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A packaging review could help your business thrive
A packaging review can help businesses to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and enhance customer satisfaction by ensuring products are protected and presented in the best possible way.
Protective products for your business
We’re here to help you get the packaging you need
As the UK’s largest distributor of protective packaging materials, we can supply an unrivalled range of foam packaging products.
Foam conversion refers to the process of transforming raw foam material into practical products. While it encompasses various applications, such as upholstery and shoe insoles, it primarily pertains to manufacturing protective packaging, such as box or case inserts.
Foam conversion encompasses various methods, including die cutting, CNC routing, waterjet cutting, and laser cutting/engraving. In manufacturing protective packaging products, a combination of these processes is often employed to achieve the desired finished item.
Typically, Plastazote® is used for foam inserts for protective cases, including applications like tool control and shadow boards. In contrast, lower-cost foams like Stratocell are preferred for foam “packaging” due to their affordability, making them ideal for single-use applications. Plastazote® boasts a longer lifespan, ensuring durable long-term protection, while Stratocell offers cost-effective solutions for short-term needs.
While some foams remain difficult to recycle (requiring specialist facilities) there are now a large number of foams using between 30 and 100% recycled content. As well as minimising environmental impact, these foams are also exempt from the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT). Preventing damage to products in transit, which can sometimes only be achieved with foams, prevents these damaged items ending up in landfills. There are also a number of plant-based foams in development.
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Call 0800 2 88 88 22 in the UK or
+353 (404) 37370 from Ireland during business hours.
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We serve businesses of various sizes, allowing you to find the ideal packaging solutions for your requirements with ease.
Packaging advice to protect your products
Speak to one of our packaging specialist online, by email or over the phone 0800 576 452 in business hours.
Foam conversion experts
With multiple in-house foam conversion facilities, Macfarlane Packaging can provide all types of foam packaging and inserts.
Whether you need to protect high value tools, safely ship large or heavy equipment, improve the usability of your supply chain packaging, or even improve the presentation of your samples in sales meetings, using foam packaging can help. Our in-house foam conversion facilities, at multiple locations throughout the UK, can design and manufacture custom foam inserts and packs that are optimised for your specific application.
This includes protective case inserts that, thanks to cutting edge software, use the exact amount of foam required for optimum protection. Foam end caps ideal for shipping consumer electronics. Large cuffs and collars for protecting large devices and equipment as part of composite packs. And multi-coloured tool control foam that ensures your team never lose important tools again.
Ultimately, our customers benefit from foam packaging that prevents damage, is designed by an experienced, knowledgeable team, and is manufactured in-house for the highest levels of quality and cost effectiveness.
Packaging advice, news and opinion
Protective packaging products and services to businesses throughout the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe
Macfarlane Packaging announces automation agreement with Lantech
Macfarlane Packaging, the UK’s leading distributor of protective packaging, announces today (18 March) a new automation distributor agreement with U…
Macfarlane Packaging announces automation agreement with Lantech
Macfarlane Packaging, the UK’s leading distributor of protective packaging, announces today (18 March) a new automation distributor agreement with U…
Macfarlane Packaging announces automation agreement with Lantech
Macfarlane Packaging, the UK’s leading distributor of protective packaging, announces today (18 March) a new automation distributor agreement with U…