If we take, for example, the Ripack 3000 heat shrink gun, its consumption per hour sits between 2.9 and 4.9 kg (continued usage). With an average of 3.5 kg/h (average pressure), it is possible to shrink wrap around 120 pallets.

This is merely an indicative figure; a thick cover, the operating pressure and the dimensions of the pallet are other factors that will vary the performance.

The date marked on the gas hose is the product’s year of manufacture.
This date meets the requirements of standards EN ISO 3821 (hose int. diam 6 mm) and DIN 4815 (hose int. diam 4 mm) “flexible rubber hoses for welding, cutting and related tasks”, requirements our supplies meet. No expiry date is provided.
Recommendations for replacement are as follows:

• If there is damage on visual inspection
• No later than every three years with intensive usage
• No later than every five years after first use in other cases

Other elements may also appear, such as the interior diameter, the maximum resistance expressed in Bar or compliance with certain specific certifications.
These hoses are for professional, non-domestic use, another reason for the absence of an expiry date.
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Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film is made of neutral elements; it is an inert material. Its manufacture, its usage, its recycling and its disposal emit no pollutants.

It is 100% recyclable and extremely low-cost. The plastics used during shrink wrapping, made with low-density polyethylene, may be re-used after recycling as components of new plastics, as bin bags, or agricultural plastics.

New extrusion technologies are also making it possible to introduce more and more recycled material into the manufacture of shrink wrap and shrink film.

The advantage of shrink wrap is that it is available in different shapes and can adapt to all loads. For either very long or smaller loads, flat film is advised.
Flat film is a continuous reel of film with no gussets, which can be folded according to width (centre-folded film).

The weldability properties of the film are therefore used to create, just like with wrapping for a present, packaging which is the closest possible size to the product.
To achieve a good weld to the film, ensure a covering of a minimum of 30 cm.

Begin by welding the film with a continued sweep, and then apply pressure on this area, using an anti-heat glove. At this stage it is essential to avoid rubbing the film, applying repeated pressure instead.

Once the welding is done, undertake the shrink wrapping by keeping the unit at a minimum distance of 30 cm, and according to shrink wrapping recommendations.
Video tutorials are available to show you the benefits of this solution.

The pallet must be lifted so that all four of its corners are free: the aim of this is to allow the film to shrink under the pallet and to thus produce great cohesion between the pallet and the load it supports.

The Calpack pallet lifter is the perfect accessory to facilitate this operation.
You simply need to then slide the shrink cover onto your pallet, and leave enough length to be able to shrink underneath the pallet (H + 200 mm).
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SHRINK WRAPPING (in the absence of specific instructions from the film manufacturer):
Remain at a minimum distance of around 30 centimetres from the film and begin wrapping with the lowest part of the four sides, so that the wrapping starts underneath the pallet. Remember to direct the hot air flow perpendicularly along the sides of the pallet.
Apply heat with a continuous movement, at a steady speed.

As the reactions of various films will not necessarily be the same, monitor closely and modify the heat speed and/or your distance from the film accordingly.
You can also modify the power of your Ripack heat shrink gun thanks to its adjustable Securipack pressure reducer.
Once the bottom of the pallet is shrink wrapped, perform the same operation for each side, working your way around the full width of each side, from bottom to top.
Once the four sides are completed, wrap the top by directing the hot air flow onto the top of the pallet.
Please use our video tutorials in order to understand the logic of the film’s shrink wrapping process.

Due to its constitution, shrink film continues to shrink after heat application, for a variable time period, which depends on its quality, its thickness and the type of load wrapped. It is therefore recommended to wait for the wrap to be cooled and taut before moving.

After cooling and before storage, always check the integrity of the shrink wrap and the products packaged.

The most suitable cover will facilitate the shrink wrapping of your pallet and protect your load during storage and transport. Shrink film is available in different thicknesses, different formats and different colours.
Making the right choice of wrap is therefore essential in your shrink film packaging project.
The first stage is to choose the size of the cover. There are major standards in terms of pallet sizes (80×120, 100×120, 120×120, etc.). Below are some hints for calculating a suitable size:

• width: + 50 to 80 mm of the pallet
• length: + 50 to 80 mm of the pallet
• height = height of the pallet + 1/2 width + 150 to 200 mm.

