How Does a Steam Shrink Tunnel Work | Shrink Tunnel

A steam shrink tunnel is a machine used in packaging industries to apply heat to shrink plastic film around products like bottles, cans, or jars. 

Here's how it typically works:

1.Product Conveyance: Products are placed on a conveyor belt and fed into the shrink tunnel.

2.Steam Generation: The tunnel contains a chamber where water is heated to produce steam. This steam is then directed into the tunnel area where the products pass through.

3.Heat Application: As the products move through the tunnel, hot steam surrounds them, causing the plastic film (usually made of PVC or polyolefin) wrapped around them to shrink and conform tightly to their shape. The heat softens the plastic, allowing it to shrink uniformly around the product.

4.Cooling Zone (Optional): Some shrink tunnels have a cooling zone at the end where the products are exposed to cool air or water to help set the plastic film and ensure it retains its shape.

5.Exit: Once the products have passed through the tunnel, they emerge fully packaged with the plastic film tightly sealed around them.

Steam shrink tunnels are often used because steam provides even heat distribution, which helps to achieve consistent shrinkage and high-quality packaging results. They are commonly employed in industries like food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and household goods packaging.