapping machines along with the film type, thickness, and width specified for each machine. Use this table to check which shrink film sizes are compatible with your equipment.

To use the table, first locate your machine in the left column. Then compare the film type, thickness, and width listed for that machine with the POF shrink film on this page: 15 microns thick, available in 200, 500, or 550 mm widths. If a cell says see the product page, that machine’s page does not provide a figure. For the SHRINKCOMBO, which combines the A450 side sealer and the V4530 tunnel, the A450 row determines the film type, since the tunnel only shrinks film that has already been sealed.

Choosing the Right Shrink Film Width and Thickness

To select the correct film width, measure the largest product you plan to package: width, height, and length. The film must wrap around both the width and height of the product, with enough extra for the seal. The product’s length determines how much film is used for each pack.

If the film is too narrow, it will not fully enclose the product or the seal may break open as the film shrinks. If the film is too wide, you will have more trim, which is wasted film you still pay for. The 200 mm width is best for small items, while 500 mm and 550 mm widths are for larger products or groups. The best width is determined by making a test pack on your machine.

The 15 micron film is thin and suitable for lightweight products with smooth surfaces. Heavier items or those with sharp corners require a thicker film, which is less likely to puncture, but only the 15 micron film is available here. To estimate how many packs you can make from a roll, divide the roll length—1259 m for 200 mm or 1335 m for 500 mm and 550 mm—by the amount of film used per pack. This includes the product length plus extra at the front and back for sealing.

When packaging multiple items together, measure the entire group as a single block, arranging the products as they will be placed on the machine. The film wraps around the outside of the group, not around each item individually.

When calculating the film used per pack, always include the height as well as the length. For the A450, the manufacturer’s manual recommends leaving a length of film in front of and behind each product equal to about the product’s height. This means a tall product will use more film than a flat one of the same length. If your products vary greatly in size, using only one film width for all of them often results in excess trim on smaller items. In many cases, using 200 mm film for small products and a wider film for larger ones helps reduce waste and cost.

How Shrink Film Moves Through the Machine

The machine first seals the film around the product. Sealing time and temperature must be set for the film: too long will burn the sealing blade and the film, while too short will leave a weak seal or uncut film.

After sealing, the pack either goes into a tunnel or stays under the hood. In a tunnel, temperature and belt speed work together and must be set for the film. POF shrink film requires a higher tunnel temperature than PVC. The B4255 and F7060 use a needle wheel to pierce the film so air can escape as the film shrinks. If air cannot escape, the seal may open.

With an L-sealer and tunnel, such as the T5040 or T4535, the product is first wrapped in film. The L-shaped sealing bar then seals and cuts the film around the product. After sealing, the pack moves onto a conveyor and passes through the tunnel, where hot air shrinks the film tightly around the product.

In a chamber or hood machine like the B4255 or F7060, sealing and shrinking happen in the same place. For side sealers such as the A450 or AUTOSHRINK, the machine seals along the sides and across the front and back of each product, then a tunnel shrinks the film.

A cold machine will need a longer sealing time for the first few packs.

On the F7060, set the shrink temperature between 100 and 150 °C and the sealing time between 0.4 and 0.6 seconds, depending on the film type and thickness.

For the B4255, find the correct sealing time by running two or three empty cycles, then increase the time in small steps until the film seals and cuts cleanly. Use the shortest time that gives a good seal for production. Preheat the machine by lowering and raising the hood two or three times before starting the first pack.

On the V4530 tunnel, preheat the tunnel before running the first pack. Start with the belt speed set in the middle of its range, then adjust the tunnel temperature until the film shrinks properly at that speed. Once you find the right temperature, record it for future runs of the same product. If you need to run the belt faster, increase the temperature as well. On the T4535, always place the product in the center of the conveyor under the sealing arm, set the guide rails to match the product width, and make sure the film feeds straight. This keeps the film even on both sides of the pack.

Shrink Film Faults and Their Causes

Common problems in shrink film packs include dog ears, holes, wrinkles, and ballooned packs. Dog ears are corners of film that stick out, caused by too little heat or too much film around the pack. Holes or burn-through are caused by too much heat or a belt that moves too slowly. Wrinkles and loose film result from too little heat or a belt that moves too quickly.

A ballooned pack or an opened seal means air could not escape during shrinking. Change only one setting at a time and check a test pack before starting a new run.

Using a narrower film or increasing the tunnel heat can reduce dog ears.

A weak seal or uncut film means the sealing time is too short. If the sealing wire smokes, the sealing time is too long for the film, or there is film residue on the wire.

