Polyolefin Shrink Film
High-clarity, food-contact polyolefin film for retail packs that have to look as good as they seal.
- Thickness range
- 12 – 30 µmCross-linked grades available
- Layflat width
- 200 – 700 mmCentre-fold or single-wound
- Shrink ratio
- 55 – 75%Biaxial, both directions
- Colours
- Clear standardAnti-fog and printed to order volume
- Food contact
- SuitableDocumentation issued on request
- Mode of use
- Sealer + tunnelRuns cooler than PVC or PE
The Retail-Facing Shrink Film
Polyolefin shrink film — POF — is a co-extruded, multi-layer film developed as the replacement for PVC in consumer packaging. It is the film you see on a boxed consumer product on a shelf: glass-clear, glossy, tight to the contours of the pack.
Against PVC it wins on three counts that matter in a food or retail operation. It is suitable for direct food contact. It seals without releasing the acidic fumes that corrode sealing wires and irritate operators, so a bench line does not need extraction. And it stays flexible at low temperature instead of going brittle, which means chilled and frozen packs survive the cold chain intact.
It is supplied cross-linked where maximum strength at minimum gauge is needed, and in standard grades where the pack is straightforward. Both are available centre-folded for L-sealers or as single-wound sheet.
Image is representative of the shrink film range. Layflat width, gauge and shrink ratio are built to your specification.
Key Features
Very high clarity
Glass-clear with high gloss and very low haze — the film disappears and the product sells itself.
Food-contact suitable
Formulated for direct contact with foodstuffs; documentation issued on request.
Clean, odourless sealing
No acidic fumes at the sealing wire, so no extraction hood and no wire corrosion.
Stays flexible when cold
Retains toughness at chilled and frozen temperatures instead of going brittle.
High shrink force
Pulls tight around irregular and contoured packs without leaving slack faces.
Cross-linked option
Cross-linked grades give more strength at a lower gauge, cutting film weight per pack.
Consistent gauge
Uniform web thickness holds seal quality steady across a full shift.
Recyclable material
Polyolefin construction, recyclable through the appropriate film stream — and chlorine-free, unlike PVC.
Built To Your Specification
POF is specified around the pack it has to sell. These are the options that change how it looks and how it runs.
Technical Specifications
| Material | Co-extruded polyolefin (POF); cross-linked grades available |
|---|---|
| Thickness | approx. 12 – 30 micron |
| Layflat width | approx. 200 – 700 mm; centre-fold or single-wound |
| Length | approx. 800 – 2,000 m per roll, to specification |
| Core diameter | 76 mm (3″) ID standard |
| Shrink ratio | typically approx. 55 – 75% MD / 55 – 75% TD |
| Shrink temperature | approx. 140 – 180 °C tunnel air |
| Clarity | Very high gloss, very low haze |
| Food contact | Suitable for direct food contact; documentation on request |
| Colour options | Clear standard; anti-fog and printed grades to order volume |
| Packaging | Rolls boxed on cores and palletised |
Figures shown are indicative typical ranges for this product line and are provided for guidance only. Exact specification, tolerances, roll size and packaging are confirmed against your order — request a signed technical datasheet from our sales team before specifying.
Applications
Performance Characteristics
Retail shrink is judged on the shelf and on the line. These are the properties that decide both, and each is confirmed on the datasheet issued against your order.
Shrink ratio
55 – 75% both directionsHigh biaxial shrink is what lets POF pull tight around a contoured or irregular pack without leaving a slack face.
Seal strength
HighForce the seal withstands before peeling. On cross-linked grades this stays high even at 12 micron.
Optical clarity
Very high gloss, very low hazeThe property POF is bought for. Measurably clearer than PE shrink and comparable with the PVC it replaces.
Shrink temperature window
WideTolerance to tunnel temperature variation, which is what keeps a bench line producing acceptable packs through a cold start.
Tear resistance
HighResistance to a nick at the seal or perforation spreading into a split during handling and display.
Puncture resistance
HighImpact energy absorbed before break-through — the property that lets cross-linked grades run thinner without more rejects.
Film memory
High shrink forceStrong recovery on heating, which is what gives the tight, drum-skin finish on a boxed retail pack.
Low-temperature toughness
Retained to freezerFlexibility held at chilled and frozen temperatures, where PVC and unmodified PE go brittle and crack.
Performance values are typical for the standard grade and vary with gauge, wrapping method and load profile. Ask for the test report covering your specification.
Equipment Compatibility
POF runs on standard shrink equipment at a lower tunnel temperature than PVC. Confirm your machine type and sealing method when you enquire.
Choosing Between The Shrink Film Grades
Three shrink film grades. POF is the one to specify whenever the pack will be seen by a customer or will hold food.
| Product | Primary application | Material | Clarity | Typical equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre-Fold Shrink Film | Retail multipacks, print & media | Polyolefin or PE | High | L-sealer + shrink tunnel |
| Polyolefin Shrink Film | Food, consumer goods, gift packs | POF (cross-linked available) | Very high | Chamber sealer or tunnel |
| LDPE Shrink Film | Bundling, pallet hooding, drinks packs | LDPE | Medium | Bundling wrapper + tunnel |
Clarity, shrink ratio and seal strength are matched to the pack you are running. Send us a sample pack or its dimensions and we will recommend the grade and gauge.
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View DetailsDatasheets & Downloads
Documentation for Polyolefin Shrink Film is issued on request, so you always receive the revision that matches your order. Tell us the width and gauge you are specifying and we will send the current set by email — usually within two business days.
Technical Data Sheet
Full specification, tolerances and test data for the width and gauge you are specifying.
Request DocumentProduct Brochure
Product overview and application guidance, formatted for circulation internally.
Request DocumentSafety Information
Handling, storage and safe-use guidance, including material safety data.
Request DocumentCompany Catalogue
The complete Maximum Global Packaging range in a single reference document.
Request DocumentNeed something else — a compliance declaration, certificate of analysis or bespoke specification sheet? Ask our technical team.
Ready To Order Polyolefin Shrink Film?
Send us your product type, dimensions, estimated monthly quantity, delivery location and required timeline — we come back with a specification, price and lead time.