Bubble Wrap vs Air Pillow Packaging

Bubble Wrap

Bubble Wrap is a commonly used packaging solution due to its highly versatile and practical packaging properties. Bubble wrap is strong enough to protect heavy, bulky products yet flexible enough to cover the most minor, most delicate components. Cut different sizes of Bubble Wrap according to the size of the product to be packaged.–

Types of Bubble Wrap

Standard Bubble Wrap

The Standard Bubble Wrap consists of two layers – a single layer, which is regular grade, and a heavy-duty, double layer.

Metalised Bubble Wrap

Metalised Bubble Wrap, also known as ‘foil bubble wrap,’ refers to Bubble Wrap sheets laminated with foil to enable temperature-controlled packaging. Its thermal quality regulates the products’ temperature and protects sensitive goods from damage. This lightweight and moisture-resistant wrap is used for packaging exotic food items, documents, paintings, etc.

Kraft Paper Backed Bubble Wrap

Kraft Backed Bubble Wrap is covered with solid kraft paper and is mainly used for packaging wooden furniture and other heavy household items by furniture manufacturers and movers. Kraft Backed Bubble Wrap is designed to be tough and can withstand the rigours of transportation and shipment. This kind of wrap can also protect the floor surface from scratches caused by the movement of heavy furniture.

Foam Backed Bubble Wrap

For extra protection goods, Foam Backed Bubble Wrap is a great choice. The packaging roll is laminated with foam to provide an extra cushion for delicate items that require special care during transportation. This 0.5 mm-thick-famed Bubble Wrap sheet protects goods from breakage and does not sweat like plastic, thus keeping the surface spotless.

Anti-Static Bubble Wrap

Anti-Static Bubble Wrap is specially designed for electronic products and is an excellent choice for heavy packaging machinery and electronic parts. Packaging electronic products can be challenging because friction during transportation can cause fires or static shocks from ordinary plastic packaging. The Anti-Static Bubble Film protects electrical items from static electricity accumulation and ensures their safety of items. The colour of the sheets is pink, which is easy for people to recognise.

Bubble Wrap Bags

Bubble Wrap Bags provide a cost-effective, labour-saving protective packaging solution. Bubble Bags come in various sizes and can also be custom-made to order. These bags can be made with an adhesive closure flap for a secure seal. Bubble Bags are most commonly made with a 10mm bubble, but a 20mm bubble is also available.

Custom Made Colors & Sizes

Bubble Wrap rolls can be customised to different widths and perforated to extra lengths to suit various application needs. Bubble wrapping film can be custom-made in different air bubble sizes. Custom-printed and coloured bubble wraps are also available.

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How to Use Bubble Wraps?

Firstly, place the product on a flat surface. Cut enough Bubble Wrap to cover the item more than once completely. If wrapping up prized or incredibly fragile possessions, it is better to be generous with the wrap.

Ensure to lay down the Bubble Wrap with bubbles facing upwards. One end of the air Bubble Wrap has an entirely flat side, and the other contains all the bubbles. The common mistake to avoid is to wrap up the item with bubbles on the outside and a flat surface against the product. Although this cushion is a small part of the object, it does not take full advantage of the Bubble Wrap.

Secondly, put the item on top of the Bubble Wrap. It should be on the bubble side of the Bubble Wrap as the bubbles serve as cushions for the object. Each bubble contains an air pocket that protects items if it gets bashed around in transit. When the item is wrapped correctly, the bubbles entirely encase the object and reduce any damage. If the bubbles were on the outside instead, they would come into direct contact with sharper goods and end up popping, removing a good amount of protection.

Lastly, wrap the Bubble Wrap around the product several times if required. An example would be to wrap a picture frame and cut off a large big enough piece of Bubble Wrap. Put the picture frame’s longer side up to the Bubble Wrap’s shorter side and hold them together. Next, roll it up to the opposite sharp corner, picking up layers of wrapping while flipping the item over to the other end. Most of the structure will now be wrapped, and there should be enough wrap left to cover the gaps on the short sides.

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Benefits of Bubble Wraps

Bubble Wrap is a widely used and economical form of cushioning available. The right amount of bubble packaging will protect products from damage. Bubble cushioning is durable enough to protect heavy, bulky products and flexible enough to protect delicate components. Bubble wrap is appropriate for many applications because it is resilient and adaptable. The bubbles will be useless during shipping if the cells are leaking air. Check the bubble condition that has been sitting in stock for a long time for leaks, and do not reuse old bubbles.

It provides Excellent Insulation against Impacts

Bubble Wrap’s primary function is to keep products safe and secure during transportation. Freight transit, unfortunately, usually includes rough handling or bumps in the road—thus, shippers protect their goods with Bubble Wrap. Its sealed air bubbles offer a flexible yet durable cushion that forms a solid barrier against impact. It can protect goods from even severe effects when wrapped in multiple layers and combined with a durable corrugated shipping box.

Reusable

Bubble Wrap can be reused unless it has been damaged. As long as most bubbles are intact, it is good to use the Bubble Wrap again to protect goods during transit. Bubble Wrap packaging is more eco-friendly than other types of packaging that are difficult to reuse, and it can offer significant potential cost savings. It is also great for companies that provide easy customer returns, as it’s simple to set up as part of a ready-to-go return box.

