Side Bar Sealer & Shrink Machine

Shrink wrapping involves a process wherein heat-sensitive films are used to cover products before heat is applied to shrink the film and form an airtight wrapping around products.

These machines usually comprise two integrated pieces of equipment, namely a sealer and a shrink tunnel. The most used sealers are L-Bar Sealers, Side Sealers, and Sleeve Sealers that can apply and shrink wrap films such as PE and POF in a safe and efficient manner.

Our SA Packaging Machinery Range

Our range of L-Bar Sealers, Sleeve Sealers, and Side Sealers, as well as Shrink Tunnels are ideally suited to a wide variety of applications and can be customised according to your production needs. All individual modules that comprise our Shrink Wrap range like infeed and discharge conveyors, multi-lane conveyors, dual infeed rails, and pack cooling racks are available in different versions according to your production requirements.

Side Sealer vs. L-Bar Sealer: Key Differences

Although both shrink wrappers—side sealers and L-bar sealers—are used in shrink wrapping, they have distinct differences in their operation and best-use scenarios:

Sealing Mechanism

• L-Bar Sealer: This type of shrink wrapper utilizes an L-shaped bar to seal and cut the shrink film in one motion. It is ideal for smaller items or individual products that do not need full enclosure. These machines for shrink wrapping wrap products on three sides.
• Side Sealer: A more advanced shrink wrapper that seals continuously along the sides of the product, allowing for complete wraps. Side sealers are perfect for larger or irregularly shaped items and multi-packs, making them a versatile shrink wrap machine.

Speed and Efficiency

• L-Bar Sealer: These shrink film wrapping machines are best for lower-volume operations, with a slower pace that suits individual packaging needs.
• Side Sealer: A high-speed shrink wrapper capable of wrapping up to 120 packs per minute, ideal for bulk shrink wrap equipment operations in high-output production lines.

Product Flexibility

• L-Bar Sealer: Best for individual consumer goods, DVDs, or boxes where full wrapping is unnecessary.
• Side Sealer: A highly versatile shrink wrapping machine suitable for multi-packs, electronics, and large items like doors.

Cost and Space Considerations

• L-Bar Sealer: Compact and affordable, ideal for smaller operations or businesses with budget constraints.
• Side Sealer: While larger and more expensive, this shrink film wrapping machine offers unmatched productivity and reduced manual intervention.

Side Sealers are advanced shrink wrappers ideal for high-demand, high-output production lines, making them perfect for a wide range of industries. These machines are particularly effective for shrink wrapping e-commerce goods, such as electronics, books, video game boxes, candy, and other consumer products.

Businesses seeking reliable shrink wrap equipment for medium, large-sized items, or even elongated products, Side Sealers can maintain fast wrapping speeds without compromising quality. Their ability to handle varying product shapes and sizes while delivering consistent results makes them a great choice for businesses with large-scale packaging needs.

• Superior packing quality with product-sensing horizontal and verticals eyes, and time relay eliminates inconsistent film applications to prevent in-transit movement, product tampering and damage
• Operators have precision control over angular and linear positions, as well as packaging process velocity
• High productivity wrapping speeds of max 120 packs per minute depending on product size
• Variably-sized products can be wrapped by easily adjusting a rotating handwheel
• Side Sealers are fully programable and offer higher wrapping speeds than other sealers since they are configured with two- or three-belt sealers
• Servo motor motion controls offer a smooth, fully automated wrapping process with excellent output rate (approximately 2000 packages per hour)
• Durable stainless-steel design with minimal carbon footprint
• Touch-screen integrated PLC controller with bilingual interface and custom programs input storage capacity
• Modular design with self-centering film drive-down systems, automatic edge guidance and film tracking systems
• Integrated temperature control
• Supports manual or automatic product feeding with automatic changeover capability
• Accommodates a variety of accessories from label applicators to groove punches
• Maintenance-free sealing bar offers fully customizable clearance and speed settings
• Continuous motion side sealers allow for film savings of around 20 – 30% compared to machines that are not fitted with servo motion control systems
• Typically, Side Sealers require 30% less operational costs compared to similar machines
• Industrial-grade metal vertical side cutters operate in silence to produce neat, high-integrity seals that are not too loose or too tight, or prone to tearing
• Product changeover times are short and operational reliability is increased since no adjustments to product guides are needed
• Dynamic wrapping customisations allow for the packaging of a greater range of goods including wider, oblong, or elongated products

By integrating a Shrink Tunnel into your packaging line, time and labour expenses are severely reduced as production efficiency increases exponentially.

Side sealers, a type of automatic shrink wrapper, operate in two modes: intermittent motion and continuous motion. Depending on production needs, these shrink film wrapping machines can be equipped with a two-belt or three-belt design:

• Two-belt sealer: Compact and efficient for smaller production lines.
• Three-belt sealer: Larger and designed for precise product spacing before entering the wrapping station.

Key features of this machine for shrink wrapping include:

• Horizontal and vertical product-sensing photo-electric eyes for precise wrapping.
• A thermostatic side cutter for clean, professional seals.
• Compatibility with films like PE and POF, ensuring flexibility in wrapping options.

Once wrapped, products are passed through a shrink tunnel, completing the shrink wrapper process for a polished, tamper-resistant finish.