HE-500 Steam Shrink Tunnel

What type of heat technology does the HE-500 use?

The HE-500 uses saturated steam heat with an integrated steam generation system to deliver controlled, uniform shrink performance across a wide range of container types and sleeve materials.

Does the HE-500 require plant steam or a centralized boiler system?

No. The HE-500 features an integrated steam generation system, eliminating the need for a plant boiler, centralized steam supply, or complex condensate infrastructure. This simplifies installation and reduces facility requirements.

What shrink applications can the HE-500 support?

The HE-500 supports:

• Tamper-evident bands

• Partial-body sleeves

• Full-body sleeves

• Full-body over-the-cap sleeves

• Multipacks

It is engineered for mid- to high-speed shrink sleeve production environments.

What sleeve materials are compatible with the HE-500?

The HE-500 supports common shrink sleeve materials including PVC, PETG, and OPS films, depending on application requirements.

What container types can the HE-500 accommodate?

The HE-500 is compatible with PET, HDPE, glass, aluminum, and composite containers. Adjustable steam manifolds ensure uniform coverage across varying shapes and diameters.

What makes the HE-500 different from other steam tunnels?

Key differentiators include:

• Drip-free design to protect product quality and maintain a clean shrink environment

• Tool-free adjustable steam manifolds for fast, precise tuning

• Integrated steam generator to eliminate external boiler dependency

• Cool-to-the-touch front panel for improved operator safety

• Compact footprint for easier integration into existing lines

How does the HE-500 compare to ThermoFlow®?

Both systems feature integrated steam generation.

• ThermoFlow® is a low-pressure steam solution designed to avoid high-pressure boiler regulations and simplify compliance.

• HE-500 is engineered for mid- to high-speed production environments with enhanced steam distribution control and performance tuning flexibility.

The HE-500 is often selected when higher precision steam control and expanded application flexibility are required.

How does the HE-500 compare to ThermoPoint® steam tunnels?

• ThermoPoint® is a high-performance plant-steam tunnel designed for demanding, high-shrink or complex container geometries requiring independent steam zone control.

• HE-500 provides saturated steam shrink performance without plant steam infrastructure, making it ideal for facilities seeking strong steam performance with simplified utilities.

Is the HE-500 suitable for high-speed production lines?

Yes. The HE-500 is engineered for mid- to high-speed shrink sleeve applications and integrates seamlessly with Axon shrink sleeve applicators and downstream equipment.

What industries commonly use the HE-500 Steam Shrink Tunnel?

The HE-500 is widely used in:

• Food & Beverage – bottled water, juices, functional beverages, sauces, and multipacks

• Nutraceutical & Supplements – tamper-evident bands for bottles and specialty containers

• Personal Care & Household Products – full-body and partial-body sleeves on PET, HDPE, and composite containers

• Contract Packaging (Co-Packers) – flexible shrink performance across multiple SKUs and container formats

• Specialty & Promotional Packaging – limited-run designs, multipacks, and seasonal shrink applications

Its integrated steam generation system makes it especially attractive for facilities that need consistent steam shrink performance but do not have centralized boiler infrastructure.

Do all sleeve applications require a heat tunnel?

No.

• Shrink sleeves and tamper evident bands require a heat tunnel (steam, convection, or infrared).
• Stretch sleeves do not require heat.

Heat tunnel selection depends on sleeve material, shrink percentage, container geometry, and line speed.