Executive summary Our automatic sleeve shrink bundling machine packs groups of water bottles into stable, transport-ready units. Bottles are grouped on the infeed conveyor, pushed through a continuous vertical PE film web, sealed into a sleeve by a temperature-controlled sealing bar, and carried through the shrink tunnel so each group exits as one tightly wrapped pack. For reference, engineering parameters are based on our SK-060ABS sleeve bundler, rated at 10–20 packs per minute. Below we detail the mechanical sequence step by step, the published machine specifications, and a worked example for production throughput in bottles per hour.
Table of Contents
- Sleeve bundling, step by step
- Sleeve pack or full enclosure
- SK-060ABS data
- Bottles per hour
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
Sleeve bundling, step by step
The automatic bundling cycle processes rigid containers continuously through five coordinated stages:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Infeed | Upright water bottles feed continuously along a slat conveyor and are divided by lane guides into a predefined rectangular group |
| Film feeding | A flat web of clear polyethylene (PE) film feeds from an overhead film unwind roll and hangs vertically across the pusher stroke path |
| Sleeve and seal | A pneumatic pusher drives the grouped bottles through the film web; a heated sealing bar descends to cut and weld the trailing film, forming a four-sided sleeve around the bottle block |
| Shrink tunnel | The sleeved pack transfers into the heat tunnel; recirculating hot air shrinks the PE film tightly around the pack contour |
| Discharge | The finished pack transfers onto an outfeed roller and wire mesh conveyor where cooling airflow solidifies the film structure before manual or robotic offloading |
Because the film web wraps around the top, bottom, and two sides of the group, each end stays open as a symmetrical round opening after shrinking. This is the standard open-ended geometry for sleeve-wrapped beverage packs. The system reliably packages bottle configurations directly on the film web without requiring a cardboard corrugated under-tray or support pad [manufacturer rating].
Sleeve pack or full enclosure
- Sleeve pack. The film wraps around four faces, leaving controlled openings on both ends. This method minimizes film consumption per unit and eliminates the need for an underlying corrugated pad or tray, making it optimal for bottled water, soft drinks, and canned beverages.
- Full enclosure. The film completely seals all six sides of the product, typically using an L-bar sealer or continuous side sealer. This approach is intended for items requiring comprehensive barrier sealing against dust, moisture, and ambient contamination.
- With or without under support. The sleeve bundling machine can wrap unsupported container groups directly on the PE film web or wrap bundles placed on flat corrugated pads or shallow trays, selectable via the operator control panel.
SK-060ABS data
The SK-060ABS automatic sleeve shrink bundling machine serves as the standard platform for multi-pack beverage bundling lines [manufacturer rating]:
| Item | Published value |
|---|---|
| Sealing type | Sleeve sealing |
| Pack patterns | 1×10, 2×5, 3×3, 3×4, 3×5 and others |
| Max product size | 280 (L) × 180 (W) × 150 (H) mm |
| Packing capacity | 10–20 packs/min |
| Film | PE film, max 350 mm wide, 280 mm roll OD |
| Power | Max 8 kW, 380 V 50–60 Hz 3-phase |
| Tunnel size at entrance (L × W × H) | 1,040 (L) × 355 (W) × 220 (H) mm |
| Working height | 850–900 mm |
| Air | ≤0.5 MPa (5 bar) |
| Control | Siemens PLC, conveyor speed by frequency converter |
The shrink tunnel utilizes dual internal circulation blowers to maintain balanced thermal convection across all pack faces, while a dedicated discharge cooling blower accelerates film crystallization as the package exits the chamber [manufacturer rating].
Bottles per hour
Worked example (illustrative). At a line pace of 15 packs per minute using a standard 3×4 container matrix (12 bottles per bundle):
- Output per minute: 15 packs/min × 12 bottles = 180 bottles/min
- Output per hour: 180 bottles/min × 60 min = 10,800 bottles/hour
Across the operational design range of the SK-060ABS platform (10 to 20 packs per minute), the theoretical throughput for the same 3×4 arrangement scales as follows:
- At 10 packs/min: 10 × 12 × 60 = 7,200 bottles/hour
- At 20 packs/min: 20 × 12 × 60 = 14,400 bottles/hour
Selection checklist
- Container geometry: record precise bottle outer diameter, total height, taper profile, and wall rigidity.
