Abstract: Shrink wrapping apparatus including a hot air circulation system having a stand-by circuit and an operating circuit. A movable control plate switches from one circuit to the other dependent on the existence of an article the envelope of which is to be shrunk. The operating circuit is provided with a retaining chamber which is open at the front side of the apparatus and can only be covered by an article. A hot air recovery system is provided for collecting the hot air leak streams in the neighborhood of the opening of the retaining chamber.