Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Templock heat shrink tamper evident seals and full body shrink sleeve labels.
About Templock
-
Templock is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, and serves customers across North America and worldwide.
-
Templock works with brands across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, spirits and wine, and home and personal care sectors. Our customer base spans Fortune 500 manufacturers, growing brands, and family-run businesses.
-
Yes. Templock prints in up to 9 colors using gravure, flexographic, or digital printing. Designs can include logos, brand colors, product names, batch codes, and other variable data. Our team works with customers through artwork approval and proofing before each production run.
-
Lead times vary based on product type, order size, and whether the job requires custom printing. Contact Templock with your project details and the team will confirm a production timeline for your specific order.
-
Minimum order quantities depend on the product format, film type, number of print colors, and container size. Templock serves both Fortune 500 manufacturers and growing brands. Contact Templock with your container dimensions and estimated annual volume for accurate pricing and MOQ guidance.
-
Templock can provide samples to qualified customers evaluating tamper seals or shrink labels for a specific application. Contact Templock with your container details and intended use case to discuss sample availability.
-
Templock works with brands that distribute internationally and can discuss shipping options based on destination, order size, and product type. Contact Templock with your shipping requirements and the team will confirm what's possible for your project.
-
Templock accepts vector artwork in standard print-ready formats including AI, EPS, and high-resolution PDF. Files should be set up with all fonts converted to outlines and any linked images embedded. The Templock production team will review your artwork and confirm any adjustments needed before proofing.
Tamper Seals
-
A tamper-evident seal is a packaging component that visibly shows when a product has been opened or interfered with after leaving the manufacturer. Heat shrink tamper seals are applied over a container's closure and, once heated, conform tightly to the bottle or lid. Any attempt to remove or break the seal leaves a clear, permanent indication of tampering, protecting both consumers and brands from product adulteration or contamination.
-
Yes, in many product categories. The FDA's tamper-evident packaging regulations (21 CFR Part 211 and 21 CFR Part 700) require over-the-counter drug products and certain cosmetics to use tamper-evident packaging. For pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, tamper-evident seals are typically mandatory. Requirements for food and beverage vary by product type, but tamper evidence is widely adopted across those categories as both a regulatory safeguard and a consumer trust signal.
-
Roll stock is flat, uncut shrink film supplied on a continuous roll, used on high-speed automatic applicator equipment that cuts and places bands in-line. Cut bands are individual flat pieces pre-cut to a specific length, suited for semi-automatic or manual application. Pre-forms are bands already cut and opened into a tube shape, making them the easiest to place by hand directly over a container closure. The right format depends on your production volume, equipment, and labor setup.
-
Yes. Templock offers fully custom-printed tamper seals that can include your logo, brand colors, product name, batch codes, or other variable data. Custom printing turns a functional security component into a brand touchpoint and significantly raises the bar against counterfeiting. Minimum order quantities apply for printed seals, and Templock works with customers through artwork approval and press proofing before production runs.
-
Tamper-evident seals are used across any industry where product integrity and consumer safety are critical. Templock serves food, beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, spirits and wine, home care, personal care, and industrial and chemical manufacturers. Any business that packages a product in a bottle, jar, or container with a closable lid has a potential use case for tamper-evident sealing.
-
Heat shrink tamper seals are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) films. PVC is the most widely used due to its low cost, high clarity, and reliable shrink performance. PET is preferred when recyclability matters, as it is compatible with PET bottle recycling streams. Templock advises customers on the best material based on container type, application temperature, and sustainability requirements.
-
Choosing the right tamper seal comes down to four factors: container size and shape (the seal must fit snugly over the closure), application method (manual, semi-automatic, or fully automated line), regulatory requirements for your product category, and whether you need custom printing. Templock's team works directly with customers to measure container dimensions, evaluate the production line, and recommend the correct film type, format, and printing specification. Requesting a sample or a brief consultation is the fastest way to arrive at the right spec.
-
Heat shrink tamper seals require a heat source to activate the shrink film. The most common options are a heat tunnel for high-volume automated lines, a heat gun for low-volume or manual operation, or a steam tunnel. Pre-form bands can be placed by hand, making them accessible to small producers without specialized equipment. Roll stock requires an automatic band applicator integrated into a production line. Templock can help match the seal format to the equipment you currently have or plan to invest in.
Shrink Labels
-
A shrink sleeve label is a full-color, 360-degree label printed on heat-shrinkable film that conforms to the shape of a container when heat is applied. Unlike pressure-sensitive labels, shrink sleeves wrap the entire surface of the container, including curved, tapered, and irregular areas, giving products a premium visual appearance with no blank edges or adhesive seams. They are widely used in beverage, food, pharmaceutical, and personal care packaging.
-
Pressure-sensitive (PS) labels are pre-cut adhesive stickers applied to flat or gently curved surfaces. They cannot conform to complex shapes or provide 360-degree coverage. Shrink sleeve labels are applied as a tube of film that shrinks under heat to grip the container's exact contours, covering shoulders, necks, and irregular geometry that PS labels cannot reach. Shrink sleeves also offer the full container surface for graphics, making them the preferred choice for shelf impact and premium brand presentation.
-
Yes. Full-body shrink sleeves are designed to cover a container from shoulder to base, maximizing printable area for graphics, nutritional information, regulatory text, and branding. Partial sleeves are also available for neck bands, cap seals, or mid-body panels when full coverage is not needed. Templock produces both full-body and partial shrink label configurations depending on the customer's packaging design and regulatory requirements.
-
Templock offers multi-color printing on shrink label film using rotogravure, flexographic, and digital printing methods, with up to 9 colors available. Labels support detailed graphics, gradients, and brand-matched colors, and can include product information, barcodes, QR codes, lot numbers, and other variable data. Artwork is pre-compensated for the distortion inherent in shrink film so that designs render correctly after the label is applied and heat-shrunk to the container. Templock's production team works with customers through artwork setup and proofing to ensure accurate color and registration before a full production run.
-
Yes. Conforming to irregular shapes is one of the primary advantages of shrink sleeve labels over other formats. Containers with curves, tapers, pinched waists, embossed surfaces, or unusual cross-sections that would cause a pressure-sensitive label to wrinkle or lift are ideal candidates for shrink sleeves. The film conforms precisely to the container geometry when heat is applied, producing a smooth, tight fit even on complex profiles. Templock can evaluate a specific container and advise on shrink ratios and film specifications.
-
A combo-pack band is a shrink band used to bundle two or more separate products together into a single retail unit. For example, a bottle of shampoo banded with a travel-size conditioner, or a multipack of beverages held together without a corrugated carrier. The band shrinks tightly around the grouped items to hold them securely without adhesive or traditional overwrap. Combo-pack bands are commonly used for promotional packaging, value packs, and gift sets in personal care, food, and beverage categories.
-
Shrink sleeve labels are most commonly produced from PVC or PET/PETG films. PVC offers strong printability and reliable shrink performance at a competitive price. PET and PETG are preferred for sustainability-focused brands, as they are compatible with PET recycling infrastructure when properly formulated. Material selection depends on container type, required shrink percentage, fill temperature, and sustainability goals. Templock guides customers through the decision.
-
Minimum order quantities for custom-printed shrink labels vary based on label dimensions, number of print colors, and film type. Templock serves both large-scale Fortune 500 manufacturers and growing brands, and the team can discuss options that fit different production volumes. Contacting Templock with your container dimensions, design brief, and estimated annual volume is the fastest way to get accurate pricing and MOQ guidance.