Shrink Film Types: PVC vs. Polyolefin vs. PE

The short answer

The right shrink film depends first on your machine. Every sealer is built for certain film types and thicknesses, and the manufacturers list them in their specifications. In our range, polyolefin (POF) runs on almost every Maripak sealer. PVC runs on the Maripak hood sealers and semi-automatic L-sealers and on AIE's I-bar and L-bar systems. Polyethylene (PE) is the thicker film for bundling multipacks on shrink bundlers and for pallet covers.

This guide compares the three films using the film data that Maripak, AIE and Ripack publish for their machines. For the properties of a specific film, such as food contact or clarity, ask your film supplier for its data sheet.

Gauge, micron and mil: reading film thickness

Film thickness appears in three units, often side by side in the same specification:

• Micron (µm): one thousandth of a millimeter, used in metric specifications.
• Mil: one thousandth of an inch. 1 mil equals 25.4 micron.
• Gauge: 100 gauge equals 1 mil, so 1 gauge is about 0.25 micron.

Maripak lists both: for example POF at 30–120 gauge, or 7–37 micron, and PVC at 60–100 gauge, or 15–25 micron, on its LMC semi-automatic L-sealers. For the Multimac D PE bundlers it lists 1–3 mil, or 30–80 micron. When you compare a film offer with a machine specification, convert both to the same unit first.

Polyolefin (POF)

POF is the film with the widest support in our range. Maripak lists it for every L-sealer and hood sealer we carry, the automatic machines included:

• Compack 5800 hood sealers, LMC semi-automatic L-sealers and TMC Pro combinations: POF 7–37 micron.
• CLS Compact: POF only, 60–160 gauge or 15–40 micron.
• RLS e-Pro 5844: 60–125 gauge or 15–33 micron; the RLS e-Pro 8065: 40–150 gauge or 10–40 micron.
• Impack side sealers: POF and PP with the "V" knife, 7–40 micron.

If you are buying a first machine and want the most freedom in film choice later, check that it runs POF. It is the common film across the Maripak range.

PVC

Maripak lists PVC at 15–25 micron (60–100 gauge) for its Compack hood sealers, the LMC and LMC-P L-sealers and the TMC Pro combinations. The SYMPACK 35 side sealer and tunnel lists POF, PE and PVC at 15–60 micron. The CLS Compact, the RLS e-Pro and the Impack side sealers do not list PVC.

At the entry level, AIE's I-bar shrink wrap systems ship as complete kits that include a 500 ft roll of 75 gauge centerfold PVC shrink film. AIE's L-bar systems seal and trim PP, PVC and PE film up to 0.025 mm (25 micron) thick. Our guide L-Bar Sealer vs. I-Bar Sealer explains these machines.

Polyethylene (PE)

PE film is used in our range where a thicker film is needed. Maripak builds the Multimac D shrink bundlers as fully automatic sealers for PE film, at 1–3 mil (30–80 micron), to bundle products such as multipacks into shrink-wrapped packs. On the Impack side sealers, PE and OPP run with the "W" knife at 40–80 micron. The RLS e-Pro and the Wrapture Pro Motion also list PE.

PE packs need more care after the tunnel. For its Diamond shrink tunnels, Maripak offers ironing rollers and a cooling fan at the tunnel exit as a factory option for PE-wrapped packages. See How to Choose a Shrink Tunnel for the other tunnel options.

Pallet covers are PE as well. Ripack's Turbopack manual says low density polyethylene (LDPE) covers should be at least 120 microns thick with a maximum of 20% recycled content, and the film should be bi-oriented, shrinking both vertically and horizontally. The Ripack Multicover 955 cuts and seals PE shrink film from the roll into covers, up to 4 × 500 micron (about 4 × 20 mil). Our guide How to Shrink Wrap a Pallet covers the full process.

Film types compared

The ranges are the manufacturers' specifications for the machines we carry. Each product page lists the film types, thickness range and maximum film width for that machine.

PP, OPP and CPP

Some machines also run polypropylene films. Maripak lists POF, PE, OPP, CPP and PP for the RLS e-Pro, with knife changes, and for the Wrapture Pro Motion 40 trimless side sealer at 10–80 micron single layer. The Impack side sealers run PP with the "V" knife and OPP with the "W" knife. AIE's L-bar systems seal and trim PP film. If you plan to use one of these films, tell us which one and its thickness, and we confirm with the manufacturer that your machine and knife setup fit.

Film width, centerfold and roll size

Thickness is not the only limit. Each machine has a maximum film width and roll diameter. On the Maripak L-sealers, the maximum film width ranges from 20" (Compack 5800i, LMC 5844-M, TMC Pro 5844-M) to 36" (RLS e-Pro 8065); on the Impack side sealers it is 26" to 49". Maximum roll diameters are 10" to 12" on the L-sealers and side sealers and 14" on the Multimac D bundlers.

L-bar and I-bar sealers run centerfold film: a film folded in half lengthwise, so the product goes between the two layers. Our Shrink Film Calculator works out the centerfold width you need for your package, the cut length per package and the number of packages per roll.

How to choose: checklist

• Start with the machine: which film types and thickness range does its maker list?
• Convert the film offer to the same unit (gauge, micron or mil)
• Check the maximum film width and roll diameter of the machine
• For PE: knife setup on side sealers, and ironing rollers and cooling fan on Diamond tunnels
• For pallet covers: LDPE, at least 120 micron, bi-oriented, per Ripack
• Ask your film supplier for the data sheet and, where it matters, food contact or other approvals