Applicator head
The machine section that feeds, cuts and places the sleeve onto the container.
Glossary
Shrink Sleeve Applicator Glossary
Plain-English definitions for common sleeve applicator, shrink sleeve, tamper band and tunnel terms used when specifying a machine.
Terms
Common sleeve applicator terms.
Use these definitions when comparing sleeve applicator quotes, shrink tunnel specifications, sleeve reels and application requirements.
Change parts
Tooling or guides used to adapt a machine to different container sizes or sleeve formats.
Cut length
The finished height of each sleeve after it is cut from the reel.
Dwell time
The time a sleeved pack spends in the shrink tunnel.
Eye mark
A printed registration mark used by a sensor to control cut position.
Former or mandrel
The tooling that opens sleeve film from flat layflat material into a shape suitable for application.
Full-body sleeve
A sleeve that covers most or all of the container for 360-degree decoration.
Hot-air tunnel
A shrink tunnel that uses heated air to shrink the sleeve around the pack.
Layflat
The flattened width of sleeve film before opening.
Neck band
A short sleeve placed over a cap or closure for tamper evidence.
OPS
A shrink sleeve film material sometimes used for specific shrink and presentation requirements.
PETG
A common shrink sleeve material used for high-shrink applications and shaped containers.
PVC
A widely used shrink sleeve material for bands and sleeves where project requirements allow it.
Registration
Control of print and cut position so artwork appears in the intended place.
Seam
The joined edge of the sleeve tube.
Shrink ratio
The amount and direction the film can shrink in the tunnel.
Steam tunnel
A shrink tunnel that uses steam for even shrink around complex shapes.
Tamper evident band
A sleeve or band that provides visible evidence if a closure has been opened.
Tunnel zone
A controlled heat or steam area inside a shrink tunnel.
Unwind
The reel handling and feed section of the sleeve applicator.
Controlled terminology
Use the same terms on the sleeve drawing, machine specification and trial record.
Terms such as lay-flat, cut length, print repeat, registration mark and finished sleeve height describe different measurements. Mixing them can lead to the correct value being applied to the wrong feature.
Add a sketch or annotated sample when a term could be interpreted in more than one way. For example, identify whether a dimension describes the unshrunk tube, the cut sleeve or the final cooled pack.
Information to control in the project brief
- Measurement name, datum and units
- Unshrunk or finished condition
- Container and sleeve revision
- Tolerance and measuring method
- Owner responsible for approval
- Linked drawing, sample or photograph