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ETIVAL

360° container decoration

Heat Shrink Sleeve

The film that wraps the entire bottle. Your brand visible on every millimeter of the perimeter, with no wrinkles or dead edges.

Talk to an advisor

Minimum run

10,000 sleeves

Printing

Up to 8 flexographic inks + opaque white

Substrate

PET-G, PVC, OPS, and recyclable floatable PET-G

Quick quote

Get your Heat Shrink Sleeve quote in 30 seconds.

Configure what you know — if you don't know the material or the finish, choose “Not sure yet” and a professional will help you define it.

03 · Volume (labels)

Minimum run for this technology: 10,000 sleeves. The larger the run, the lower the cost per thousand: from 50,000 to 250,000+ pieces the unit price drops by 15% to 35%.

Every project is different

Get the guidance and technical development of a professional.

Dimensions, container, materials, and finishes change the price of every label — that's why your project's exact price is set in the formal quote, not on an online price list; reference per-thousand ranges are published in our pricing guide. Your advisor prepares the quote with a plotter proof before the run and the 3D render of your container.

  • Formal quote in under 24 business hours
  • Plotter proof included before press
  • 3D render of your container, free
  • Delivery in 15 days — repeats in 8

Based on heat shrink sleeve · the industry standard delivers in 25 days (15 for repeats).

Need more options? See the full quote wizard

Want to hold it before quoting? We'll ship you a printed specimen of Heat Shrink Sleeve — no cost, no commitment.

Features

What sets it apart.

Each technology solves a specific technical challenge. Here is what distinguishes it from the rest of the catalog.

  • Full coverage

    Prints on 100% of the container perimeter, including necks, shoulders, and pronounced curves where a flat label can't reach.

  • Transparent window

    We design unprinted areas or translucent ink zones so the product shows through the sleeve — ideal for beverages and foods.

  • Opening microperforations

    We add vertical or horizontal microperforated lines so the consumer can remove the sleeve cleanly, without tools.

  • Up to 8 inks + finishes

    8-color flexography with gradients, reverse (knockout) text in register, UV varnish, laminates, and cold foil on the same sleeve.

  • Recyclable film

    We work with floatable PET-G for plants with density separation, and PVC for low-cost applications.

  • Compatible with automated packaging

    Reels ready for the in-line shrink tunnel; we coordinate the shrink percentage and film gauge with your line.

Applications

Where this technology shines.

Real use cases in industries where this label delivers a technical or commercial edge.

Industries that use it

BeveragesFoodPersonal Care
  • Isotonic drinks and water in PET bottles
  • Beers and spirits in returnable glass
  • Dairy products and drinkable yogurts
  • Sauces and dressings in squeezable bottles
  • Personal hygiene products in curved jars
  • Frozen foods with low-temperature resistance

Data sheet

How it's made. Nothing left out.

PET-G or PVC film printed in flexography with up to 8 inks, applied with heat so it conforms to the container's full geometry (necks, curves, and shoulders). Allows graphics around the entire perimeter, a transparent window to showcase the product, and opening perforations. Requires a shrink tunnel in line or at the filling operation.

Available films
PET-G, PVC, OPS, and recyclable floatable PET-G
Standard gauge
45 to 50 microns (1.8–2.0 mil)
Minimum run
10,000 sleeves
Inks
Up to 8 flexographic inks + opaque white
Shrink
Tunnel at 130–160 °C, biaxial orientation control
In-line finishes
UV varnish, cold foil, embossing, microperforation, opening die-cut
Reel width
Up to 430 mm depending on the blow mold
Application
Manual, semi-automatic, or automatic in-line

Design validation

Your design, approved before production.

We secure your design's quality before the print run: a physical sample printed with your artwork — a minimum of 80% similarity with the on-press result, which can exceed 90% — so you can approve it and move to production at no extra cost, preceded by a 3D render of your sleeve on your container.

  1. 3D render of your design

    In addition to the plotter proof, for sleeves we generate a 3D render of your design applied to your container's geometry: review the 360° decoration, artwork registration, and windows from any angle before printing a single sleeve.

    Exclusive to this technology

  2. Plotter proof

    We print your design on the proofing plotter to secure quality before production: a physical sample with your artwork and a minimum of 80% similarity with the on-press result — it can exceed 90%. You approve color, registration, and finishes on something you can hold in your hand.

  3. Approval → production

    With your sign-off you move to production at no additional cost: validation is part of the quality protocol. What you approved is what gets produced, with full confidence in print-run quality.

