Question 1

What is a bottle sleeve shrink tunnel and what does it do?

Accepted Answer

A bottle sleeve shrink tunnel is a heated machine that turns a loose plastic sleeve into a tight, wrinkle-free label that hugs the shape of the bottle. Think of the full-color plastic label wrapped around a bottle of iced tea, a sports drink or a can of energy drink, or the clear plastic ring sealing the cap on a jar of peanut butter or a bottle of vitamins. The CE-445 Shrink Heat Tunnel does it in a few simple steps: (1) a loose plastic sleeve or band is placed over the container, (2) the container rides the CE-445's built-in stainless steel conveyor into the tunnel, (3) heat surrounds the sleeve as it travels through the 39-inch-long chamber, (4) the plastic shrinks snug to every curve of the container, and (5) it comes out the other end with a finished, retail-ready label or tamper-evident seal.

Question 2

Is there a machine that shrinks full-body plastic labels onto bottles automatically instead of doing it by hand with a heat gun?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The CE-445 from Cleveland Equipment does the job a heat gun does, without the hand work. Getting a full-body sleeve to shrink evenly with a heat gun means rotating every bottle and working the heat up and down the label, and the results change from bottle to bottle and from one operator to the next. The CE-445 replaces that with a conveyor and a long heated tunnel: you place the bottles on one end, and they come out the other end with every label shrunk the same way, top to bottom. It is a straightforward step up for any business that has outgrown shrinking labels by hand.

Question 3

What size containers can the CE-445 shrink tunnel run?

Accepted Answer

The CE-445 runs bottles, jars, cans, cups and other round or barrel-shaped containers up to 4.13 inches (105 mm) in diameter and 13.78 inches (350 mm) tall, weighing up to 33 lb (15 kg). It works with glass, plastic and paper containers. The tunnel opening is 5.9 inches wide and 14.96 inches tall, which gives tall, slim bottles plenty of headroom for full-length sleeves. Typical users include food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and agricultural chemical producers.

Question 4

Can the CE-445 shrink both full-body sleeves and tamper-evident neck bands?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The CE-445 is built to shrink a label wherever it sits on the container: around the cap, across the middle, near the base or covering the entire bottle. Separate upper and lower heat controls let you focus the heat on the part of the container that has the label. Running a neck band only? Turn the lower heat down or off. Running a label near the base? Turn the upper heat down. Running a full-body sleeve? Use both. Targeting the heat this way uses less energy and keeps heat away from the product in the bottle.

Question 5

What is the difference between the CE-445, CE-425 and CE-415 shrink tunnels?

Accepted Answer

All three are compact, stand-alone shrink tunnels from Cleveland Equipment with built-in conveyors and digital temperature control, and each fits a different job. The CE-415 is for tamper-evident neck bands: a 6-inch-tall tunnel that adjusts in height to the bottle, one heat control and containers up to 4.14 inches wide. The CE-445 is for full-body and partial sleeves on slimmer bottles: the longest tunnel of the three at 39.4 inches, 14.96 inches tall, a solid stainless steel plate conveyor, upper and lower heat controls and containers up to 4.13 inches wide. The CE-425 is for full-body sleeves on wider containers: a 31.5-inch tunnel that is 7.87 inches wide, a mesh conveyor and containers up to 6.29 inches wide. In short: neck bands, choose the CE-415; sleeves on slim bottles, choose the CE-445; sleeves on wider containers, choose the CE-425.

Question 6

Which shrink films work in the CE-445, and how hot should it run?

Accepted Answer

The CE-445 works with POF, PVC and PP shrink sleeves and bands. Most sleeves shrink well with the tunnel set between 150 and 170°C (302 to 338°F). Useful starting points: thin PVC film (0.02 to 0.06 mm) needs about 5 to 10 seconds at 110 to 130°C (230 to 266°F), and thin PP film (0.02 to 0.04 mm) needs about 6 to 12 seconds at 130 to 170°C (266 to 338°F). The temperature controller goes up to 300°C, but for daily production stay at or below 200°C (392°F) to get the longest life from the heating elements. Always run a few samples when you switch films or containers.

Question 7

What kind of conveyor does the CE-445 have?

Accepted Answer

The CE-445 has a solid, flat-surface conveyor made from 812 stainless steel plate. The flat surface gives bottles a smooth, even base to ride on through the tunnel, and the stainless steel stands up to the heat. The conveyor carries up to 33 lb (15 kg) and runs at any speed from 0 to 10 meters per minute (about 0 to 32.8 feet per minute), set with a stepless dial on the control panel. Conveyor height from the floor adjusts from 23 to 28 inches, so it can line up with other equipment on your line.

Question 8

How do I get rid of wrinkles or splits in shrink sleeves on the CE-445?

Accepted Answer

Wrinkles and splits point in opposite directions. If a sleeve comes out wrinkled or loose, it did not get enough heat: turn the temperature up or slow the conveyor. If a sleeve comes out split, torn or broken, it got too much heat: turn the temperature down or speed the conveyor up. If only the top or the bottom of the sleeve has a problem, use the upper or lower heat knob to correct just that area. Make one change at a time and test a few containers after each change until the label shrinks clean and tight.

Question 9

What are the power requirements, size and weight of the CE-445?

Accepted Answer

The CE-445 runs on 220 V power and is rated at 9 kW, the highest output in Cleveland Equipment's CE-400 series of compact shrink tunnels. It must be grounded and connected to the power source listed on the machine's tag. The machine measures about 59.06 x 13.78 x 59.06 inches (1500 x 350 x 1500 mm) and weighs about 212 lb (96 kg). The heat tunnel is 39.37 inches long, 5.91 inches wide and 14.96 inches tall (1000 x 150 x 380 mm). At under 14 inches wide, the CE-445 fits in tight spaces and at the end of most packaging lines.

Question 10

How do I take care of the CE-445, and what warranty does it come with?

Accepted Answer

Care is simple. Every three months, inspect the wiring and heating elements inside the tunnel and replace any that look heat-damaged or worn. If the fan starts running slower, check the fan motor's carbon brushes and replace them when they are used up. Keep the machine level and the temperature at or below 200°C for daily use. When starting up, turn on the heat and fan together; when shutting down, turn the heat off first and let the fan and conveyor run for a while so the tunnel cools down. Always switch off the power before service. The CE-445 is backed by a 1-year limited parts warranty and technical support from Cleveland Equipment.

CE-445 Heat Shrink Tunnel with Solid Conveyor*

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CE-445 Heat Shrink Tunnel with Solid Flat Surface Conveyor

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