The use of sleeve technology started at the end of the 70′ in USA and Japan. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) made the tamper evident seal mandatory for all pharmaceutical products after a tragic serial poisoning affairs. Soon after, this technology was taken by the food industry and developed as a marketing tool. With the sleeve, companies were able to enhance the design and increase the communication surface of their products. The sleeve is nowadays present in all markets and has become an alternative to standard labels also thanks to its recycling properties.
SLEEVE TECHNOLOGY
sleeve technology... WHAT IS A SLEEVE?
Description
The Sleeve is a plastic tube, internally or externally printed, which is used for Decoration, Tamper Evidence, and bundling – on all types of containers. The sleeve, when used for decoration, is a very efficient marketing tool which helps differentiating your product. It is the main alternative to paper, OPP, ROSO or PSL labels and the only solution to decorate complex shapes from the top to the bottom.
Advantages
- It offers a communication surface of 360°, top to bottom. None of classical labels can achieve that!
- The sleeve is suitable for all shapes and materials without any glue.
- It is compatible with humidity and temperature changes.
- It is fully customizable (fully or partially printed, transparent, mat or shiny, flat or textured)
Shrink & Stretch sleeve technology
You will find to types of sleeves: shrink & stretch, made of different raw materials. They both offer a wide range of possibilities and are adaptable to all your needs.
Functions
Full body decoration
“Partial or complete body labeling, you can decorate your product 360° from top to bottom – according to marketing expectations.”
Endless solutions with sleeve technology
Tamper evidence or neck banding
“The sleeve is applied on the cap of the container and has to be removed in order to allow the opening of the product.”
The end user sees straight away if the product has been opened before or not !
Choose sleeve technology
Bundling
“The sleeve can be used to bundle 2 or more products together and create a promotional pack which will stand out on shelves.”
The added value of sleeve technology
Shrink & Stretch Sleeves
Shrink Sleeves
Shrink & Stretch Sleeves
Markets
Sleeve is used by companies in every markets: food, beverage, dairy, pharma, cosmetics, homecare, industrial… Thanks to its adaptability the sleeve can fulfill all needs of decoration, Tamper Evidence and bundling, even for special applications.
The Shrink Sleeve
Description
Shrink sleeves are tubes made of flexible plastics, made of PET, OPS, PLA, PP, COEX/HYBRID or PVC. They are reversed of surface printed using technologies such as rotogravure, flex offset or digital. You can therefore have a superb result. You need to shrink the sleeve by using heat (hot air or steam) in order to have the sleeve following the shape of your container. Shrink sleeves are compatible with any type of containers (plastics, glass, metal, cardboard, wax…). Shrink sleeve can be used for all types of shapes, even the most complex. The big advantage is to offer a complete coverage (360° from top to bottom). This allows more communication surface. Your product will standout on shelves.
How to apply and shrink?
Shrink sleeve applicators:
The Stretch Sleeve
Description
The stretch sleeve is made of low density PE plastics. Stretch sleeve does not need glue or heat to remain on the container. It is compatible with many type of materials (plastics, glass, metal, cardboard…), and can be used in a wide range of products from 100ml to 200L. Its main benefits: high recyclability rate, low cost and a large communication surface.
How to apply it?
Stretch sleeve is smaller than the product. PDC machines open the sleeve and apply it on your container (as you put a sock on). The sleeve remains in position thanks to elasticity.
Stretch sleeve applicators:
Stretch vs Shrink
STRETCH SLEEVE
- up to 50% less expensive than shrink (1L bottles)
- less energy consumption (no heat)
- suitable with cold and wet products
SHRINK SLEEVE
- covers the whole body from the top to bottom
- compatible to complex shapes
- allows tamper evidence ensuring product integrity
Sleeve recyclability
SLEEVE RECYCLABILITY
Both stretch and shrink sleeves can be made of recyclable plastics and do not need any glue to stick to the product.
• Shrink sleeves are mainly high density material (1,3), they sink when put into water, making it difficult to separate. A big trend on the market is to add vertical perforations on the sleeve allowing the enduser to easily take the sleeve off.
• Stretch sleeve has a low density (0,93) which allows the material to float when put into water. PE is easy to separate from other plastics, easy to recycle and does not generate toxic fumes when burnt. Do not forget that stretch sleeve do not need heat to remain onto the container which reduces dramatically the energy required. Stretch is THE green solution (low energy consumption, easy to recycle).
MICRO-PERFORATION