For pallets of varying heights, you are advised to pass over the film in a continuous motion and complete a welding using our Multicover range of welders. This solution avoids wastage, in terms of both the quantity of film used and financial cost.
Next, the thickness of the film should be taken into account, according to the weight of the load and the storage and transport methods. An unstable and heavy load will therefore need a thick film, whereas cardboard boxes, which potentially will be stored outside, will need nothing more than a barrier to protect them from the rain.
Below is some information on film thickness:

• in 75 % of cases: 120 µ
• Sharp-angled products: 150 – 180 µ
• Products that are heavy but sit well on the pallet: 130 – 140 µ
• Products that are heavy but do not sit well on the pallet: 180 µ
• Bags of non-fluid products: 120-140 µ
• Bags of highly fluid products: 150 µ
• Crates of overlapping assembly boxes: 120 µ
• Crates of non-overlapping assembly boxes: 140-150 µ

Our configurator is at your service to give you an initial idea of the solution best suited to your requirements. Please don’t hesitate to ask our network of partners for advice in directing you to the right film for your needs.

It’s important to define the network pressure correctly: minimum 0.5 bar and maximum 3 bar.

If the pressure is lower or higher, you need to use a system such as a booster to bring it up to the right pressure.

Adapting to natural gas reduces the heating capacity.

With natural gas or town gas, the consumption for 3 bars = 11kg/h compared with 5.2 kg/h in a bottle for a Ripack3000 shrink gun, for example.

You can buy the Ripack3000 already adapted for natural gas or purchase an adaptation kit. The adaptation kit is also available for Ripack2000 and Ripack2200.

For Ripack2100 and Ripack2500 shrink guns, you can buy them already adapted or send your shrink gun back to the factory to be adapted.

No, we don’t make electric shrink guns!

A Ripack 3000, for example, provides up to 80 kW of power (1 kW = 1000 W) and weighs 1.2 kg.

An electric shrink gun will generally deliver 2 kW.

For a more powerful electric model, you’ll need a three-phase connection, the product weighs around 4 kg and costs twice as much as our product.

An electric shrink gun will not prevent a flame from forming on the plastic if the heating is not properly applied.

Any type of heat-resistant glove is suitable for use with our shrink guns.
We have a cold nozzle patent, so you can use the glove to make a seal and tap the film while it’s still hot with your hand.

If your red button cuts out, there are several possible reasons described in your product manual.

We invite you to check your manual or contact us if it’s an older model, giving us the serial number of the product and a photo.

Please take a look at the tutorials that will give you the basics for “commissioning” and “checking the double safety regulator”.

– Check that your gas cylinder is Propane, vertical cylinder.

– Check that your cylinder is full

– Push the red button for 3 seconds for an 8m hose and 5 seconds for a 15m hose, without lighting the shrink gun at the same time.

– Check that your hose is not cut

– If your regulator is broken, warped or has been dismantled, you’ll need to replace it.

If, despite all these tests, you still have a problem, please contact your dealer with a photo of the regulator connected to your cylinder.

Ripack products run on propane gas or natural gas.

Propane cylinders are easy to find in shops (supermarkets, DIY shops, service stations). You can also have cylinders delivered directly by suppliers.

The cylinders most often used in industrial applications are available in 13 kg or 33 kg formats. This is the capacity of the gas in the cylinder, plus the weight of the steel cylinder to give the total weight. We recommend using Ripack trolleys to handle and secure your gas cylinders.

When using natural gas, we can supply adaptation kits for our Ripack guns on request. Using natural gas reduces heating power. The network pressure must be carefully defined, and must be between 0.5 and 3 bars. If this is not the case, contact your gas supplier to adapt your network to the correct pressure.

Our offer is also compatible with all types of bio-propane available on the market (gaseous phase). These gases reduce the CO2 impact by around 70% compared with an extraction gas.