- Grouping pattern: define target pack configuration (such as 2×3, 3×4, or 3×5) and verify that overall envelope dimensions stay within the 280 (L) × 180 (W) × 150 (H) mm chamber limit.
- Upstream synchronization: match the machine rated capacity (10–20 packs/min) to filler discharge velocity and buffer accumulation time.
- Support structure: confirm whether packs will run directly on the film web or require flat cardboard insert pads / shallow display trays.
- Film specifications: specify film gauge (typically 40–80 µm PE), web width (max 350 mm), roll outside diameter (max 280 mm), and determine whether continuous print registered film with optical eye-mark tracking is required.
- Downstream integration: evaluate transition conveyors leading to final secondary bundling or a turntable pallet stretch wrapper for bottles.
Safety
The primary hazards on an automated sleeve bundling line are the reciprocating heated seal bar and the high-temperature shrink heating chamber.
- The cutting and sealing zone is enclosed with interlocked safety guards designed to isolate pinch and thermal points in accordance with task-based risk assessments.
- The shrink tunnel incorporates insulated double-wall panels and heavy-duty silicone baffle curtains at the infeed and discharge openings to minimize external surface heat and radiant thermal loss.
- For compliance with CE directives, the equipment aligns with ISO 12100:2010 safety risk reduction principles and EN 415-10:2014 specific safety requirements for packaging machines.
Engineering FAQ
Q: Which pack patterns can the machine make? A: Common collations include 1×10, 2×5, 3×3, 3×4, and 3×5. Adjustments between patterns are completed by reconfiguring mechanical lane guides and selecting the program profile on the operator touchscreen.
Q: How many packs per minute can be produced? A: Rated mechanical output is 10–20 packs/min [manufacturer rating], governed by total pack mass, footprint dimensions, and film thickness dwell time.
Q: What is the maximum pack size accepted by the chamber? A: Maximum permissible pack envelope is 280 mm in length, 180 mm in width, and 150 mm in height.
Q: What film specification is compatible? A: The system uses polyethylene (PE) shrink film up to 350 mm roll width with a maximum roll outside diameter of 280 mm.
Q: Does the unit require a corrugated tray underneath the bottles? A: No. The machine can wrap self-supporting bottle arrays directly on the PE film web without a tray, or process packs on corrugated pads when added stack rigidity is required.
Q: What are the utility service requirements? A: Electrical supply requires up to 8 kW connected load at 380 V (50–60 Hz, 3-phase). Compressed clean air requires a delivery pressure of ≤0.5 MPa (5 bar).
Q: Why are both ends of the finished pack open? A: This is an inherent property of a sleeve wrap: film covers the top, bottom, and long sides, shrinking cleanly around container contours while leaving circular ventilation and handling openings at both lateral ends.
Q: How is the shrink film set after exiting the tunnel? A: A high-velocity ambient cooling blower positioned directly at the tunnel discharge forces rapid temperature drop to crystallize and set the PE film structure before pack handling.
Q: How is conveyor transit speed controlled? A: Infeed, tunnel mesh, and discharge conveyors are driven by frequency converters, providing step-less variable speed adjustment to sync with upstream lines.
Q: Which machine safety standards apply? A: Design compliance adheres to ISO 12100 for general machinery safety risk mitigation and EN 415-10 for packaging line safety integration.
Next step
Line dimensioning and machine selection are executed through three clear milestones:
- Submit your layout drawing: Send container dimensions, target pack patterns, filling line speeds, and factory floor layouts to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive an engineering proposal within 48 hours: Our packaging engineering team provides an itemized proposal, including equipment footprint, utility drops, and speed validation.
- Book a technical site survey: Verify physical floor clearances, transfer conveyor elevations, and line controls integration directly with our application engineers.
Related reading
- Bundle Sleeve Shrinking Machine
- Bottle Pallet Strapping Machine
- Automatic Bottle Turntable Pallet Stretch Wrapping Machine
- SK-060ABS Sleeve Shrink Bundling Machine
Sources
- Technical Parameters, Dimensions, and Utility Data: SK-060ABS Sleeve Shrink Bundling Machine Product Specification
- Packaging Machinery Safety Standards: ISO 12100:2010; EN 415-10:2014
- Commercial Response Protocols: Standard 48-Hour Technical Proposal Commitment
Last reviewed: 2026-10-10
Last updated: 2026-10-29