The complete cycle — proof, approval, and start-up — is included in your order: zero added cost for securing quality.

Materials & finishes

Configure it to your spec.

Substrates, adhesives, and finishes available for this technology. The combination defines cost, performance, and look.

Materials

Substrates compatible with this technology.

  • PET-G
  • PVC
  • OPS
  • Floatable PET-G
  • Compostable films on request

Finishes

Available surface and decorative treatments.

  • Spot UV varnish
  • Metallic cold foil
  • Matte laminate
  • Emboss / relief
  • Microperforations
  • Opening die-cut

Don't see the combination you need? Most projects are developed to spec — share your brief and we'll propose alternatives.

Comparison

Heat Shrink Sleeve vs Flat pressure-sensitive label.

The heat shrink sleeve covers the whole container; a flat label covers only one side. The sleeve wins on brand presence, but it requires a shrink tunnel and larger runs.

  • 360° decoration: your brand visible from any angle of the shelf
  • Adapts to complex geometries: necks, shoulders, curves, triggers
  • Withstands humidity, cold-room condensation, and consumer handling
  • Lets you rework the container without changing the mold: the sleeve is the brand

Frequently asked questions

Before you quote, we answer.

The most common questions about this technology, materials, and process.

How much does Heat Shrink Sleeve cost?
Reference price: $380 MXN per thousand in standard configuration (standard PET-G film) at a 50,000-piece run. Your project's final price depends on substrate, format size, volume, and finishes — the formal quote puts it in writing within 24 business hours, with a plotter proof included before the print run.
What is the minimum run to buy Heat Shrink Sleeve?
10,000 sleeves. If your volume falls below that floor, tell us about it in the brief: every project is quoted to spec and your advisor finds the path. Volume moves the price — growing from 50,000 to 250,000 pieces lowers the cost per thousand by 15% to 35%.
How do I get a quote for Heat Shrink Sleeve, and how fast is the reply?
Three ways, all answered within 24 business hours: the quick-quote form on this very page (material, finish, and volume in 30 seconds), the full quote wizard at etival.mx/cotizador, or Quotes at 56 4166 5930 (phone and WhatsApp). The formal quote includes the plotter proof before press and the free 3D render of your container.
Does ETIVAL manufacture Heat Shrink Sleeve, or is it a reseller?
We are the manufacturer: Heat Shrink Sleeve is produced at our plant in the Valley of Mexico under ISO 9001:2015, with batch traceability. Sales are factory-direct — no middlemen — and a technical advisor walks your project from the quote to delivery in 15 days (repeats in 8).
Which film type is right for returnable bottles?
For returnable bottles we use PET-G or PVC in an intermediate gauge. PET-G offers better print quality and separates by density in modern recycling plants; PVC is more economical and shrinks at a lower temperature — ideal for older lines.
Can I combine the sleeve with a back label?
Yes. Many clients use the sleeve as the main body and a pressure-sensitive back label for market-specific legal information, keeping a single front body for the whole line.
Can I see my design before production?
Yes. For heat shrink sleeves, design validation includes two deliverables: a 3D render of your sleeve applied to your container model — review the 360° decoration, art registration, and windows from any angle — and a plotter proof, a physical printed sample of your art with a minimum of 80% similarity to the on-press result — it can exceed 90%. Once you approve it, we move to production with no additional costs, with quality assured.
How much does the sleeve shrink during application?
Nominal shrink is 50–65% in the transverse direction. The tunnel runs at 130–160 °C with a residence time of 3–6 seconds. We validate the exact percentage with a sample sleeve on your actual container before the run.
Does it withstand the cold room and the ice bath?
Yes. The PET-G film and the UV varnish are formulated to maintain adhesion, color, and register in humid, condensing environments, including ice baths for wines, beers, and isotonic drinks.

Before you quote, read this

B2B guides on heat shrink sleeve.

We go deep on cost, materials, regulations, and brand strategy on the ETIVAL technical blog.

Want to see more? See all 21 B2B blog guides

Keep exploring

Other technologies for beverages.

See all 16 technologies

Flexographic Labels

Flexographic printing with up to 8 inks on papers and films.

View details

Cold Foil Labels

Premium metallic finish applied cold — no engraved hot die required.

View details

In-Mold Labels (IML)

Label fused into the container during the molding of the part.

View details

Next step

Let's bring Heat Shrink Sleeve to your line.

Touch the specimen before authorizing the print run: we ship it at no cost, and a technical advisor responds within 24 business hours.