Dow adds to roll-fed label offerings with steam-shrinkable film

Last year the label converting business unit within Dow Chemical Company introduced its Opticite roll-fed shrink labels that are said to mimic the look and shrinkage of shrink sleeves. The first of these were designed for shrinkage via hot air, but now a new label is offered for packaging lines using steam shrinking. The standard material for roll-fed shrink applications is bioriented polypropylene (BOPP), but shrinkage of this is limited to about 15%. Dow's films and their high shrink rate could offer a lower-cost option to decoration of crazily contoured packaging.

MPW Staff | Sep 15, 2010

Opticite 41 is the addition to the company's Opticite roll-fed label range. According to Dow (Midland, MI), these new labels enable up to 50% shrink in the machine direction. The two types of labels it introduced last year both shrink up to about 35% in hot air.

The company says these new labels, converted from polystyrene film, are suitable for use with hot-melt adhesive, solvent, or ultraviolet-curable adhesive, as well as with laser and hot-bar systems.

Polystyrene film offers clarity and good printability. Because the Opticite labels shrink in the machine direction, brand owners can expect to reduce the off-line seaming and inspection steps typical in the production of transverse-direction shrink sleeves. —[email protected]

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