Foam easily adapts to grooves, notches and curves to suit the uniqueness of the product. A good packaging design will contain and protect your product at the best price, while meeting your branding or presentation objectives.
Select a specific foam by considering the following factors.
Product weight and fragility
Foam positioning and cushioning
Wear and tear
Performance and organisation
Aesthetics
Other factors, such as exhaust gases.
Velvet Packing Foam
Foam structures such as trays and inserts can have other benefits, such as isolating and organising separate components or sub-assemblies. Once the needs of the application have been determined, the packaging designer will identify and specify
Foam type
Density and performance characteristics
Load-bearing area, static load and cushion thickness
Polyurethane (PU) is a common polymer used in the manufacture of foams, particularly for furniture, but also for packaging. It has a flexible open-cell structure and is relatively soft, offering a wide range of properties that are particularly suitable for delicate and lightweight items, or for items that are very sensitive to vibration.
PE Foam Packing
Polyethylene (PE) is a closed-cell, non-absorbent foam that is unaffected by mould, mildew, decay and bacteria and is highly resistant to chemicals. Medium weight polyethylene foam provides excellent protection for products with medium to low brittleness.
With the right design, it can also protect lighter, more fragile products. It is an excellent foam for positioning and cushioning. pe is available in extruded and laminated sheets. pe is available in a wide range of thicknesses, densities and colours. Recycled polyethylene is one of the most commonly used foam packaging materials.
Cross-linked polyethylene foam is a high-density, closed-cell foam characterised by its tight feel and resistance to water and chemicals. Cross-linking of polyethylene is a chemical or radiation process that links all polymer molecules together through stronger chemical bonds.
XLPE has many of the same properties as polyethylene foam and is ideal for protecting 'A' grade surfaces due to its non-abrasive nature. xlpe is widely used in the packaging of medical products and devices as it produces very limited particulates. Due to the high end look and feel of the material, XLPE is often used in multi-part display kits. Most PU and PE and some XLPE foams are available in anti-static formulations.
EPE Packing Box
Expanded polyethylene (EPE) and expanded polypropylene (EPP) (also known as beaded foam) are produced by 'bursting' or expanding polymer beads and fusing them together in a mould under temperature and pressure.
Both EPE and EPP are widely used in automotive and packaging applications where durability, multiple impact resistance and other demanding performance challenges must be met.
These foams also have very low compression creep and will return to their original shape after continuous loading. Both EPP and EPE offer excellent cushioning capacity at half the density compared to other materials. It can be an excellent material for many packaging applications because it uses less than traditional PE or cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and it is also recyclable (XLPE is not).
Choosing a packaging partner with knowledge and experience in the properties of various foams can improve your packaging. At MUNKCARE, our design team can help you determine the right type, quantity and density of foam to ensure your product always arrives safely.
If you want to get more information about the types of packaging foam, welcome to contact us today or request a quote.
