Shrink sleeves · stretch labels · flexible packaging films · laminates — engineered for brand owners, converters and co-packers who cannot afford to compromise on consistency.
Sleeve label films · flexible packaging rollstock · laminates · compostable structures. Trial roll to full container.
| Material | Thickness mic / mil | Width mm / in | Length/roll m | Shrink / Stretch | Core mm / in | Primary Application | Food Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETG | 30–60 / 1.2–2.4 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Shrink sleeve labels | Yes | |
| OPS | 35–55 / 1.4–2.2 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Shrink sleeve, wrap-around | Yes | |
| PET | 30–60 / 1.2–2.4 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Shrink sleeve label, packaging, lamination | Yes | |
| LDPE | 30–50 / 1.2–2.0 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Stretch sleeve labels | Yes | |
| PLA | 30–60 / 1.2–2.4 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Bio shrink sleeve, compostable packaging | Yes | |
| PO | 40–50 / 1.6–2.0 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Polyolefin shrink sleeve, stretch labels | Yes | |
| PP | 15–80 / 0.6–3.2 | 300–1500 / 12–59″ | 3–8,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | BOPP flow wrap · CPP sealant · PPWR laminates | Yes | |
| PA | 70–200 / 2.8–7.9 | 200–1200 / 8–47″ | 1–5,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | PA/PE vacuum pouches · meat · cook-in · thermoforming | Yes |
* Custom thickness, width and core available on request. PP = BOPP/CPP grades. PA = PA/PE coextrusion. Full flexible packaging range including EVOH, MDO-PE, PBAT/PLA — see Materials hub.
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Technical guides, regulatory analysis and procurement intelligence for label converters, brand owners and co-packers.
2026-03-14 · 6 min read · Polimex Technical Team
A "smile" is when the top or bottom edge of a shrink sleeve curves upward at the sides, creating a U-shape instead of a straight horizontal line. A "frown" is the opposite — edges curving downward. Both defects are visible at point of sale and signal a quality control issue that retailers and brand owners will not tolerate on premium lines.
The smile/frown effect arises from uneven shrink force across the width of the sleeve. When the centre of the label shrinks more aggressively than the edges (or vice versa), the differential stress causes the edge to wave. The trigger is almost always one or more of:
| Step | Action | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Isolate tunnel zones | Block alternate zones and observe defect location | Identifies cold or hot spot |
| 2. Slow line speed 10% | Reduce conveyor speed without changing temperature | More dwell time — if defect reduces, tunnel is under-heating |
| 3. Check steam saturation | Steam tunnel: verify steam trap function; no condensate pooling | Eliminates cold-spot from condensate |
| 4. Test film transverse shrink | Cut a 100mm × 100mm sample, apply heat, measure shrink in both axes | TD shrink should be uniform ±2% across web width |
| 5. Review seam tension | Check seaming line tension — over-tensioned seam distorts TD shrink | Reduce tension to minimum that maintains seal integrity |
If the tunnel checks out but the defect persists, request a transverse direction (TD) shrink uniformity report from your film supplier. A high-quality shrink film should show TD shrink variation of <3% across the full web width. Wider variation in the roll edges vs. centre causes inherent smile/frown that no tunnel adjustment can fully correct.
Smile and frown effects are caused by uneven heat distribution or inconsistent film TD shrink. Diagnose through zone isolation, speed variation and film testing. Polimex provides CoA shrink uniformity data per production lot. Contact: ops@polimexgroup.com