Furniture stretch film company specializes in durable, high-clarity films for protecting furniture during transport.

Securing Beverage Collation in Heat Tunnel Lines: Why Drink Pack Shrink Film Matters

Introduction:

The rapid growth of high-speed beverage production has made collation shrinking a critical process rather than a secondary packaging step. For beverage manufacturers, Drink pack shrink film is the final structural element that holds multi-pack units together during handling, palletizing, and transport. Failure during shrinking or lifting does not only disrupt production flow—it leads to damaged packs, rework, and downstream logistics risks. A shrink film designed specifically for beverage Heat Tunnel systems is essential to ensure consistent pack integrity from the filling line to distribution.

---

1. Engineered for Stable Heat Shrink Performance

Beverage packs passing through a Heat Tunnel experience concentrated thermal exposure combined with mechanical load from bottle weight. Films not designed for this condition often suffer from insufficient tightening or uneven shrinking. Purpose-built drink pack shrink film delivers controlled Heat Shrink activation, allowing the film to contract evenly around collated units without distortion.

With a balanced Shrink Ratio in both MD and TD directions, the film achieves tight pack formation while maintaining dimensional stability throughout tunnel processing and cooling.

---

2. Controlled Shrink Behavior for Uniform Collation 

Uneven shrink behavior is one of the main causes of distorted drink packs and unstable collation after passing through the Heat Tunnel. Drink pack shrink film designed for beverage applications is engineered with optimized molecular orientation to ensure synchronized shrink response across the entire pack surface.

By maintaining a balanced shrink behavior in both MD and TD directions, the film contracts evenly around collated units without localized over-tightening or irregular deformation. This controlled shrink performance helps reduce visual defects at sleeve openings, minimizes pack skewing, and supports consistent pack geometry after shrinking.

---

3. High Holding Force for Heavy Beverage Loads

After exiting the Heat Tunnel, beverage packs must retain sufficient Holding Force to withstand lifting, conveying, and palletizing. Inadequate holding performance leads to loose packs or sudden tearing when handled.

The film is designed to maintain residual tension after cooling, ensuring strong Holding Force that keeps bottles securely collated even under dynamic load conditions. This performance is critical for preventing pack failure during lift-and-carry operations.

---

4. Mechanical Strength Against Lift-Induced Failure

One of the most common issues in beverage collation is pack breakage when lifted immediately after shrinking. To address this, drink pack shrink film incorporates enhanced puncture resistance to withstand stress from bottle edges and tray contact points.

Typical mechanical performance includes:

Puncture Force: ≥18 N (TD direction)

This strength prevents tearing during post-tunnel handling and improves overall pack durability throughout the logistics chain.

---

5. Practical Specifications for High-Speed Tunnel Lines

To support continuous beverage production, the film is designed for stable line compatibility. A controlled COF range of 0.6–0.8 ensures smooth conveying without excessive slipping or jamming. The film performs consistently across standard Heat Tunnel temperature ranges, reducing the need for frequent parameter adjustments and improving operational efficiency.

---

Conclusion:

In beverage production, collation shrinking is not a cosmetic process—it is a structural requirement. Using an unsuitable shrink film can result in loose packs, uneven shrink appearance, and failure during lifting. Investing in drink pack shrink film with controlled shrink behavior, reliable Heat Shrink performance, sufficient Holding Force, and proven mechanical strength is essential for maintaining line stability and protecting product integrity from tunnel exit to final delivery.