Many people ask me, “Do you offer an economical alternative to your high-end shrink wrap machines?” This is an understandable question. Not everyone wants or needs to spend thousands of dollars on a high-end shrink wrap system. One economical alternative is to use an I-bar sealer, like those manufactured by Traco.

Traco is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of shrink wrap machines and shrink wrap film. Their 60,000 square foot facility has been cranking out packaging equipment for years. Having been in business for 27 years, Traco has developed a stalwartly reputation. We sell a lot of Traco supplies and equipment and I can tell you from personal experience that their products really are that good.

Traco I-bar sealers use the exact same shrink wrap bags and centerfold rolls of shrink film that the high end machines do. They just use a slightly different method to complete the process. To date, their I-bar sealers range in length from 13″ up to 40″. This means you can use them to package something as small as a CD or as large as a box. To date, over 150,000 SuperSealers have been sold.

Comparable to the AIE I-bar sealers, the Traco SuperSealers are available in two different designs. You have the standard SuperSealer and the deluxe SuperSealer. So what are the differences between the two? I’ll explain.

Two Types of SuperSealers

• Standard SuperSealer – The Standard SuperSealer (found here) is extremely similar to the Deluxe model. It includes a roller base for the centerfold roll of film and a film separator. The spring-loaded sealing arm can be pulled down, activating the cutting wire in the “I Bar.” This cuts the film. An included HotShot heat gun can then be used to shrink the film. The entire process takes just minutes, and if sealing a small item, just seconds.
• Portable Deluxe SuperSealer – The Deluxe SuperSealer (found here) is almost exactly the same as the standard version, but also includes a light that lets you know when the sealing process is occurring. When the light is off, the sealing is done. Some people enjoy having this visual indicator, although it is not a necessity. The Deluxe version also includes a replacement parts kit and a 50’ starter roll of film.

 

This is a video demo of the Traco SuperSealer in use:

Both versions of the SuperSealer produce high-quality results. Products packaged on a SuperSealer have the same professional appearance as those packaged on high-end shrink wrap systems and L-Bar sealers.

Whether you are packaging CDs and DVDs, or simply want to provide an attractive / protective sleeve for your art or photo prints, the SuperSealer shrink wrap machine has multiple uses. The best think is that SuperSealer shrink wrap machines cost hundreds, rather than thousands of dollars. The only limitation of the SuperSEaler, versus a high-end machine, is the speed. I-bar sealers, like the SuperSealer, are best used for light to medium-volume packaging.

You can find our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here and shrink wrap film here. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our shrink wrap / packaging specialists.

Whether you are making your own chocolates or need a way to package boxes of chocolates, you are probably going to need some sort of retail packaging. While there are several ways you can package chocolates, one of the most popular methods is by using shrink wrap. Which kind of shrink wrap machine is best for packaging chocolates and is there any risk of the chocolates melting? I will answer these questions and more in this article.

Having been in the packaging industry for over a decade know, I have seen people package everything from pizzas and baskets to soap and books. Another popular item is chocolates. This involves chocolates in a box or unboxed. There are a couple of different approaches you can take to shrink wrapping chocolate. These involve I-bar sealers and L-bar sealers. The machine you use depends on the volume you will be packaging. Here area  few benefits of both:

I-Bar Sealers – I-bar sealers (aka straight bar sealers) involve a single cutting bar. This bar is pulled down to cut film around an object, usually requiring 2 passes. These systems can be used with shrink bags, but are typically used with centerfold shrink film. Simply insert your chocolate bar or box, cut the film around the package and sealing the film using a heat gun. These machines are ideal for a few dozen to a few hundred packages a day.

Here is a video demo of an I-bar sealer in use:

L-Bar Sealers – L-bar sealers use an L shaped sealing bar that completely seals chocolate in film in a single pass. These types of sealers can be used in conjunction with a heat gun or a heat tunnel. Many modern L-bar sealers incorporate a built-in heat tunnel that seals and shrinks the film in a single pass. These machines are ideal for a few hundred to a few thousand packages per day. Some of the higher-end machines can package tens of thousands a day.

Here is a video demo of an L-bar sealer in use:

Which type of film should you use? There are two primary types of shrink wrap film used in packaging. One is PVC and the other is Polyolefin. The only film that is safe for use with food is Polyolefin. This means if you are packaging chocolate, you should use Polyolefin film (aka Poly film). This is especially important if the film will be directly touching the chocolate.

