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Heat unitizing | Polyethylene film

Shrink Hoods and Shrink Pallet Covers

Custom shrink hoods for palletized loads that will be heat-tightened on the line or with a shrink gun. Film sized to the stack so the hood shrinks into a stable unit load, not a loose dust cover. Film thickness 25 to 300 microns.

Pallet covers →
25 to 300 micronsHeat unitizingCustom footprint and heightUV / print options

What a shrink hood does on a packing line

A shrink hood is a PE film hood pulled over a palletized load and heated so the film contracts and grips the stack. Unlike a loose pallet cover, a shrink hood is designed specifically for heat-shrink unitization. The result is load stability and five-sided coverage after shrink.

If your line does not use heat, open stretch hoods for elastic film without heat, or pallet covers for a slip-on dust cover.

Shrink hood vs nearby pallet products

ProductProcessPrimary job
Shrink hoodHeat shrinkUnitize and tighten film to the load
Stretch hoodElastic stretch, no heatUnitize with stretch film hood
Pallet coverSlip-onDust and short-term staging protection

Manufacturing parameters

ParameterWhat BENZ supplies
Film thickness25 to 300 microns
Base filmsPolyethylene (PE) shrink constructions
SizeCustom footprint and stack height; no fixed catalogue-size limit
OptionsUV stabilization and print when the construction allows
Application notesHeat method (gun, ring or tunnel) affects film selection and fit

How to specify

Quote the footprint of the packed pallet and full stacked height, including overhang and top packing. State the heat method: hand gun, ring, tunnel or other. That choice affects film grade and how much ease the hood needs before shrink. Outdoor exposure needs UV options called out early. Print for branding or handling marks is possible when the construction allows.

Where shrink hoods earn the heat step: lines that need a tight unitized pallet with full side coverage; stacks that move outdoors between plant and truck; plants that already own shrink equipment and want film that matches that process. If heat is banned near the product, compare stretch on the stretch hoods page before you commit the enquiry here.

Enquiry checklist

DetailWhy it matters
Footprint x heightPacked pallet L x W and stack H
Heat methodGun, tunnel, ring, other
Load typeBoxes, bags, irregular, heavy top
Film thickness25 to 300 microns
QuantityPer day or per order lot

Common questions

What is a shrink hood?

A polyethylene film hood designed to be pulled over a palletized load and heated so the film shrinks tight to the stack. Also called a shrink pallet cover when used for heat unitizing.

How is shrink different from stretch?

Shrink uses heat to tighten film around the load. Stretch uses elastic film without heat. Both can unitize a pallet; equipment, energy and film recipes are not interchangeable.

How is a shrink hood different from a plain pallet cover?

A plain pallet cover is usually a slip-on dust cover. A shrink hood is specified for heat-shrink unitizing and load stability, not only surface protection.

What film thickness can you supply?

BENZ can supply film constructions from 25 to 300 microns, selected for load type, heat method, outdoor exposure and required hold.

What dimensions do you need?

Pallet footprint and stacked load height, plus overhang. State whether you use a shrink gun, ring, tunnel or other heat method. Quantity and outdoor UV need if relevant.

When should I not use shrink?

If heat is not allowed near the product or the line already runs stretch hood equipment, open the stretch hoods page. If you only need a slip-on dust cover, use pallet covers.

Heat unitizing the load?

Send packed footprint, stack height and heat method. We will quote a shrink hood sized for your line.

Compare stretch hoods →
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