Question 1

What is a neck band shrink tunnel and what does it do?

Accepted Answer

A neck band shrink tunnel is a machine that uses hot air to shrink loose plastic bands and sleeves tight around bottles and jars. You've seen the result at the store: the clear plastic seal around the cap of a vitamin bottle, a salad dressing or a jar of salsa, or the printed plastic label wrapped all the way around a juice or sports drink bottle. Here's how the CE-HEAT-IT02 Heat-It Portable Shrink Tunnel works: (1) a loose plastic band or sleeve is placed over the bottle, (2) the bottle rides along your conveyor into the tunnel, (3) blowers aim hot air at the band, (4) the plastic shrinks tight to the bottle's shape in seconds, and (5) the bottle comes out sealed with a tamper-evident band.

Question 2

Is there a machine that shrinks plastic seals onto bottles for you instead of using a heat gun?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The CE-HEAT-IT02 from Cleveland Equipment is built to replace the handheld heat gun. Instead of holding each bottle and waving a heat gun around the cap until the band shrinks, you roll the shrink tunnel over your conveyor and the bottles get sealed as they pass underneath. Every bottle gets the same temperature and the same time under the heat, so bands come out smooth and even instead of wrinkled, scorched or loose. It handles up to 100 containers per minute depending on the application, far more than one person can do by hand, and it frees that person up for other work on the line.

Question 3

What kinds of bands, sleeves and containers can the CE-HEAT-IT02 shrink?

Accepted Answer

The CE-HEAT-IT02 shrinks tamper-evident neck bands and full body shrink sleeves on bottles, jars and other containers from about 1 to 10 inches tall. The air nozzles and tunnel height are adjustable, and temperature (up to 400°F) and conveyor speed can be tuned, so one machine can handle different bottle sizes, sleeve materials and sleeve thicknesses. It is used in food, beverage, cosmetic and pharmaceutical packaging, anywhere a product needs a tamper-evident seal or a 360-degree shrink label.

Question 4

How fast is the CE-HEAT-IT02 shrink tunnel?

Accepted Answer

The CE-HEAT-IT02 runs up to 100 containers per minute, depending on the container, the band or sleeve material and how long it needs under the heat. Your conveyor speed sets the pace: the slower the belt, the longer each container spends under the hot air. Operators balance conveyor speed and air temperature (adjustable up to 400°F) to get a tight, even shrink. The tunnel heats to around 400°F in about 1 to 3 minutes, so it is ready to run shortly after start-up.

Question 5

Does the CE-HEAT-IT02 come with a conveyor, and will it work with my existing line?

Accepted Answer

The conveyor is not included. The CE-HEAT-IT02 is a stand-alone, portable shrink tunnel designed to roll up to a conveyor you already have. It sits on casters with locking pads and four leveling feet, and the tunnel head adjusts from about 48 to 58 inches high so it lines up with your containers and conveyor (ideal conveyor height is 36 inches, plus or minus 1 inch). Because it is on wheels, you can move it between lines or roll it out of the way when you are not running shrink bands. Cleveland Equipment also sells conveyors if you need one.

Question 6

What happens if the conveyor stops while the shrink tunnel is hot?

Accepted Answer

The tunnel lifts itself out of the way automatically. An encoder wheel rolls against the underside of the conveyor chain and constantly checks that the belt is moving. If the conveyor stops for any reason, planned or not, the sensor signals the control panel and the hot-air head rises to a safe height. This keeps containers from overheating or melting and protects your conveyor belt from heat damage. When you press STOP, the head also rises, the heaters shut off and the blower keeps running for 3 minutes to cool the unit down.

Question 7

Should I use a hot-air shrink tunnel or a steam shrink tunnel?

Accepted Answer

For most small and mid-sized production lines, a hot-air tunnel like the CE-HEAT-IT02 is the simpler choice. It uses dry heat: no boiler, no water supply, no drain and no wet containers or labels coming off the line. You plug it in, connect compressed air and roll it into place. Steam tunnels are typically used on high-speed lines running complex full body sleeves, but they need more utilities and floor space. If you are sealing neck bands or straightforward sleeves and want something portable, hot air is usually the better fit.

Question 8

What power and air does the CE-HEAT-IT02 need?

Accepted Answer

The CE-HEAT-IT02 runs on 230 VAC, 3-phase, 60 Hz, 25 amp electrical service and compressed air at 80 psi, which powers the cylinder that raises and lowers the tunnel head. It must be connected to a properly grounded circuit, and a trained electrician should verify the wiring before hookup. Always check the electrical schematic inside the control box and the labels on your machine, since electrical configuration can vary by order.

Question 9

Is the CE-HEAT-IT02 shrink tunnel easy to operate?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It runs from a simple control panel with a disconnect switch, a green START button, a STOP button and an emergency stop. To run it: connect power and compressed air, make sure your conveyor is running, turn the switch ON, pull out the E-stop and press START. The blower and heater turn on and the tunnel head lowers over the containers. Press STOP when you are done and it lifts the head, shuts off the heat and runs the blower for a 3-minute cool-down. Use the E-stop only in a real emergency, because using it for routine stops skips the cool-down and can damage the heaters.

Question 10

What maintenance does the CE-HEAT-IT02 need, and what is the warranty?

Accepted Answer

Maintenance is light and mostly cleaning and checking. Daily: wipe down the frame, clear dust from the blower intake and make sure the encoder wheel spins freely. Weekly: clean and lightly lubricate the linear rails, check the casters and tighten any loose fasteners. Monthly: inspect the heater element, air cylinder, wiring and safety switches. Bearings, chains, gear reducers and guide shafts are lubricated every six months. The CE-HEAT-IT02 is built from anodized aluminum and stainless steel and comes with a 1-year limited parts warranty plus technical support from Cleveland Equipment.

CE-HEAT-IT02 Heat Shrink Tunnel for Neck Bands*

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