Will the chocolates melt? Many people thing that since heat is used in the shrink wrap process that it will melt the chocolate. This is usually not the case. L-bar sealers, using an integrated or built-in heat tunnel will rarely if ever cause the chocolate to melt. The heat process takes just seconds and is too little time to do any damage.

I-bar sealers, which use a heat gun, do run a higher risk of melting the chocolate. While it rarely ever happens, chocolate can begin to melt if the heat gun is left on any one spot for too long. It is my observation that I-bar sealers (with heat gun) will only melt the chocolate if human error is involved. If the gun is left on any one spot for too long, it will usually damage the shrink wrap as well. Heat guns take just seconds to shrink film, so you really shouldn’t run into any issues, especially if the chocolates are in a box.

At ABC office we have sold hundreds of machines to people packaging chocolates and they always end up happy with the end results. If you do have questions, or have unique chocolate packaging needs, please feel free to speak with one of our packaging specialists at 1-800-658-8788. You can find our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here and shrink wrap film here.

As is the case with any I-bar or L-bar impulse sealer, they will eventually wear out. Normal wear includes cracking, corrosion, being dull and difficulty cutting film. The average impulse-sealing blade lasts about a year. Once your blade is caput, how do you go about changing it? This article will go into great detail on how to change your impulse-sealing blade.

These instructions are specifically for the Minipack Galileo, Galaxy, Synthesis, Junior, Vision, Media, RP-Series, FM-Series, FC-Series, EP-Series, Replay-Series and Modular-Series. While these tips are specifically for Minipack Galileo, most L-bar sealers operate in a similar manner. Be aware that sealing blade, sealing knife and sealing wire are often used interchangeably.

Minipack Impulse Sealing Blade Installation:

STEP 1 – Loosen the screws that hold the sealing blade in place. This involves a left clamp, center clamp and rear clamp. A brass piston, found in the left and rear clamps, will snap back from spring compression. This is normal. You can now remove the old sealing blade. Check for ware and replace if needed.

STEP 2 – Working from the back, insert the new sealing blade into the rear brass clamp piston. Do this until it cannot be inserted further. Be aware that the sealing blade must contact the bottom of the brass piston. It needs to make it past the set screw.

Using your left hand, press the blade about 6″ into seat. While holding the blade in place, push the clamp piston forward using an 8mm nut driver. The blade should move forward about ¾”. Release the clamp and continue to press the blade into the seat.

STEP 3 - You will now need to use your thumb to bend the blade, allowing it to fit inside the seat of the corner clamp. While holding the sealing blade wire in place, continue pressing the blade into the seat until it reaches the left front clamp.

STEP 4 – You will now need to completely loosen the left clamp assembly. Once loose, continue pressing the sealing blade into the seat. Cut the sealing blade approximately 7/8″ past the aluminum channel. Be careful not to cut the sealing blade too short as the retention screw will not be able to hold the blade. If the sealing blade is too long, it will pop out. The brass clamp must be 2mm from the aluminum channel. Re-assemble the left clamp and follow STEP 2.

STEP 5 – Using a soft object, such as wood, push down firmly on the center blade assembly and tighten the set screw. Be aware that improper set screw alignment can lead to the sealing blade popping out during operation.

STEP 6 - Push the rear clamp forward using an 8mm nut driver and tighten the set screw. Be aware that the brass piston needs to be 2mm away from the aluminum channel.

If for any reason you are having trouble changing the sealing blade, or you need a few additional tips, please feel free to call our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129. You can find our entire selection of shrink wrap machines, supplies and accessories here.

Impulse sealing blades are the most common method used to seal and cut shrink film and other plastic materials. In relation to shrink-wrap machines, and even many heat sealers, the blade will eventually begin to dull and efficiency will begin to wane. Bad sealing blade symptoms include cracked blades, built-up blade corrosion and the inability to cut film. Here are a few tips that will help you to extend the life of your impulse sealer.

Impulse Sealer Troubleshooting Tips

• If you are having issues with your bags or film not properly sealing, try lowering the seal time. The less time that is put on a seal, the stronger it should become.
• I recommend not exceeding 1.8 seconds when sealing. That should provide the beset seal. A longer sealing time will only compromise the seal and decrease its strength.
• I recommend cleaning the sealing blade on your shrink wrap machine or heat sealer with either a cleaning gel or with silicon spray. This can potentially extend the life of the sealing blade by up to 12 months. Contact our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129 for shrink-wrap machine and heat sealer cleaning supplies.

