Shrink sleeve labels are tubular labels made from heat-shrink film as the base material, printed on and then formed. They are convenient to use and ideal for irregularly shaped containers. Shrink sleeve labels generally require specialized labeling equipment to apply the printed sleeve to the container. First, the labeling equipment opens the sealed tubular sleeve, sometimes requiring perforation; next, the sleeve is cut to the appropriate size and fitted onto the container; then, heat treatment using steam, infrared, or hot air channels is used to ensure the sleeve adheres tightly to the container surface.
Due to the high transparency of the film itself, the labels have vibrant colors and a good gloss. However, because they must be shrunk before use, there is a drawback of image distortion, especially for products printed with barcodes. Strict design and printing quality control is essential; otherwise, image distortion will result in substandard barcode quality. Shrink wrap labels can be applied using traditional labeling equipment, but the process requires adhesives and higher temperatures. During the shrinkage process, stress occurs at the adhesive overlap areas, making hot melt adhesive the preferred choice.
