Shrink film conversations usually start with a misconception: that all shrink film is the same stuff in different boxes. It is not. LDPE shrink is the heavyweight of the family, built for bundling heavy, sharp-edged, or awkward loads that would eat a polyolefin roll alive. We extrude LDPE shrink film and convert it for US bottlers, dairies and industrial packers, so here is the grade-level clarity that keeps buyers from ordering the wrong family of film.
The two grades, cleanly split
Bundle grade wraps multi-packs: water bottles, canned goods, jars. It shrinks around the bundle, leaves bullseye ends, and runs on shrink tunnels at 300 to 350 Fahrenheit with dwell times that suit high-speed lines. Gauges run 75 to 150, with 100 being a common beverage center point.
Wrapper grade is heavier, 150 to 250 gauge, for unitizing sacks, insulation batts, doors and industrial goods, often replacing or supplementing stretch wrap where weather and storage duration argue for a sealed pack. It shrinks less aggressively in cross direction but delivers the tear and punture toughness LDPE is known for.
Shrink percentages are a spec, not a surprise
LDPE shrinks roughly 60 to 80 percent in machine direction and 15 to 30 percent in transverse depending on gauge and formulation. That anisotropy is a feature: bundles need longitudinal grip, and heavy goods need controlled transverse pull so corners do not tear out. Give us your bundle dimensions, product weight and tunnel type, and we spec gauge and shrink ratio to match rather than shipping a film that fights your line.
Where LDPE beats polyolefin, and where it does not
LDPE wins on strength per dollar, cold-temperature toughness and heavy bundle integrity. Polyolefin wins on clarity, softness and retail-facing presentation for light goods. If your product goes to a warehouse rather than a display shelf, and it weighs more than a bread loaf, LDPE is usually the right call. Beverage, dairy, chemical and building products overwhelmingly run LDPE for exactly this reason.
Indicative economics
LDPE shrink prices by weight: roughly $1.70 to $2.30 per kg FOB India depending on gauge and additives. A 40-ft container carries 20 to 22 tons, and because film is dense, ocean freight per kg is modest, which is why imported LDPE stays competitive through resin cycles. Production is 2 to 3 weeks for standard widths and gauges; custom dies and prints add a week or two. Ocean transit runs 4 to 6 weeks East Coast from Mundra.
Packer questions, answered
Does LDPE shrink film work in freezers?
Yes, and this is one of its genuine strengths: LDPE stays flexible and tough at freezing temperatures where some films crack, which is why cold-chain bundling leans on it.
Can we print the film?
Yes, up to flexo printing for brand or compliance messaging on bundle film. Many beverage packers print recycling and date zones directly on the film.
Grades, widths and gauge charts are on the LDPE Shrink Film page. For pallet unitizing read machine-grade stretch film, and for printed flexibles see printed BOPP film rolls.
