Shrink Sleeves, PVC Shrink Labels & POF Film
360 degrees of printed surface that wraps a compound curve, a tamper band and a multipack in one operation — plus the POF film that bundles them.
Why a sleeve does what a label cannot
A pressure-sensitive label is a flat rectangle applied to a curve. A shrink sleeve is printed flat, seamed into a tube and then shrunk with heat until it takes the exact shape of the container — waist, shoulder, neck and all. That means 360 degrees of uninterrupted graphics, no label edge to peel, and decoration on shapes no labeller can handle.
It also solves problems that have nothing to do with graphics. A sleeve can carry a perforated tamper-evident band over the closure in the same operation. It can decorate a container that is impossible to label, like a textured HDPE bottle. It can hide a recycled-content resin that is not cosmetically perfect. And it can turn two SKUs into one by leaving the container plain and letting the sleeve carry the flavour.
The catch is distortion. Because the film shrinks unevenly across a shaped container, the artwork has to be pre-distorted — deliberately stretched in the areas that will contract most — so that it lands correct. Distortion calculated from a technical drawing is a guess; distortion calculated from a physical container and a test shrink is an answer.
Choosing the film: PETG, PVC, OPS and the recycling question
PETG is the workhorse: high shrink, excellent clarity and gloss, good printability, and the most forgiving on complex shapes. Its drawback is that a full-body PETG sleeve on a PET bottle contaminates the PET recycling stream unless it is a floatable or perforated design.
PVC shrinks at lower temperature and costs less, which is why PVC shrink labels remain very common for tamper bands and for economy full-body decoration. Several retailers and jurisdictions are moving away from it; if your brand has a policy on PVC, tell us and we will spec around it.
OPS and, increasingly, floatable recycle-compatible sleeves are the sustainability answer: a sleeve engineered to separate from the PET bottle in the wash step so the flake stays clean. They cost more and the shrink window is narrower, and they are the correct choice for brands with a stated bottle circularity commitment. POF — polyolefin shrink film — is a separate product for bundling and overwrapping, not for decoration.
Application: on your line or through a co-packer
Sleeves are supplied as flattened tubes on reel, seamed to your specified lay-flat width, ready for a rotary or linear sleeve applicator followed by a steam or hot-air tunnel. The lay-flat dimension is critical and is calculated from the largest circumference of your container plus an application allowance.
If you do not have an applicator, low and medium volumes can be applied by hand or by a semi-automatic machine, and we can point you to co-packers who sleeve for a fee. Steam tunnels give a more even result than hot air on complex shapes, which matters if your container has a sharp shoulder.
We ask for six to twelve physical containers before production. We build a distortion grid, shrink it, measure where it moved and correct the artwork — then send you a shrunk sample on your own bottle to approve. That step is the difference between a sleeve programme that works and three rounds of expensive surprise.
What this product includes
Typical applications
- Beverage bottles with waists, shoulders and compound curves
- Tamper-evident neck bands on juice, sauces and supplements
- Full-body decoration of personal care and household bottles
- Yogurt, dessert and dairy cups with 360° graphics
- Multipack bundling and promotional two-for-one packs in POF
- Seasonal and limited-edition variants without new container tooling
Films, resins and finishes
- PETG shrink film, high shrink and high clarity
- PVC shrink film for tamper bands and economy full-body labels
- OPS and floatable recycle-compatible sleeve films
- Cross-linked and standard POF for bundling and overwrap
- Matte, gloss, metallic and soft-touch finishes
- Perforation, laser scoring and easy-tear features
Frequently asked questions about shrink sleeves & pof
The container — ideally six to twelve physical units — plus the artwork and whether you have an applicator and tunnel. From the container we measure the largest and smallest circumferences and calculate shrink percentage and lay-flat width; everything else follows from those numbers.
A standard PETG or PVC full-body sleeve is a contaminant in the PET stream. A floatable or fully perforated recycle-compatible sleeve separates in the wash step and is designed for exactly this problem. It costs more and we will show you the difference so it is a business decision rather than an accident.
Yes — a combination sleeve carries the body decoration and a perforated band over the closure in one piece, applied in one operation. It is cheaper and faster than applying a separate neck band, and it is one less component to buy.
No. POF is polyolefin shrink film used to wrap and bundle — multipacks, trays, boxes, promotional pairs. It is generally clear or lightly printed. A shrink sleeve is a printed, seamed tube used to decorate a single container. We supply both and they are quoted differently.
Let's spec your packaging
Send us the product, the process and the volume. You get a structure proposal, a tooling cost and a lead time within 24 business hours.