If film residue builds up on the sealing wire or blade, it will cause smoke and lead to poor seals. Clean the wire or blade right after sealing, while it is still hot, using a dry cotton cloth. Never scrape a Teflon-coated blade with metal or sharp tools, as this can damage the coating and cause the film to stick. The B4255, F7060, and A450 manuals all give this instruction.

On the F7060, if the fan is running but the film does not shrink properly, either increase the shrink temperature or make the shrinking time longer. On the A450, if products touch each other on the infeed, they will be wrapped together as one pack. To prevent this, leave a gap between products so each is wrapped separately.

On the A450, raising the sealing temperature in one large step can damage the heating parts (manufacturer’s manual), so increase it gradually and check a pack after each change. If a pack opens on only one side, check that the film is feeding straight before adjusting the heat. If the film feeds crooked, there will be less film on one side, and that side may open during shrinking. When a problem occurs, keep one faulty pack and write down the settings used. After each adjustment, compare the next pack to the faulty one to see which change fixed the issue.

Storing Shrink Film Rolls

Store shrink film rolls in their box in a dry area, away from sunlight, heaters, and hot equipment. Do not press or dent the film edges, as damaged edges can tear or feed unevenly. Let rolls from cold storage reach room temperature before use. Always use the oldest rolls first.

Heat can start the shrinking process before the film is used.

Keep boxes of film rolls off the floor, on a shelf or pallet, so water from the floor or cleaning cannot reach them.

When carrying a roll, avoid hitting the edges and never drop it on an edge. Before putting a roll on the machine, check both edges for damage. If the outer layer is damaged, cut it off instead of feeding it into the machine. After a shift, put a started roll back in its box or cover it, as dust on the film will end up inside the clear pack. Write the date you collected the goods on each box so the oldest rolls are easy to find and use first.

What Affects the Cost Per Pack

The cost of shrink film per pack depends on the width you select, the amount of film used for each pack, and the amount trimmed off by the machine. The price for each width is listed on the product card.

A narrower film for smaller items uses less film per pack. However, if the width is barely enough, you risk open seals and packs that need to be rewrapped.

For a quote, use Get offer, or use Add to inquiry to gather several products into a single request.

On side sealers, the trimmed film is collected as waste: the A450 uses a waste film wheel, while AUTOSHRINK features motorized scrap recovery. The size of the trim roll at the end of a shift shows how much film is wasted. By checking this, you can see if a narrower film would save material or if machine settings can be adjusted to reduce trim.

The F7060 manual recommends using as little film around the pack as possible. To find the actual cost per pack, count the number of packs produced from a full roll, including test packs. Divide the roll length by this number to determine the real film used per pack. This method gives a more accurate cost than just using the product length and margin, since it includes film lost during setup and trimming.

Checklist before ordering shrink film

Before ordering shrink film, review your machine and the film range in the table above. Calculate how many rolls you need based on your daily pack count and the film used per pack.

Plan to store the rolls in a dry, cool area. Shrink film here is for products and small bundles. For full pallets, use stretch wrap, which has its own category.

Measure the smallest and largest items you pack, and make a test pack to confirm the correct film width. This helps prevent excess trim or failed seals.

Before ordering, make sure your product fits within the pack size listed on your machine’s page. If your machine uses a tunnel, also check that the wrapped pack will fit through the tunnel entrance. Decide if one film width covers all your products or if you need two widths for small and large items.

Keep a settings sheet for each product, listing the film width, sealing time, sealing temperature, and for tunnels, the tunnel temperature and belt speed. This allows the next run to start with the right settings. Order new rolls based on the number of packs made from the first roll, including test packs. Keep a spare roll of each width you use so production does not stop if a roll runs out during a shift.

Questions about shrink film

Which machines in your shop use this shrink film?

Every shrink wrapping machine in our shop lists POF film on its page. The 15 micron film and all three widths are within the film ranges for the T5040, T4535, and AUTOSHRINK. Tell us your machine model and we will confirm that the roll fits before your first order.

Which shrink film width should I choose?

Select the width based on your product size. Use 200 mm for small items and 500 or 550 mm for larger products or bundles. Measure your product and allow space for the seal.

How many packs can I get from one roll?

Divide the roll length by the film used for one pack, which is the product length plus the margin before and after it for sealing. The roll length is 1259 m for 200 mm width and 1335 m for 500 mm and 550 mm widths.

What does 15 microns mean for shrink film?

15 microns means the film is 0.015 mm thick. This is the thinnest film listed for the T5040 and T4535 machines and is suitable for lightweight products with smooth surfaces.