While we do offer replacement kits, wire kits and other accessories for AIE shrink wrap machines and heat sealers (found here), some of our replacement shrink wrap wire, Teflon tape, pads and other parts need to be ordered directly from our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129. You can also reach our Service Department by filling out this form.

Many of the replacement kits are listed directly on the product’s page under “Options and Accessories.” We offer machines from Minpack, AIE, Traco, Rochman, Aline, GHL and others. You can find our I-bar shrink wrap machines here, shrink wrap systems here, L-bar sealers here and heat sealers here.

Shrink wrap machines come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re familiar with packaging, you’ve probably seen I-bar sealers, L-bar sealers with heat tunnels and much more. One of the most effective shrink wrappers I have used is the integrated tunnel / L-bar sealers made by Minipack. One such example is the Minipack RP 40 industrial grade shrink wrap machine. This is my review.

Minipack is an Italian company that manufactures shrink wrap machines, vacuum food sealers, heat tunnels and much more. Their products are renowned for their quality, results, durability and much more.

The RP 40 is a relatively new machine. I don’t know about you, but when I first saw it, the RP 40 reminded me of the old Minipack Mini Plus. The dimensions are even similar. That said, the Minipack RP 40 is a compact all-in-one style shrink wrap machine that is perfect for low to medium volume packaging. It is rated at about 6 wraps per minute, which is significantly faster than the 1-2 a minute that most I-bar sealers provide.

The Minipack RP 40 has a 16″ x 10″ x 6.6″ sealing area. This is big enough to package a DVD, Blu-ray, CD, small box, books, paper, small baskets and much more. As mentioned earlier, this is an all-in-one machine. Once you have inserted your product into the film, all you need to do is pull down the hood.

The hood includes an L-bar sealer, which quickly cuts the film. Once cut, the machine then uses the hood chamber area as a heat tunnel. This means cutting and shrinking is all done in a single pass. The clear Plexiglas hood makes it easy to see what is going on the entire time! I certainly appreciate this option far more than a standard enclosed heat tunnel.

Setting up this machine is easy. It has a centerfold shrink film roll dispenser that is set on smooth bearings. The RP 40 can use a roll of film up to 20″ wide and 10″ in diameter. Once your film has been placed on the dispenser rollers, simply feed it through the tear-free perforators and through the film separator. That’s pretty much it. I can set this machine up with film in about 2-3 minutes.

The RP 40 can be used with both PVC and Polyolefin centerfold shrink film. This allows you to package products for retail sale or food for display in a grocery store. The impulse sealer is fast and the heat sealing is quick enough that it will not damage food products.

The control panel is extremely easy to set up. A digital display combined with buttons lets you modify various settings and the built in storage will save up to 10 customizable programs.

The body of the RP 40 is made out of solid steel coated with a baked enamel finish, not that flimsy sheet metal stuff you find in other machines. The quality is unprecedented. This sealer includes its own supportive legs that are set on casters for added portability.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this machine. The quality is there, it should easily hold up for years to come and it is excellent for daily packaging of a variety of products. It really is that good. The RP 40 is robust enough for your manufacturing needs, yet compact enough that it can be used in most rooms. I recommend a ventilated room for use with PVC film.

You can find the Minipack RP 40 shrink wrap machine here, our centerfold rolls of shrink film here and our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here.

Do you package anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred items per day? Are you looking for a way to make your retail product look more professional? You may want to consider using something like the Traco Portable Deluxe SuperSealer. This I-Bar sealer is excellent for shrink-wrap packaging just about anything. I have used this system and this is my review.

Traco is a U.S. manufacturer of shrink-wrap machines, film, heat guns, heat sealers, shrink sleeves and much more. We have been working with them for well over a decade, so I can attest to the fact that they are a reputable company that will be able to provide support for their past, current and future products.

Traco currently manufactures two different SuperSealers. They make the Standard SuperSealer and the Deluxe SuperSealer. They are both very similar in use and operation, with the biggest difference being that the Deluxe version comes with a 50’ starter roll of centerfold shrink film and a repair kit. Combined, there are over 150,000 SuperSealers in use today.

Using the Traco Portable Deluxe SuperSealer (try saying that 3 times fast) is very easy to use and only requires a few steps.

