Proper packaging for electronic products
Packaging for electronic devices is different from other products because it is a lot more demanding. Manufacturers of Polyethylene foam have made sure that sheets are available to provide the right amount of cushioning for electronic devices. Foam in different shapes and sizes are also produced so that they can be placed in the gaps between the product and packaging box to prevent movement during handling and transport. Since electronic devices are classified under fragile products, the maximum amount of shock that packaging can withstand when dropped should be considered. For instance, if the packaging box accidentally falls down from a certain height, the electronic product it contains must not suffer from damages. There is a test that measures the maximum shock that a product can withstand from a certain level and this is used to determine the amount of cushioning material necessary to protect the product.
Aside from the shock experienced when a product falls, the level of shock during transportation is also considered. Shocks usually occur when the package is manually or mechanically handled but more particularly when it is transported to a great distance. Potholes in the road can cause vibrations that can impact on the stacked boxes. The top box can jump high while the lowest box on top of the pallet has to bear the brunt of the vibration. Products always face a certain amount of vibration during their travel through the supply chain and this should be addressed by the cushioning material used in packaging. Packaging foam must have the characteristic of shock absorption so that the electronic products will not be damaged by vibrations.
When it comes to the transportation of electronic products, Polyethylene foam not only provides the proper cushioning; it also acts as an insulating material. Polyethylene has anti-static properties that prevent the accumulation of electric charges during the transport of electronic products. When a customer requires customization of packaging, additives are added to the manufacture of polyethylene to gain fire retardant properties with increased durability. These properties will ensure that the electronic products will not be affected by heat during transport.
Packaging for electronic products has to be properly designed with consideration on the mechanical behavior of the packaging material. However, the amount of cushioning material used for protective packaging has come into the attention of environmentalists. A large volume of packaging materials are being dumped into the landfills. The good thing with Polyethylene foam is its high recycled value which makes it an environmentally friendly packaging material.