Cold process with no heat tunnel.
Technical comparison
Stretch vs Shrink: technical choice between elastic and heat-shrink sleeves
Operational comparison on energy, maintenance, line layout, sustainability and application scope. Comag Stretch Sleeve technology eliminates heat tunnel and glue where the format allows.
Stretch focus
No heat tunnel, lower energy, less maintenance and a lighter process when the pack supports elastic sleeves.
Shrink focus
Controlled shrinking for containers with dedicated geometries and heat-shrunk finish.
Stretch Sleeve advantages
Why Comag Stretch technology reduces operating costs and environmental impact
The documented advantages of Comag Stretch Sleeve technology apply to the SL, SLC, SLR, EB, EV and DS series, with a cold process and lower line complexity than shrink solutions where applicable.
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No glue and lower energy consumption.
Material reduction up to 30% where applicable.
Label separable from the container for full recycling compatibility.
360-degree surface available for graphic communication.
Lower environmental impact and carbon footprint than shrink solutions where applicable.
Technical table
Process differences
| Parameter | Stretch | Shrink |
|---|---|---|
| Application principle | The elastic sleeve is mechanically opened and pulled over the container without glue or heat. | The heat-shrink sleeve is applied to the container and then contracted through a heat or steam tunnel/chambers. |
| Process energy | No energy consumption for heat shrinking is required. | Requires energy for heating, steam or hot air depending on the solution. |
| Thermal components | No heat tunnel, fewer hot components and less cooling management. | Tunnel or integrated chambers are part of the process and require thermal control. |
| Sleeve material | Elastic film, typically polyethylene, suited to 360-degree decoration and protection. | Shrink film suited to conforming to the profile after controlled shrinking. |
Economic table
Impact on costs and layout
| Parameter | Stretch | Shrink |
|---|---|---|
| Operating consumption | Reduces energy demand because the pack is not heated. | Operating cost includes thermal energy, steam or hot air. |
| Maintenance | Less maintenance on tunnel, heaters, steam and ventilation. | Requires maintenance of the shrinking section and thermal controls. |
| Line layout | More direct layout: sleeve application without an oven section. | Layout with a separate or integrated shrinking area. |
| Economic fit | Fits when energy, maintenance and sustainability are operating priorities. | Fits when the sleeve must conform to complex profiles through heat shrinking. |
Stretch sleeve
Standard containers, dry or wetLarge formats, crates, kegs and canistersLines where the heat tunnel should be eliminated
Shrink sleeve
Jars, cups and dedicated-profile containersFull-body applications with controlled shrinkingLines where the tunnel or integrated chambers are part of the process
Choose Stretch when
you want to avoid shrinking energy consumption | you want to eliminate heat tunnel and hot parts | maintenance of the oven section is a cost to reduce | process sustainability is a commercial requirement
Choose Shrink when
the container profile requires precise shrinking | the sleeve must adapt to short, wide or special geometries | the layout already includes tunnel or integrated chambers | the heat-shrunk finish is the main requirement
Check in the configurator
Select Labeling Stretch or Labeling Shrink and compare the Comag machines matching the format.
Configure now