• Step 1. First off you will want to be sure you have your roll of centerfold shrink film on the machine. The Traco SuperSealer has two rollers that spin on bearings on which sits the film. These two rollers help spin the centerfold roll and deploy the film. A small bar sits between the two flaps of the centerfold film, helping to keep it open, which in turn makes product insertion easy.
• Step 2. You will now want to insert your CD, DVD,  box, soap, pizza or other product into the open pocket of the centerfold film. Push the product all the way back so that it sits in the upper left corner of the film.
• Step 3. You can now bring down the I-bar of the sealer and seal the right side of the package. Once sealed, turn the product 90 degrees to the left and seal the other side shut.
• Step 4. Now that the entire product has been sealed in plastic, you can now take the heat gun and run it over the film. The heat will cause the film to contract. Be sure to heat up the front, back and sides. Don’t allow the heat to sit on any one part for too long as it will cause the film to tear open.

It really is that easy. I have seen people use this machine to seal fruit baskets, soap bars, DVDs, chocolate, pizza and much more. If you are packaging food, be sure to use food-safe Polyolefin film. The Deluxe SuperSealer will also work with PVC film.

The Traco Deluxe SuperSealer is currently available in 5 different sizes. These include 13″, 18″, 24″, 32″ and 40″. If you’re not sure which size you need, be aware that the larger sizes can use smaller widths of film. When it comes to shrink wrap machines, it is better to over estimate than under estimate.

This is a video demo of the Traco Standard SuperSealer. It is almost identical to the Deluxe version minus the starter roll of film, repair kit and an onboard assistance light that lets you know when the sealing is done.

Overall I am very impressed with this system. It is fast, effective, holds up well and is  great for low to medium-volume use. This machine is a best seller with our customers and the track record is excellent.

You can find the Traco Portable Deluxe SuperSealer and our entire selection of I-bar sealer shrink wrap systems here.

If you’re an electrician, or have worked with electrical wiring, you probably know that the lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. For example, 16-gauge wire is actually significantly thinner than 10-gauge wire. This almost goes against common reasoning as higher numbers typically represent bigger or thicker. So is this the case with the gauge of shrink wrap film?

Shrink wrap film is commonly available in 60, 75 and 100 gauge thicknesses. As you might understand, many people wonder if 60 or 100 gauge film is the thickest. Shrink wrap film gauges, contrary to electrical wire gauges, are actually thicker as the number goes up. One-hundred gauge film is in fact thicker than 60 gauge shrink wrap film.

Hopefully this helps clarify some of the confusion out there. While we have established how shrink wrap gauges work, you should be aware that there are two primary different types of shrink wrap film. These are:

1. PVC Shrink Wrap Film
2. Polyolefin Shrink Wrap Film

While both PVC and Polyolefin shrink film gauges are literally the same in thickness, you should be aware that 75 gauge PVC and 75 gauge Polyolefin act very differently.

One of the biggest reasons people go with thicker PVC film is to prevent tearing or breaking of the film. This is because PVC film has a more brittle quality to it than Polyolefin film.

While people increase the film gauge with Polyolefin to help increase the packaging strength as well, Polyolefin film has an elastic-like stretchy quality to it. For this reason, 60 gauge Polyolefin film, while thinner, has just as good an integrity quality as 75 gauge PVC film. Simply put, you don’t need as thick a gauge of Polyolefin film to get the same results as 75 gauge PVC film.

I hope this helps you understand shrink wrap film in a little more detail. We have over 30 years experience with shrink wrap packaging, so please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions regarding shrink wrap film or machines.

You can find our entire selection of shrink wrap film and replacement parts here and our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here.

I have been asked my many entrepreneurs and start-up businesses what the best way is to package items such as DVDs, CDS, small boxes and other products for retail sale. My answer is always, “try using a shrink wrap machine.” One of the most reputable shrink wrap machines we offer is the Traco Standard SuperSealer (SS) shrink wrap machine. We use this same machine in our warehouse and I have had many opportunities to use it, including filming an informational video demo.

To begin with, Traco has been around for 27 years and manufactures a variety of I-bar machines, L-bar sealers, shrink wrap systems and offers a wide range of shrink wrap film. I like their products and consider them to be of a good caliber.

The Traco Standard SuperSealer is an I-bar sealer / shrink wrap machine. It is sometimes referred to as a straight-bar sealer. This is because it utilizes a single bar for cutting film, whether it be shrink wrap backs or centerfold shrink film. It includes a heat gun, which is used to complete the shrink wrap process.

This is a video demonstration of me using the Traco SS-24SS SuperSealer.

Overall the results look very professional. The only downside to using an I-bar sealer is that it is very manually involved. You have to manually flip the product to seal the sides (which isn’t difficult). I would estimate 1-2 minutes to package a product, perhaps faster if the operator is experienced. This isn’t slow, but can’t be used for high-volume packaging purposes either.

