Both systems use flexible film, but they form the pack differently. Selecting the wrong process can create avoidable cost, presentation and line-layout problems.
A flow wrapper creates a longitudinally sealed tube around products and makes transverse end seals. A shrink wrapper encloses or sleeves the product, then uses heat to contract shrink film.
| Decision point | Flow wrapping | Shrink wrapping |
|---|---|---|
| Pack formation | Film formed into a tube, longitudinally sealed and end sealed | Product enclosed or sleeved, then film shrunk with heat |
| Typical presentation | Pillow-style flexible pack with defined end seals | Film conforms around the product or group |
| Heat process | Localised sealing-jaw heat | Sealing plus a shrink tunnel or heat chamber |
| Typical products | Bars, biscuits, confectionery, soap, components and controlled multipacks | Bottles, cartons, trays, grouped products and transit bundles |
| Printed artwork | Registration can align film repeat to each pack | Possible, but artwork must tolerate shrink distortion where applicable |
| Line footprint | Wrapper, infeed and discharge | Sealer plus tunnel and cooling/discharge space |
Shrink wrapping may be a better fit when the film should tighten around a product, tray or bundle, especially for grouped bottles, cartons or transit packs.
The shrink-wrapping equipment shown here helps distinguish secondary shrink packs from individually sealed flow-wrapped packs.
For a project involving both primary and secondary wrapping, define the purpose of each pack layer and the transfer between machines.
No. A flow wrapper forms and seals a web around each product using longitudinal and end seals. Shrink wrapping normally encloses the product in film and then applies heat so the film contracts around it.
Shrink film is designed to contract and can conform closely to the product or group. Flow wrap forms a controlled pillow-style pack and does not rely on a shrink tunnel.
Horizontal flow wrapping is commonly used for regularly presented individual bars because it forms and seals each pack continuously. The final decision depends on product, film, barrier and presentation requirements.
No. Its sealing jaws apply heat at the seals, but the pack does not pass through a shrink tunnel to contract the complete film web.
Flow wrapping creates a formed tube with a longitudinal seal and transverse end seals. Shrink wrapping uses heat to contract film around a product or group. The correct route follows the required pack function, not the fact that both processes use flexible film.
A discrete product or controlled group travels horizontally, artwork can register to each repeat and the finished pack has defined longitudinal and end seals.
Film is sealed or sleeved around a product, tray, carton or group, then a tunnel or chamber applies heat so it tightens around the contents.
Loose powders, granules or other products dosed downwards into a formed bag normally belong with vertical form fill seal machinery rather than a horizontal wrapper.
Use the same product range and written quality criteria when comparing processes. A visually tight pack, a registered printed pack and a transit bundle solve different requirements.
| Requirement | Flow-wrap trial evidence | Shrink-wrap trial evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Product presentation | Product position, bag dimensions, fin location and end-seal appearance. | Film conformity, seal position, shrink finish and product movement through the tunnel. |
| Printed artwork | Registration mark control and print-to-cut repeatability. | Artwork behaviour as film contracts and the accepted distortion boundary. |
| Heat exposure | Localised sealing heat at the longitudinal and end seals. | Product response to tunnel or chamber temperature and dwell time. |
| Output and footprint | Wrapper, infeed, discharge and any inspection or accumulation. | Sealer, tunnel, cooling or discharge and the time needed for stable shrink. |
No. A vertical form fill seal machine normally forms a bag while product is dosed downwards. A horizontal flow wrapper moves a discrete product or controlled group along an infeed while film is formed and sealed around it.
Yes, where each process has a distinct purpose. Individual products may be flow wrapped first and then grouped or presentation wrapped using shrink film. The transfer, buffering and pack orientation between stages must be defined as one line.
Choosing a sealed pillow pack still leaves important machine decisions. Product support, feeding and jaw motion should be selected around the real product and production film rather than by the generic term “flow wrapper”.
Compare manual flighted loading, inline metering, collating and automatic presentation.
Feeding systemsAssess how soft, sticky or difficult-to-push products should be supported through the film path.
Reel-position guideMatch seal contact and product clearance to the production film and accepted pack.
Jaw-motion guideThe cost-factor guide explains why a base wrapper, integrated automatic line and validated production solution are not equivalent quotations.
Forms longitudinal and end seals around a controlled group or several primary packs, with film and pack length matched to the collation.
Uses heat to contract suitable film around a product, tray or group. The finished appearance and containment are different from a sealed flow pack.
Whichever process is chosen, the group count, orientation, stability and abnormal-condition response must be defined.
Multipack collation guideShare your product, pack size, film and target output for a practical machine recommendation.