Shrink Hoods

Whether it's cartons, rolls, unpackaged items, or bulky parts, our shrink hoods offer the ideal solution to optimise the protection of your goods. Made from tough and robust LDPE, a high-quality plastic, our shrink hoods reliably protect all packaged goods from moisture, dust, and dirt. We are happy to fulfil any special requests from our customers, whether they require black or transparent shrink hoods, different sizes, or custom printing. With our standardised or customised shrink covers (special sizes can be produced from small order quantities) and corresponding shrink cover accessories (such as shrink guns), your packaged goods are always secure.

The purpose of a shrink hood

The shrink cover is a very reliable way to protect products packed on mobile load carriers—such as on a Euro pallet and/or in a pallet cage. One of the most important uses of the shrink cover is securing products during transport.

By shrinking the hood around the package and pallet, the film behaves like a second skin: it fixes and stabilises the packaged goods on the pallet. As a result, the shrink-wrapped pallet can withstand certain lateral forces during transport. The shrink wrap also protects the contents from dust, moisture, and humidity, as well as from prying eyes.

Material of shrink hoods

We only offer products of the highest quality, and this also applies to our shrink covers. These are made from LDPE (low-density polyethylene), the world's leading plastic. Polyethylene is both thermoplastic and environmentally friendly, as it contains no plasticisers or heavy metals and therefore burns without leaving any residue. This high-quality, and environmentally friendly plastic is food-safe and 100% recyclable. LDPE is very resistant, tough and very durable. The black version is UV-stable for up to 12 months (depending on the intensity and duration of exposure to sunlight), as certain additives are included during production. By choosing our shrink hoods, you are opting for an absolutely top-quality product.

Resistance ability of our shrink hoods

Our shrink hoods are made from the highest quality plastic available—LDPE. This material is practically an all-rounder, capable of withstanding a wide range of external influences.

Weather resistance

Our pallet covers can withstand almost any kind of weather. They are, of course, rainproof and protect your goods from moisture and humidity. The water is immediately drained away by the tightened and moulded film, which also prevents the formation of water pockets.

Our weatherproof shrink hoods also provide protection against dust and dirt. However, the UV radiation from the sun can only have a limited effect on our black, UV-resistant pallet covers. In this case, the UV protection of the black covers lasts for up to 12 months.

UV resistance

The black hoods are UV-stable for up to 12 months. During production, certain additives are incorporated to stabilise the shrink cover against UV radiation, making it resistant to the sun's rays, depending on their intensity and duration. Its opaque (lightproof) colouring also enhances protection against theft, as it prevents visibility of the goods concealed under the pallet cover. We can also accommodate special sizes for this type of shrink hood, even for small order quantities. Contact us at any time! Get in touch now.

The following standard sizes of the black, UV-resistant hoods are available for immediate delivery:

We are also able to produce transparent shrink hoods with UV stabilisers. This ensures that the shrink hoods have a guaranteed UV stability of up to several years. If you require such shrink covers, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will provide you with a customised quote!

Protection against theft and transport damage

We produce shrink hoods in numerous designs. Shrink hoods with a thickness of 125my (125µ), for example, are also suitable for very heavy packaged goods, as they reliably stabilise the goods and also protect them to a certain extent from mechanical external influences. Colouring the shrink cover offers another advantage. The opaque colouring protects your goods from prying eyes, making it impossible to discern the value of a package. Opaque colouring can thus serve as additional protection against theft.

Standard sizes - available for immediate delivery

The diversity of our product range is our signature feature. You have a specific idea of the product you want - we make it possible! This also applies to our shrink hoods.

Below, you will find the standard sizes, which have proven effective for many applications and are therefore used very frequently. The following standard sizes of shrink bonnets are therefore available for immediate delivery.