I have used the SuperSealer shrink wrap machines with PVC and Polyolefin films. PVC is typically ideal for CDs, DVDs and boxes where Polyolefin is great for food, fruit baskets, etc. The included heat gun works very well and quickly shrinks the film down in seconds.

I personally consider the Traco line (both Standard and Delux SuperSealers) to be high quality products. The only other I-bar sealer that I would consider to be of equal quality is the AIE I-bar sealer found here. The AIE machine comes with a starter roll of film, which is pretty nice.

You can find the Traco Standard SuperSealer (SS) shrink wrap machine here and our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many people have asked me, “Should I use shrink wrap or stretch wrap to package this product?” Many people interchange stretch wrap and shrink wrap not realizing that they are two completely different products. I will help clear up the differences. By then end of this article you will be a stretch wrap and shrink wrap expert!

To begin with, both stretch wrap and shrink wrap are used for packaging purposes. For that reason, I believe a lot of people get confused. Here is my brief explanation of each of these packaging technologies.

Stretch Wrap - Stretch wrap is a type of clear plastic film that has the appearance and consistence of saran wrap. This film is typically designed to bundle multiple items together or provide stability to a package of items. As the film is wrapped around a product, some tension is required to provide stability. Stretch wrap film tends to “cling” together as it is wrapped over itself. Many stretch wrap machines are designed to apply stretch wrap to large pallets of products for stability and shipping purposes. No heat is applied during the stretch wrap process.

Shrink Wrap - Shrink wrap is also a type of clear plastic film, however, it does not have stretchy or clingy “saran wrap” properties. Shrink wrap is typically designed to package an individual product, although it can be used to package multiple items together. Unlike stretch wrap, which is wrapped around a product multiple times, shrink wrap is actually cut around a product using a heat sealer or shrink wrap bar. The shrink film then shrinks (hence the name) around the product as heat is applied. The end result is a professionally packaged product. Shrink wrap provides a tamper proof and protective barrier.

I hope that helped. Let me also demonstrate the differences between stretch wrap and shrink wrap with a few video demonstrations.

This is a video demo of a stretch wrap (pallet wrap) machine:

This is a video demo of a shrink wrap machine:

At ABC Office we offer a great selection of packaging products designed to preserve, protect and package. You can find our entire selection of pallet stretch wrappers here and our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here.

Please feel free to contact one of our packaging specialists at 1-800-658-8788 with any stretch wrap or shrink wrap questions.

I just had a chat this morning with a customer regarding some small-volume packaging operations. The customer wanted to buy a shrink wrap machine, but was completely new to the industry and didn’t know exactly where to start. I don’t normally post chats in our blog, due to the fact that I have dozens a day, but this customer asked some pretty good questions that I think will help many of you who are shopping around for a shrink wrap machine.

This particular customer informed me that they were packaging about 6-8 boxes a day that measured in at 12 ½” L x 9 ½” W x 6 ½” H. This is where buying the right size machine can get a little complicated. The easiest way to determine the machine width you need is to take the width of the product you are packaging, plus the height and add 2″ on top of that. Some people only add 1″, but I find that 2″ gives you a little extra (and valuable) room.

This is what we calculated:

9.5″ + 6.5″+2″ = 18″

So we ended up determining that the customer needed a machine that was 18″ wide. In his case we only needed an I-bar sealer because he was only packaging 6-8 boxes a day. Because an I-bar sealer doesn’t use a tunnel, we didn’t need to worry about getting a machine that may have tunnel or chamber height issues.

I provided the customer with a link to our I-bar sealers. After browsing through them for a minute or two he asked me what I thought about the Traco Deluxe Super Sealer. I told him that Traco makes some great products, but that I considered the AIE I-bar sealer to be the better deal because it comes with a 500-foot roll of starter film. I informed him that both machines were probably equal in quality, but that they AIE system was simply the better deal.

He ended up ordering the 24″ AIE I-bar sealer (AIE-2024I) because he wanted to be future proof, believing that he may end up packaging larger items later down the road. In case you didn’t already know, a longer 24″ (or bigger) I-bar shrink wrap machine can use smaller rolls of film.

I hope this chat, and included details, help you with your shrink wrap machine shopping. You can find our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here and shrink wrap film here. If for any reason you still have questions about these machines, feel free to speak with one of our shrink wrap specialists by calling 1-800-658-8788.