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Foam or bubbles – When should I choose what?

6min read 11/03/2019

Foam or bubbles – when should I choose?

Bubble wrap has been the most widely used go-to protection for fragile products for years. But that’s slowly starting to change. More and more people are now seeing the benefits of wrapping their products in foam. So what exactly is the difference between foam and bubbles, and when should you choose one over the other? You can find out a lot more in the following.

Which material suits my products?

Both foam and bubble wrap are obvious choices when you need to protect your products during storage and/or transport. We’ve put together an overview so you can easily make the right choice based on your packaging needs:

Bubble wrap packaging Foam packaging

Lightweight X X

Leaves no marks X

Lint and dust free X

Does not scratch X

Optimal shock absorption X

Fills cavity in box X

Packaging of smaller products X

► What should I remember?

Bubble wrap is an excellent material for absorbing shock and filling larger cavities in a box. Foam, on the other hand, is best when you want to pack products with a fragile surface (such as glass, porcelain and electronics). Foam prevents pressure and scratches.

Boblefolie og Skumfolie

Foam packaging: scratch- and lint-free protection

Foam packaging is the little brother of bubble wrap and is therefore often (wrongly) forgotten. The material is thin, light and robust, and the small air bubbles in the foam provide excellent shock absorption, which ensures good resistance. You can find foam packaging in many different shapes, and there is something for every product and every need:

Foam film: With foam on a roll, you can easily cut the quantity you need. It is ideal for protecting fragile products from scratches and for separating or insulating different products in a pack. Foam on a roll is also available with perforation and as foam in pre-cut sheets. This means you can easily get the piece of foil you need without using knives or scissors, saving you time and hassle.

Skumfolie på rulle og i ark

Foam is available in different thicknesses:

Thickness Application

1, 1.5 and 2 mm. Protection against scratches and separation of products.

3 mm. Protection against scratches and (light) shocks.

Skumark

Foam pads and sheets: Especially used in heavy industry and for sensitive electronics. They strengthen and fix products in a box, but can also be used to separate products from each other or to reinforce corners. If you deal with electronic items, we recommend our antistatic foam sheets.

Skumpuder og -plader

Foam profiles and corner protectors: The obvious choice to protect corners of furniture, worktops, mirrors and glass. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and models, so it’s possible to find just the right protection for the relevant products.

Skumnet: Foam nets are ideal as shock-absorbing protection for fragile and cylindrical objects such as glass, ceramics and especially bottles. Because they are elastic, they are extremely versatile and can therefore be used for several types of products of different sizes whose surface does not tolerate damage or scratches.

Boxes with foam inserts: Last but not least, there are also boxes that are already padded with a thick layer of foam on the inside. They fix the product and protect it during transport without you having to do anything other than pack it in the box and close it. You’ll also find an anti-static version, which is particularly good for electronics.

Skumfolie i forskellige udgaver

Bubble wrap: the airy protection

Bubble wrap, as the name suggests, is a film with air bubbles, so it’s a material that really does provide the highest quality protection: from minor shock absorption on small items to all-round protection for larger and more fragile items. As with foam film, bubble wrap also has a large family where you’ll find:

Bubble wrap on a roll: The classic protection, where you cut the foil to fit your needs perfectly. Bubble wrap is also available with perforation, so you can tear off sheets quickly, neatly and without any problems. If you often package items of the same size and only need one standard length, this is the perfect solution for you. You’ll pack faster, work more cost-effectively and waste less packaging material. Be aware that with heavier products you need a stronger bubble wrap that provides maximum protection. Here we recommend bubble wrap with large bubbles.

Bobleplast på rulle

The film thickness, measured in my, is your indicator of which type you should use:

Thickness Application

50 my Lighter products.

75/80 my Medium-heavy items or items with sharp edges.

100 my Fragile or heavy items.

In addition to the film thickness, you should also consider the size of the air bubbles:

Diameter of air bubbles Application

∅ 10 mm. Protects light, medium and fragile products during shipping.

∅ 25 mm. Protects corners and objects with sharp edges. Fills gaps in
. boxes. Protects heavy and very heavy units.

As with foam film, anti-static bubble wrap is also available and is particularly suitable for electronic items. In addition, at Rajapack we also have environmentally friendly bubble wrap – a film made from 50% recycled materials.

Bubble bags: When we talk bubble wrap, we should also mention bubble bags. They are especially useful when shipping and packing smaller items. Because they don’t have to be cut out manually, they are extremely time-saving and the sealed edge all round ensures complete protection. Our bubble bags are also available with self-adhesive closure, making them even more time-saving. Here too, you can choose anti-static bubble bags and environmentally friendly bubble bags.

Bobleposer

Bubble wrap: If you need to package, protect and/or ship elongated products, bubble wrap is a good choice. The bubbles provide optimal protection, while the tubular shape guarantees that the product is protected all around.

Boblefolie i forskellige udgaver

At Rajapack, our packaging experts are available to answer any questions Monday to Friday from 8.00-16.30 on tel: 44 58 77 00 and at info@rajapack.dk. They can also guide you to the right protection based on your business needs and advise you on complete packaging solutions, so you can be sure that your products are well and safely stored either in the warehouse or during transport.

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