Companies large and small send products by mail. Without quality packaging, there is a risk of damage to any consignment. For those who send fragile items, the risk is even greater. Foam packaging meets many of the requirements of product sellers. Let’s find out.
How well products are packaged makes all the difference to the success of a business. With the transporting of goods, there is a lot of dependency on how well items are packaged. With the way, things are these days, more and more products are sent by courier and mail rather than purchased directly by the consumer in a physical retail space. Think of all the products we buy from Amazon, Etsy, or eBay.
Individuals and small businesses must find a way to make packaging cost-effective, but at the same time be light and shock absorbent.
Which Foam is Right For My Product?
The right foam for your product will depend on a variety of factors. As you evaluate different options, you’ll need to consider the following:
- Is the final appearance of my product important? Class-A surfaces and other products need to look their best when they arrive and might need foam with superior protection.
- How heavy is my product? A heavy product might not be suited for foam like expanded polystyrene, which could crack easily.
- How large is my product? Similarly, consider whether your product ships by itself in a large box or with multiples.
- What is my budget? XLPE foam is top-notch, but it’s expensive. Do you really need it, or would cheaper options work?
- Should the foam be reusable? Durable types of foam can be used over and over again. Other types are best for single use.
- How will my product ship? Is it being transported via truck, parcel service, air, boat, or drone?
- How shock-resistant is my product? Is it sensitive to vibration and movement? How fragile is it?
- What should the unboxing experience be like? What do you want your customer (or the end-user) to see when they open the box?
- How important is sustainability? Are you considering a disposable product or one that is recyclable or reusable?
Use these questions to help you get started, and contact a packaging expert to ensure you get the best packaging for your needs.
What Is a Good Foam for Packaging?
Polyurethane (PU) is a common polymer that is used to manufacture foam, most notably for furniture, but also for packaging. It has an elastic open-cell structure and is rather soft, providing a wide range of performance that is especially helpful for delicate and lightweight products, as well as those that are sensitive to vibration.
What Are the Different Types of Foam for Packaging?
Polyurethane (PU) foam is lightweight, has a soft surface, and can be easily shaped to accommodate various containers. It’s often used for things that require scratch resistance, like electronics or glass. It is also liquid-absorbent and mildew-resistant, making it ideal for a food shipment.
You can also protect items during transportation by filling spaces in crates with PU foam, decreasing movement and preventing breakage. Protective foam manufacturers can also make anti-static foam to protect items such as electronics.
The surface of polyethylene foam (PE) foam is tougher than that of PU foam. It has excellent shock and vibration-absorbing properties, making it perfect for shipping things requiring greater stability, such as big machine parts and fragile items.
Because it is resistant to both chemicals and moisture, PE foam is widely used to carry sensitive items such as medical devices. PE foam can also be made to be anti-static.
Cross-Linked Foam
A form of PE foam known as cross-linked foam can safeguard class-A products. While it shares many of the same characteristics as standard PE foam, this thick type of packaging foam is compact and water-resistant, making it ideal for carrying sensitive or fragile products such as medical or military equipment. It’s also very buoyant, resistant to moisture, and provides thermal insulation.
Anti-static foam has been chemically treated to have anti-static properties in order to protect things from electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can harm electronic equipment and circuit boards during shipment. When working with the products, it also protects employees from static shock. This foam is easily identified by its unusual pink tint.
What to Consider When Choosing a Type of Foam
While examining each foam alternative on the market, three things should be taken into account: density, firmness, and usage. In essence, as more material is squeezed into a given volume, the density of a foam increases in durability and quality. The foam’s hardness describes how it feels and responds to pressure and weight. Foam usage or application is vital in deciding the type of foam because different foam grades are designed to be utilised in a certain product and sector. Based on where and for what purpose you intend to use the foam, you should always look for the greatest options available and what foam would work best for your product and market.
If you are looking for foam packaging for your products contact us today.