Lightweight & Cost-Efective

Bubble Wrap is one of the lightest void-fill packaging solutions. It is mainly filled with air and a few layers of ultra-lightweight plastic for durability. That makes a lightweight packaging material that can save shipping costs, especially in bulk. Less packaging means reduced costs when sending by weight and potentially lower fuel costs when shipping large amounts of goods.

Extremely Versatile

Bubble Wrap can insulate and protect any cargo. Cut with scissors into nearly any form required, and large sheets of it are malleable enough to effectively wrap and preserve many kinds of oddly shaped cargo.

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Applications for Bubble Wraps

Bubble Wrap, also called air bubble packing is a transparent plastic packaging material used to pack fragile or breakable products. The bubbles have air-filled hemispheres that serve as cushioning packaging solutions for sensitive and delicate objects. Bubble Wraps come in various sizes.

Fragile Products

Chinaware, glasses, mirrors, and artworks such as paintings, figurines, and vases fall under the category of fragile items. These are delicate and vulnerable to damage. Hence, Bubble Wraps are advised as packaging film to provide the best protection.

Sensitive Items

Electronics and electrical products are delicate and can be compromised if they are not protected well. The parts often require protection from static-induced electric charge. Wrapping these products in an Anti-Static Bubble Wrap will ensure that they are safe even if they fall and from electrostatic discharge.

Furniture

With the increase of e-commerce stores, anyone can buy their furniture online. The online stores ensure that the product reaches the customers intact, no matter how small. To prevent damage to the products, wrap the items in Bubble Wrap. For instance, glass tabletops, cabinet doors, or other fragile glass furniture parts are usually covered in several layers of air bubble packaging to cushion against vibrations and shocks in transit.

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Air Pillow

Air Pillows are an environmentally friendly, flexible, durable, and cost-effective solution for filling voids and protecting any product during transportation. When required to pack goods, inflate them on the machine, and they are ready to use.

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Types of Air Pillows

Air Pillows are available in three materials – HDPE, Biodegradable, and ESO (Anti-Static), and there are multiple cushion sizes and lengths to match different packaging requirements.

• 100mm x 200mm
• 130mm x 200mm
• 150mm x 200mm
• 200mm x 200mm

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How to Use Air Pillows?

1. Use the air bubble wrap or air wrapper to wrap the item
2. Place items to pack into the box
3. Inflate the air pillow by using an Air Cushion Machine
4. Fill the void by using the Air Pillow

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Benefits of Air Pillows

Product Protection

Air Pillows are an excellent void-fill option, best used for blocking or bracing items during shipping. This can be an alternative packaging solution for styrofoam.

Different Sizes to Fulfill Different Needs

Air cushion packaging is flexible and available in various films and sizes to suit specific application needs. We have a combination of film blends and inflatable designs for different requirements.

Lightweight

This type of void fill is also extremely lightweight, making it a popular option to help keep shipping options down instead of heavier void fill that may add enough weight to packages to drive costs up.

Easy to Use

Air Pillows are easier for the distributor and customers. Customers appreciate a simple opening experience with less mess and easy disposal. Packaging Peanuts are messy, and due to static electricity, they will stick to everything and break into smaller pieces, causing a lot to clean and dispose of afterwards. Air Pillows are easy to use and do not take up too much space when discarded.

Cost Reduction

Air Pillows are lightweight and add practically zero additional weight to the shipment, saving on freight costs. Air Pillows are often filled-on-demand which means they require much less floor space to store in the facility. The average price per package for air cushion packaging materials is often lower than other options.

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Applications for Air Pillows

Inflatable Air Pillows are a lightweight void-fill solution but are not meant to wrap and cushion components as Bubble Wrap does. While Bubble Wrap can wrap products, Air Pillows are ideal for blocking and bracing items in shipping packages. Air Pillows have bigger air chambers than the cells found in Bubble Wrap.

Air Pillows come in strings, usually cut off at the appropriate number of air pillows to protect the package. Air Pillows keep products securely in place, preventing items from shifting or hitting the sides of the packaging container during transportation. Users can use Air Pillows for any product as long as enough pillows fill void spaces and protect them from damage.

Cost Per Package

Focus on the average cost per package and not just the material cost. Remember, a common mistake is focusing on the material’s cost. The cost of the protective packaging and its protection is more crucial than just material costs. It is cheaper to use less of a more expensive Air Pillow than less expensive material because using much less material with Air Pillows than with traditional Bubble Wrap.

Warehouse Space

Air Pillows are small and compact. The space required is about a cubic foot to fill up a jumbo roll of inflatable packaging. Comparing it to 500 cubic feet of void fill, it would take to match the same amount of protection. Unlike usual Packing Peanuts and kraft paper, those inflatables come flat and compact. The equipment will produce an on-demand cushioning system, eliminating the need for extra space and time-consuming storage. That can get back to keeping the real things in the warehouse that matter.

Damage

With an inflatable system, it will be pumping consistent protective Air Pillow packaging. It should get the right amount of fill each time it is packaged. That helps reduce costs by consistently protecting against damage and decreasing the percentage of those damaged packages. The machine will reduce wastage of material by using too much or too little and get the protection required. Inflatable systems produce Air Pillows for various packaging applications, such as void-filling, cushioning, and wrapping. Products in suitable packaging will receive optimal protection from shock, abrasion, and vibration in transit.

Going Green

There are biodegradable Air Pillow options that have a less environmental impact now that inflatable systems are producing thinner films. Reducing the material is one of the key benefits of using these inflatable cushions.