Customised shrink covers - your request is our top priority

We manufacture shrink hoods in a consumer-oriented way, focusing on your wishes and requirements. Special requests? With pleasure! This applies not only to the product dimensions of the shrink hoods, which we customise according to your specifications for order quantities of approximately 250–500 pieces, but also to producing customised shrink covers in any colour and print design you require. Whether yellow, blue, red or simply bright white, we can colour your shrink cover as you wish.

Would you like your company logo or brand logo to be printed on the shrink hood? No problem. We print shrink hoods from an order quantity of approx. 1000 - 3000 pieces according to your individual requirements.

Would you prefer your shrink wrap on a tear-off roll, i.e., perforated to a specific length? Or would you prefer a continuous tubular film that you can cut and shrink to the size you need? These products are also available here. We supply both perforated hoods on rolls and gusseted tubular film (endless tubular film). Just get in touch with us.

Product summary

• Shrink hoods in various dimensions and colours are available for immediate delivery.
• Shrink hoods protect your products from transport damage and moisture.
• Shrink hoods can be customised for you in any size (on request).
• Shrink hoods are made from the highest quality raw materials (LDPE).
• Shrink hoods can be processed easily and efficiently with our shrink gun.
• Shrink hoods are available in standard sizes from stock, even in small quantities.

Accessories for the shrink hoods

To ensure the professional use of shrink covers, you will, of course, need the appropriate, high-quality shrink equipment. We stock shrink guns and shrink torches from Ripack (model: Ripack 3000). These devices are not only reliable and robust, but also easy to use. If you require more affordable or alternative shrink guns, we will be happy to offer advice. You can find Ripack and Blitzpack shrink guns in our shop.

Shipping

We dispatch our shrink hoods via a forwarding agent or parcel service, depending on the order quantity. Smaller quantities are neatly packed and dispatched in boxes of approximately 20 units, while larger quantities are shipped in pallet boxes by a forwarding agent. Of course, we can also pack according to any special requirements you may have.

Questions and answers about shrink hoods

How do I calculate the dimensions of a transparent shrink cover?

To determine the required dimensions of your shrink hood, all you need is the size of the packed pallet or pallet cage. With this information, it is easy to calculate the size of the shrink hood.

Add an additional 5 cm to the width and length of the pallet to ensure you can easily slip the hood over the packaged goods. To determine the height of the shrink cover, add half the width to the height of the pallet.

Here is a calculation example:

Pallet size: length = 1200 mm; width = 800 mm; height = 1450 mm
Shrink hood size: 1250 mm (1200 + 50) + 850 mm (800 +50) x 1850 mm (1450 + 400)

If you're unsure, feel free to contact us at any time. We will be happy to help you find the right dimensions for your shrink hoods. Contact us now.

How do I shrink a pallet correctly?

You need a shrink gun to shrink-wrap a pallet. Well-known shrink guns include the Ripack 3000, while more affordable alternatives include the Blitzpack B4000 model.

The shrink hood is first placed over the packaged goods. A base seal is then applied to the bottom of all four sides of the pallet. This ensures that each side is shrink-wrapped or "welded" to the underside of the pallet, one after the other. Once all four sides have been base-welded and sealed, the individual sides of the shrink hood are processed evenly from bottom to top using the welding gun.

Caution: The shrink gun should be held evenly and at a fixed distance from the film; otherwise you may create holes in the film. This would compromise the protective and stability functions of the shrink hood. Shrinking is a matter of practice and quickly becomes routine.

What is the difference between a shrink hood and a pallet cover?

Shrink hoods are side gusseted bags, with the key difference being that they are biaxially stretched during manufacture, which ensures "shrinkage" during use. Normal side gusseted bags look the same, but they are not stretched during production. The shrinkage values of normal side-gusseted bags are significantly lower than those of shrink hoods, making them unsuitable for this purpose.

A shrink hood is often used solely as moisture or humidity protection. In this case, a pallet cover may be a more cost-effective option, as it is typically much thinner and is either not shrinkable or only partially shrinkable. However, if you require additional protection against mechanical impact, a shrink hood is the better choice.