What is?.... Glossary of Terms

What is Instapak?

Instapak – is made of two main chemicals that when combined expand and quickly solidify. In Instapak Quick Bags the chemicals are confined in a bag so when the bag is patted with hands – activating the mix – the chemical activates and expands within the confines of the bag so that when the weight of an object is placed upon it, the foam expands around the product creating a perfectly shaped cushion before solidifying. With the larger Instapak systems it works in the same way, but confined in different ways. ... continue reading

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What is an Air IB Express?

Air IB Express – known as the New Air IB Express Packaging System – this is a table-top sized machine that enables the user to create lengths of bubble wrap on demand and as needed. A roll of film is inserted onto the winder of the machine (various widths, bubble profiles, and weight bearing gauges are available) and the button is pushed. ... continue reading

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What is a Heat Gun?

Heat Gun – also known as a Hot Air Gun, in terms of packaging a heat gun is used to apply heat to certain plastics to enable them to shrink to the desired size. Used to apply shrink sleeves over bottles or jars, the heat enables the Shrink Sleeves to shrink, also used with simple shrink wrapping operations (such as a Shrink-A-Pack ) to once again enable the shrink film to shrink around the product. ... continue reading

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What is an Impulse Heat Sealer?

Impulse Heat Sealer – An Impulse heat sealer will create a single line of seal using heat. It simply uses a scissor action to create the line of heat to seal and is commonly used to seal closed bags. They come in various sizes – or lengths of seal, (from 100mm to 1m), and different widths of seal from 2mm to 5mm, some also have cutters to cut away the bag after the seal. Can be used with polypropylene, polythene, shrink film as well as poly tubing . ... continue reading

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What are Shrink Sleeves?

Shrink Sleeves – also known as tamper seals or tamper evident security seals or plastic sleeves for bottles. Commonly seen as the plastic tamper seal on the top of a bottle or jar that has perforations for easy opening, and if it isn’t there then customers are less inclined to purchase. Technically a shrink sleeve is a tube of PVC plastic that will shrink when heat has been applied using a heat gun . ... continue reading

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What is Shrink Film?

Shrink Film – commonly referred to as shrink wrap, is a roll of plastic – usually either PVC , polyolefin or polyethylene - which will shrink when heat is applied. It is commonly used as a form of packaging to contain goods – the goods are wrapped and then heat is applied which causes the shrink film to shrink around the product. It is available in various thicknesses and widths so that it can be used for different sized and weighted goods. Heat is commonly applied using either a heat gun , or with a shrink wrapping machine and heat shrink tunnel . Comes in clear or black.... continue reading

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What is Poly Tubing?

Poly Tubing – or Polythene tubing is a roll of clear continuous plastic tubing which is commonly used with a heat sealer to custom size (long or short) plastic bags for product. The heat sealer will cut and heat seal closed either end of the tubing. it is available in a range of widths and thicknesses. ... continue reading

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