Service · Protective
Protective packaging — engineered to the protection level, not pulled off a shelf.
For businesses in Canada, the United States, and international markets moving fragile, high-value, or rust-prone products. Apex specifies and coordinates protective packaging that matches product weight, the required test class, handling conditions, and delivery route.
Custom foam inserts
- PE (polyethylene) foam — closed-cell, water-resistant, good for general protection at moderate weight.
- PU (polyurethane) foam — softer, conforms to delicate surfaces.
- ESD / anti-static foam — for electronics, PCBs, sensitive components.
- Cross-linked PE — fine-cell foam for premium presentation.
Apex's design team converts product CAD or physical samples into a cavity-cut foam insert. Material grade and density are selected to product weight and drop-test requirements. Production and delivery timing is confirmed after the material, cavity design, quantity, approval path, and destination are known.
Void fill
| Product | Use case | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Air pillows | Light fragile goods, e-commerce | low |
| Paper void fill (kraft, honeycomb) | Sustainable e-commerce | medium |
| Bubble wrap | General fragile protection | low–medium |
| Loose-fill (biodegradable) | Bulk void fill | low |
| Inflatable air-column film | Bottles, jars, heavy fragile | medium |
Cushioning systems
- Instapak® — foam-in-place urethane that expands around the product.
- Engineered corner pads — pre-cut polyethylene corner blocks.
- Suspension and retention packs — for premium electronics and instruments.
Rust prevention and corrosion protection
- VCI paper — releases corrosion-inhibitor vapour in sealed packaging.
- VCI film bags — paired with desiccant for marine and humid environments.
- Desiccants — silica gel, clay, in various sizes.
Apex's metal-parts shipping kits combine VCI film, desiccant, foam corner protection, and the appropriate carton — pre-built or designed to spec.
Drop-test and protection-class specification
For high-value shipments, Apex specifies the packaging stack against a drop-test class (ISTA 1A, 2A, 3A, 6-Amazon, etc.). The output is a documented spec — carton + foam + void fill — that meets the test class and is reproducible across all shipments.
Frequently asked
How are custom foam inserts priced? +
By material grade, density, and cavity complexity. CAD-driven cutting (CNC) on PU and PE; water-jet on cross-linked PE. Setup fee on first design; per-unit pricing on production runs.
Can Apex spec to an ISTA drop-test class? +
Yes — Apex's protective-packaging team specs to ISTA 1A, 2A, 3A, and Amazon 6-class on request. Documentation provided with the spec.
What is the lead time on custom foam? +
Production and shipping time varies by foam grade, density, cavity complexity, quantity, approvals, and delivery destination. Apex confirms timing in the product-specific quotation.
Do you supply Instapak®? +
Yes — both the equipment and the foam components, on a service agreement.
Related
Need a protective-packaging spec?
Send product weight, dimensions, drop-test requirement, and freight environment.