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Foam packaging

Foam Blocks

Foam blocks
Foam packaging

Foam Blocks

If you need basic, low-cost protection for your products, foam blocks can be a good choice.

Foam blocks are one of the simplest forms of foam packaging. Essentially pre-cut blocks of foam material, they are used within an outer shipping carton to brace and cushion products during transit. Available in standard sizes, and often self-adhesive, foam blocks are also available in bespoke sizes and a range of material grades and options.

Regardless of your industry, application, or products, at Polyformes, we can design and manufacture a foam packaging solution that delivers optimal performance and cost. In fact, we have been doing just that for businesses just like yours for well over 40 years.

No obligation
UK experts
Competitive pricing
Advantages

Benefits of foam blocks

Although a fairly basic option, foam blocks still provide several benefits:

Perfect for bracing larger, less fragile items.
Available in stock or bespoke sizes.
Quick and easy for packing staff to add to outer containers.
Provides basic cushioning during transit.
Self-adhesive options to prevent movement within the packaging.
Inert, non-abrasive and non-marking of product surfaces.
Reduces material use, lowers costs and transit weight.
Dense foam blocks in a cardboard shipping box
Foam block experts

FAQs

Polyethylene (PE) foam is the material packaging manufacturers commonly use when producing foam blocks. This is due to its strength, various densities, and overall cushioning performance. Polyurethane (PU) is also sometimes used for lighter items requiring less cushioning.

While cheap, lightweight, and still widely used, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is highly brittle and cracks easily under repeated impacts, losing its protective qualities after a single drop. It is also bulky to store, difficult to recycle (and not accepted through standard kerbside programs), and breaks down into harmful microplastics.

Foam blocks are among the most basic types of foam packaging. Not being tailored to a specific product, they are suited to shipping large items of varying shapes and sizes. However, they offer less protection than tailored packaging options such as foam end caps or moulded foam packs.

Cubed (or pick-and-pluck) foam is a pre-scored foam block divided into a grid of small, easily removable cubes. It is typically used within protective cases rather than in single-trip packaging applications. It allows users to customise the interior equipment case without tools, using their fingers to pluck out cubes to match the exact shape of the item(s) being transported.

Large foam shipping blocks on a packing bench in a factory
Process

A partnership approach

We don’t just manufacture foam packaging – we gain a detailed understanding of our business and challenges before proposing a cost-effective solution that does exactly what you need.

Understanding

We discuss your requirements with you, gaining a full, detailed understanding of your project.

Develop

Using your products or CAD data, we develop a solution using appropriate materials.

Test

We provide pre-production samples for testing and assurance on fit and quality.

Manufacture

We manufacture your inserts in-house at our specialist foam conversion facility.

Support

We forge long term relationships, providing ongoing support and assistance.

UK foam converters

Why work with us?

With over 40 years of industry experience, a skilled engineering team, and an advanced UK factory, we create the exact custom foam blocks, inserts, and packaging your business requires.

UK manufacture
We manufacture all our foam blocks and packaging at our UK facility, ensuring excellent quality and rapid production.
Short lead times
No matter how complex, large, or specific your foam requirement is, we can produce and deliver a successful commercial solution with incredibly fast turnaround times.
Foam experts
Our knowledgeable team is on hand to provide honest, expert advice on selecting the right foam option for your packaging.
Single source
As part of Macfarlane Packaging, we simplify your supply chain by allowing you to source your foam blocks, outer boxes, and shipping supplies from a single point of contact.
Vast experience
We offer low-cost foam blocks through to highly engineered foam inserts, catering to every budget and performance requirement.
Sustainability
We take environmental responsibility seriously by reducing material waste, recycling our foam offcuts, and powering our manufacturing factory with solar energy.
Wide range of options

Similar foam products

Disclaimer: Generative Ai may be used on this site when specifically creating content and information relating to the products, processes and materials we use at Polyformes. Any Ai content undergoes stringent reviews and editing by humans to check accuracy. Please view this content policy for further details.

UK experts

Get in touch

Send us a message

If you need high-performance foam inserts, packaging, products or materials, we can help. Please contact a member of our team for a free consultation and quote.

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    Our experts

    The information on this page was written and checked by our team of experts. You can contact them to discuss your requirements, or for any questions you may have, using the details here.

    Sales Enquiries

    [email protected]
    01525 852 444 (option 1)

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