Whether you’re ordering round plastic boxes or square, hinged or unhinged, compartment containers, ESD boxes or more, you’ve got myriad options for inserts that can be included to secure, protect and showcase whatever you’re placing inside.
Here are some of the types of inserts that you can choose and when they may suit your packaging needs.
Ether Foam
Ether is a polyurethane foam that is one of the most common insert choices. It is a low density, soft foam available in two of the most common and neutral color palettes: blue and charcoal gray. While custom colors are available on request, we find these two options to be selected for their aesthetic beauty and how well they highlight boxed products without competing for attention.
Ether foam inserts come in many thicknesses, from 1/8 inch up to 1 inch thick for maximum protection.
Our ether foam can be cut to fit any plastic box or container in our catalog, and can also be die cut to any custom shape and size to suit your packaging needs. Whether you’re packaging cosmetics or toys, collectibles or jewelry, ether foam can be precisely die cut so your product can be inserted and protected perfectly.
Ester Foam
Polyester (or ester) foam inserts are available in dark gray, and like its ether cousin, is available in many thicknesses, from 1/8 inch up to 1 inch thick. It is also a low-density foam, and differs from ether in that ester foam is more porous, not quite as soft as ether foam, and somewhat less likely to tear or discolor for a very long time.
Ester can also be sized and die cut to fit any plastic box and meet your packaging needs. So why choose ester or ether? For many, it comes down to color choice, but both are an inexpensive, customizable option for padding, protection and display.
Flockboard
This higher-end packaging insert is typically used for packaging and displaying jewelry. Unlike the soft foams, it is thin and sturdy, often with pinholes to accommodate products like brooches, cuffs or earrings.
Flockboard is available in blue, red or black and can be die cut to fit any box, designed with or without pinholes, and has the added capability of being able to maintain a crease so it can be folded to stand up in a display box.
Anti-Static Foam
This polyethylene insert is designed especially for protecting and displaying electronics components, from memory chips and motherboards to highly sensitive medical equipment.
Pink anti-static inserts are a relatively inexpensive option available in a single density, with three thickness choices: 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 inch.
Black conductive foam inserts are available in medium and high density, in thicknesses from 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8, up to 1/2 inch.
A low-density polyurethane black conductive foam is also available.
If you’re looking for a highly durable and exceptionally strong insert, choose a cross-linked black conductive foam, which is designed for scenarios that require a thicker foam. This foam will not tear, has a firm texture and is impervious to mold, mildew and bacteria, making it an ideal shock absorber and thermal insulator.
Special Order Inserts
If you have a particular application that requires a specific thickness, color or material, you can special order custom inserts designed exclusively for your packaging needs.
From specialized die cuts, to layered inserts, to adhesives and more, we can create the right packaging for your products.
You can even order our inserts alone for use in your own packaging, without ordering our plastic boxes. Contact us and let us know what you need, and we’ll design a packaging solution to fit.