Choosing the wrong packaging often results in more shifting during transit and less cushion — meaning your products may get damaged along the way. But choosing the right foam packaging results in less damage, fewer returns and a better bottom line. Selecting the right foam is literally a make-or-break situation.
Our team at Foam Industries has years of experience manufacturing foam and selecting the proper materials for every product and shipment to ensure damage doesn’t happen. For your business’ best-case scenario, we’re here to define the various foam packaging options and help you learn how to choose the right foam packaging type for your shipping needs.
Types of Foam Packaging
Learning how to choose the right foam packaging type comes down to the size and weight, fragility and perishability of the product being shipped. Consider the product(s) being shipped when exploring foam packaging options.
Custom Case Foam Insert
Custom case foam inserts are a type of foam packaging that fits precisely in a given area (typically a box or case - hence the name). Made most often using polyurethane or polyethylene foam, foam inserts are great for shock absorption, preventing jostling, and protecting products from falls during transit. They are custom-made for products to provide a snug fit.
Ideal for:
- Fragile or delicate products
- Direct-to-consumer packaging
- Professional use in marketing materials and displays
- High-value items requiring premium protection
- Products with irregular shapes or multiple components
- Precision tools and medical instruments
- Photographic and audio-visual equipment
- Automotive parts and components
Foam Wrap Rolls and Sheets
Foam wrap rolls and sheets are versatile foam packaging materials used for protecting a wide variety of items during storage, handling, and shipping. They are available in various thicknesses, widths and lengths. The foam wrap rolls can be as long as 50 to 300 feet while the foam sheets are more often pre-cut in specified dimensions. Both types offer excellent shock absorption, surface protection from scratches, moisture resistance, flexibility, minimal weight, and customization options. For transit, foam rolls are often used in conjunction with other protective packaging to ensure safe arrival.
Ideal for:
- Wrapping products and lining boxes or crates
- Protecting electronic devices
- Cushioning fragile items like glassware or ceramics
- Providing resistance against contaminants like dust, water, and fungus
- Additional protection alongside other void fill and packaging materials
- Flexibility and ease
- Protecting paint
Related Content: New Product: Polyethylene Foam Sheets w/ 1m Barrier
Foam Blocks
Foam blocks are foam pieces shaped to fit around products and fill spaces inside boxes to ensure little to no movement ensues. The brick-like foam pieces offer slightly less protection than foam inserts, but still offer great protection and can be ideal for large parts. On top of that, they can provide excellent insulative properties for perishable goods. With their ability to be easily recycled, foam blocks are one of the most cost-effective and versatile foam packaging options available.
Ideal for:
- Insulation and cold storage for perishable goods
- Stacking and separating items in a package
- Filling spaces in shipping containers
- Protecting corners and providing shock absorption
- Creating custom packaging for oddly shaped products
- Cushioning heavy products during transport
Related Content: Foam Packaging Applications for Cold Storage
Foam Liners
Made of rectangular or square shapes, foam liners are thin strips of foam used to wrap around products. The specialized “egg-crate” shaped design resembles an egg container with its peaks and valleys. This unique design allows the foam to nestle around products and lock in to prevent shifting and provide more protection during shipping. Liners are typically used alongside other protective packaging to ensure safe arrival - the most common is opposite a custom case insert, like in the image above.
Ideal for:
- Fragile and breakable materials
- High cushioning — high shock absorption
- Resilient, yet easily cut to shape
- Direct to consumer packaging
- Products sensitive to shock and shifting
- Delicate items prone to scratching
- Oddly-shaped or irregularly-sized objects
- Precision instruments and sensitive equipment
- Products requiring stable positioning during transit
Find Your Best Option with a Packaging Expert
As a leader in the packaging industry, Foam Industries has set the bar with an unwavering commitment to quality, exceptional client service, and constant innovation. Through our extensive inventory of endlessly customizable products, we ensure you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Foam Industries is a custom protective packaging company specializing in foam – with additional wood and plastic fabrication services. Our custom foam fabrication services are ideal for any type of packaging, display, or support service needed – from design to finished product.
