Chapter 5- Custom Packaging Inserts & Dividers
– Care For Your Products While Shipping and Storage
You may need to insert packaging, secure products in position, add extra protection to products, and add more feelings to packaging. All kinds of inserts can be custom shaped, and you need to know insert structure the same as box structure in chapter 2, hire someone to think about it, or as your manufacturer. Standard packaging inserts are listed below:
- Cardboard inserts
- Foam inserts
- Blister inserts
- Paper pulp insert
You can also check our previous article, Packaging Insert Options Guidance. Depends on your purpose of the insert, select the best insert for your packagings. Let’s talk one by one, to give you a basic knowledge of each.
Different Types of Packaging Inserts
Below lists are some common types of box inserts, feel free to ask us any questions of them! For FSC certified material, we also have them in stock.
There are EVA foam inserts, EPE foam inserts, PU foam inserts, and EPS foam inserts.
EVA foam is high density. It can be white/black/grey color or custom color with high MOQ, mostly used as watch packaging inserts, jewel packaging inserts, tooling packaging inserts, luxury packaging inserts, and electronic device packaging inserts.
EPE foam is cheaper than EVA, and it also performs well in protecting products in cartons. Have different grades of density, with white/black color generally. EPE foam can’t be straight cut in thickness more than 10cm. If more than this thickness of your foam, you need to consider glue it with several layers.
PU foam is soft and porous. For light product packaging, we suggest PU foam. For example, playing card packaging box insert with PU foam insert. (black, white color in stock for every supplier)
The EPS foam is always being used in big home application products packaging, can load heavy items, and cheap. But it’s easy to be separated into pieces, not eco-friendly.
Did I forget to mention that every foam inserts can laminate with fabrics onto? It adds an extra beautiful feeling to your packagings.
They can be shaped to fit your products. You need to prepare a 3D design file for your manufacturer or get products to make a mold. Most retail sales packaging have this blister, such as phone case packaging box, earphone packaging box, and chocolate packaging box. Some people may use the blister directly as the outer box. Just insert a paperboard back to the blister, then it’s a small display case.
Insert Design Guidance
Design an insert is not complicated in material and printing as box design does, but it is more complicated in structure than box design. Follow the below guidance, check with your idea.
- Size of the single insert section, and how many parts need to be cut in one insert?
- Make sure you select the correct material that is suitable for your cut design. For example, EPE foam can’t be cut with an un-straight shape, need to be cut from top to bottom foam. You need to confirm this with your supplier first.
- Make sure insert after folded up to fit the size of a box.
- If you want to insert color in coordinate with box color? If your box is a unique color, just laminate a printed fabric onto the foam or just a printed paperboard.
- About the file of design: If your insert is simple to be cut, just make a 2D flat design, confirm with your manufacturer. If your design is complex, you maybe need to create a 3D file for better understanding. Chinese foam suppliers more likely to accept the .stp file can be opened in any software.
