Stratocell Packaging: Polethylene Foam Inserts for Cardboard Boxes

High Volume Transit Protection

Polyethylene foam inserts for safe shipping of products

Similar to Ethafoam, Stratocell packaging is predominantly used as a protective insert to provide cushioning inside corrugated cartons.

Stratocell is a lightweight, closed cell Polyethylene foam available in 3 different densities. It is clean, lightweight, non-abrasive, resistant to water and has good insulation properties. All of this – and its relatively low cost – makes it a great option for high volume shipping where protection is required. Read More

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Competitive pricing and full customisation options

Description

More info on Stratocell packaging foam

In simple terms, Stratocell packaging can be engineered to very specific performance levels. Taking advantage of this can in turn reduce costs to your business by minimising breakages and damage to products during transit. It can also help to prevent surface scuffs and marking too.

Once converted, it often takes the form of foam end caps, profiled shapes, box linings and a huge range of custom engineered designs. All of which can be designed and manufactured by GWP.

Stratocell foam packaging is available – as standard – in a wide range of colours. This allows you to continue your brand identity once an end user has opened your shipping box. In fact, practically any colour can be specified if the volume is high enough.

Flame retardant and anti-static foams are also available, the latter being especially beneficial if your products or components are sensitive to electro static discharge (ESD).

All of this means it is used to ensure the safe transit of high value consumer electronics as well as more specialist industrial products.

Stratocell foam design / conversion

Stratocell is a surprisingly versatile material. In fact, in the hands of an experienced designer a vast array of designs and features can be engineered.

For example, by using precision kiss-cutting during manufacture, it is possible to design your Polyethylene foam packaging to include hinges. The key benefits of this are reduced material, packing time and storage costs by allowing a simple pop up operation to provide the back bars on the foam end caps.

This reduction in storage, shipping and assembly times can have a significant impact on your costs.

Similarly, accordion, or expandable designs can be created – the inherent flexibility of the material meaning that your end caps can be designed to expand and contract.

The benefit of this is that a single design can be used to accommodate multiple sized products. In turn, this allows you to benefit from economies of scale, reducing your packaging costs whilst also minimising admin, paperwork and making monitoring of stock easier too.

Key benefits of Stratocell foam / sheets at a glance

Great protection at low cost
Perfect for shipping consumer items via post / courier, eliminating damage
Also protects the surfaces of items being shipped
Can reduce costly customer returns
No odour, inert and non-absorbent
Easily fabricated to make complex protective packaging designs
Allows for very efficient use of material
Available in a wide range of colours, densities, and specialist options
Can be sourced alongside outer corrugated packaging for best results
Effective over multiple drops / impacts

FAQs

Common questions about Stratocell

The below sets out answers to the most commonly asked questions about Stratocell and similar foams.

But of course… if you can’t see the information that you need, please speak with a GWP adviser for further assistance.

Why should my business use Stratocell foam packaging?

In essence Stratocell packaging will protect your products when being shipped. And protecting your items in transit is important. Goods arriving damaged at your customers result in high volumes of returns. It also renders a lot of stock unfit for sale. Even worse, it can damage your brand reputation and future sales.

Is Stratocell Packaging easy to manufacture?

Stratocell is easily converted using traditional foam conversion techniques. Whilst this would suggest that there are many companies throughout the UK who could produce Stratocell packaging, the nuances of the material mean that very few do it successfully.

Is Stratocell recyclable / environmentally friendly?

Should you be concerned about the environmental impact of your packaging, then the manufacturers of Stratocell itself (Sealed Air) indicate it is fully recyclable. There is also a recycled grade available which is manufactured from a minimum of 65% reclaimed material.

Is Stratocell suitable for single trip applications?

High volume Polystyrene is cheap but becomes ineffective when dropped multiple times. Corrugated fittings cannot always provide the required cushioning. Plastazote® polyethylene foam is too expensive for many single-trip applications. Stratocell (and Ethafoam) packaging however addresses all of these issues, and when combined with its low cost, makes it ideal for single trip applications.

What types of outer packaging can be used with Stratocell?

Stratocell is typically used within outer corrugated packaging. However, it is also suitable to use within Correx® boxes, packaging and totes, Euro Containers and can even be used in anti-static packaging applications.

Can I purchase Stratocell sheets?

Whilst it is possible to purchase Stratocell sheets, without the knowledge (and equipment) to successfully convert the foam into suitable packaging, it may lead to the materials properties being compromised (and it will almost certainly mean less than efficient use of the material itself, leading to increased costs).

Free Quotes / Advice

Find the perfect rigid packing foam for your application

For over 25 years GWP have been creating, testing and cost effectively producing polyethylene foam packaging for companies just like yours.

Your GWP engineer will be able to guide you through every stage of the process (if required), and your foam packaging will be designed using the latest CAD and cushioning performance software. It will be manufactured using the latest foam conversion equipment and techniques in a clean, modern production environment.

You can also source your exterior corrugated cartons or packaging from GWP, simplifying your supply chain and further reducing costs.

All of this ensures that regardless of your application, product or the challenges you are currently facing, you can be certain that you will get the right design, at the right price, and with the right levels of protection.

Alternative Foam Options

Fabricated Stratocell and other foam packaging products

Although GWP Protective are official converters of Stratocell – manufacturing end caps, foam inserts and more – this is not the only form of foam packaging that your business can source from us…