Protecting Tradeshow Displays, Equipment, and Components in Transit

Tradeshow displays often require a significant investment to put together and contain a mix of components with differing packaging needs. If you need to get your trade show displays from point A to point B without anything breaking or coming apart in transit, it’s crucial to find the right packaging.

Oftentimes, there are hard deadlines for getting your products to specific places, and dealing with damaged items leaves no time for replacements before the show. With custom foam inserts for tradeshows, displays, demos, and electronics are better protected.

Why Tradeshow Displays Are Difficult to Ship

Tradeshow displays are especially difficult to ship because they’re usually already assembled when shipped and they come in an assortment of sizes and shapes. You can’t just add packing peanuts or packaging paper and hope for the best. Some of the difficulties come from:

• Multiple components with different sizes, weights, and levels of fragility
• Large or unusually shaped display pieces
• Finished/branded surfaces that can be scratched or dented
• Electronics and demo equipment
• Components that cannot shift or collide during transit
• Reusable pieces that need to survive the trip home and travel to future shows

Tradeshows also have a hard deadline. Once you arrive, dealing with broken displays is a major problem. Discovering damage means you’re left scrambling for repairs, trying to get last-minute replacements, and finding workarounds when your displays could have simply arrived intact in the first place.

How Foam Protects Tradeshow Components in Transit

Custom foam inserts offer an extra level of protection for tradeshow components in transit that can’t be beat. Because they’re specially designed for unique shapes and sizes, the result is better cushioning, a better presentation, and little to no issues upon arrival. Here are 5 reasons why foam protects so well.

1. Prevent Displays From Moving During Shipping

Custom foam inserts prevent the extra movement that void-fill packaging like peanuts and paper allow. Typically, movement inside a crate, case, or box means that components strike each other or the outer container, oftentimes resulting in damage. Custom foam holds each of the individual components in place and separates the various surfaces so that can’t happen.

Related Content: Why Foam is the Ideal Material for Shipping Fully Assembled Fixtures

2. Protect Fragile Edges, Corners, and Finished Surfaces

Tradeshow displays vary greatly depending on the product. Not every part of a display has the same vulnerability. Some have fragile edges, corners, and finished surfaces that are more susceptible to damage. Foam packaging inserts are customized to each component's needs. Heavier objects can be nestled in a firm, structured foam. Surface-sensitive components can be held by a foam that won’t scratch. The result is that all of your components are protected.

3. Design Packaging Around the Outer Container

Tradeshow packaging doesn’t have to mean a bulky crate or oversized box. Custom foam inserts can be designed to fit inside cases that make your display components easier to transport. That could mean a hard-sided case with handles and wheels or a smaller case designed to fit inside carry-on luggage.

By designing the foam and case together, each component has a protected place while the complete package is easier for your team to get from point A to point B.

4. Plan for Repeated Shipping and Repacking

Tradeshow displays make multiple trips. Your packaging needs to protect everything on the way there, make repacking simple after the show, and be ready to do it all again.

Custom foam inserts give every component a designated place, so employees don't have to guess how everything fits back into the case. Printed text can make placement even clearer, helping your team pack the display consistently from one show to the next.

Related Content: What Type of Foam Is Used for Packaging? (And How to Choose the Right One)

Protect Your Tradeshow Display From Point A to Point B

Protecting tradeshow displays, equipment, and components in transit as they get from point A to point B is crucial. Custom foam inserts offer a valuable solution to the most common challenges.

Here at Foam Industries, our team can evaluate the complete tradeshow shipment, identify where components are vulnerable, and design custom protective foam around the display, outer container, transportation method, and expected reuse cycle. If you’re ready to explore how we can improve your tradeshow transportation experience, reach out today.

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.