RKW stretchable shrink film offers energy and material savings

The new RKW shrink film adapts itself to the pallet prior to the shrinking process and shrinks significantly faster than conventional films

RKW has developed a stretchable shrink film that provides customers clear advantages over comparable products and that is a sustainable alternative: RKW's solution reduces energy consumption as it shrinks much faster than conventional films. It also cuts material requirements by more than ten percent. This not only lowers costs for users, but also contributes to sustainability targets.

Shrink films are used to secure pallets during transport and protect them against contamination and weathering influences. These films owe their name to their main characteristic: after heating and the subsequent cooling down, they shrink and tightly adapt themselves to the shape of the palletized goods.

Conventional shrink films are cut to larger dimensions than the product to be packaged. Depending on the pallet and packaging system, this difference can amount to as much as eight percent. Consequently, the shrinking process consumes a significant amount of energy. There are even more disadvantages: The use of oversized film often causes wrinkles on the secondary packaging, increasing the risk of holes in the primary packaging.

The RKW innovation turns the stretching and shrinking process upside down: "Our goal was to develop a sustainable shrink film that is smaller than the pallet dimensions but can be stretched and pulled over the palletized goods," explains Dimitri Rudsinski, Head of Sales Industrial Packaging at RKW Nordhorn. Even before the shrinking process, the film adapts perfectly to the pallet shape. The result: optically flawless pallets, free from wrinkles or holes. It also offers customers advantages in terms of sustainability and process efficiency. "The film dimensions per pallet are significantly smaller, which helps users to eliminate unnecessary excess film. This accounts for a savings potential of ten percent or more," Rudsinski explains.

Film reduces shrink time by 75 percent

The new film shrinks up to 75 percent quicker than conventional films. This reduces energy consumption and costs. More efficient shrinking processes also shorten cycle times and maximize output. The film is ideal for odd-shaped products that are difficult to package using shrink film. Hybrid packaging systems in particular benefit from the new film.

About the company

The RKW Group is an independent, family-owned company headquartered in Frankenthal, Germany and one of the world's foremost manufacturers of film solutions. RKW is a market leader in the areas of hygiene and agricultural films, films for the beverage industry and packaging for powdery goods. In addition, the company makes films and nonwovens for medical applications, for the chemical and converting industries as well as for the construction sector.

In the fiscal year 2017, RKW generated total sales of EUR 905 million. About 3,000 employees process 378,000 tonnes of plastic materials at 20 locations around the world.