Steam Shrink Tunnels

Steam Shrink Tunnels

PDC makes a range of steam shrink tunnels specifically for the application of heat shrinkable sleeve labels and tamper evident bands. PDC’s steam shrink tunnels provide the most uniform and distortion-free results and are particularly well suited for full body shrink labels. All tunnels are fabricated of heavy gauge stainless steel and are of dual wall construction.

Highly Precise Electronic Steam Regulation

PDC offers Electronic Steam Control – precise control of steam and chamber temperatures through the use of digital controllers with thermocouples and special linear control valves. This means that the tunnel uses only enough steam to maintain proper conditions; it does not waste steam like the “open flow” tunnels, and is the most efficient in terms of utility and energy usage.

The tunnels self-monitor their temperatures and react to compensate for “thermal loads” of the product flowing through them. This is particularly important with full and cold products.

Custom sized tunnels are also available.

Wide Product Range Offers Maximum Flexibility

PDC’s shrink tunnel product range varies by: 1) opening, which determines the size range of the products to be run (opening L x W); 2) overall tunnel length; and 3) number of heating zones. Since shrinking is a function of time and temperature, there is a correlation of length to conveyor speed based on product size, parts per minute, required dwell time in the tunnel, as well as the optimal number of heating zones. Some tunnels are “dual zone” – with two heating chambers and two separate thermocouples and temperature controllers, housed in one shell. To achieve the optimal shrinking process for producing a great looking product, it is common with shrink label applications to use either 1) a dual-zone tunnel, 2) multiple tunnels or 3) in the case of high line speeds, multiple dual-zone tunnels.

Model Ranges