New Engineered Inflatable Cushioning Safe Haven for Computers, Devices
New Vistaflex engineered inflatable packaging, which the company unveiled at WestPack 99 in Anaheim, CA, September 28-30, is being called the "first inflatable cushion customized for specific applications." Designed to provide repeatable multiple-impact protection against shock and vibration, Vistaflex utilizes a microprocessor-controlled inflation system to precisely inflate protective "cushions" of air in seconds.
"Our goal," says Ken Christman, director of Vistaflex packaging for Sealed Air, "is to offer the customer a cost-effective alternative to materials commonly used for protective packaging such as fabricated foams, expanded polystyrene cushions and molded pulp."
Vistaflex cushions, which are shipped flat and inflated at the end-user's packaging station as needed, are made of two layers of high-performance film — a proprietary customized LDPE blend — that are strategically sealed and trimmed to create a one-piece, engineered cushion. Using the inflation system, the cushions are instantly inflated to the precise pressure needed and sealed automatically. The cushions are designed for shipping notebook computers and computer storage devices, including hard drives, CD-ROM and DVD drives.
Sealed Air's new Vistaflex engineered inflatable packaging for notebook computers uses minimal material while delivering consistent and repeatable multiple-impact protection against shock and vibration.
"Vistaflex cushions are cost-effective, easy to use, reuse and recycle — an added value that transfers directly to the end-user," Christman adds. The fully recyclable cushions can be recycled with #4 – LDPE materials. The company reports that the price of Vistaflex engineered inflatable packaging is competitive to expanded polystyrene (EPS), molded pulp and fabricated urethanes.
Performance Integrity
One of Vistaflex's strengths, says Christman, is that its cushioning performance does not decline after multiple drops. The design offers protection for all surfaces of a product from shock and vibration even if subjected to numerous drops. The inflatable cushions will hold their air for more than one year and, according to the company, can typically be reused for 6-8 trips.
Furthermore, Vistaflex packaging can maintain complete performance integrity up to an altitude of 20,000 ft and can withstand exposure to temperature extremes ranging from –40°F to 160°F. This wide temperature range allows Vistaflex to be used for shipping notebook computers and storage devices all over the globe.
The engineered inflatable packaging offers users design flexibility and can be adjusted to meet exact packaging requirements. The protective packaging can accommodate multiple sizes of notebook computers featuring a self-adjusting cushion system that fits 80% of all notebook computers manufactured today.
Just-in-time Solutions
In addition, Vistaflex cushions provide just-in-time packaging to free up warehouse and production area floor space. Inventory requirements are simplified by eliminating multiple cushion sizes, which are traditionally used for various dimensions of computer models. The cushions utilize a minimal amount of high-performance material to provide maximum product protection. Sealed Air reports Vistaflex reduces shipping material costs by 10%-50% compared to other performance packaging materials.
Shipped non-inflated and flat, the protective packaging also decreases material handling costs. For the notebook computer cushions, 5,000 pieces can be shipped per pallet, while up 15,000 Vistaflex cushions for computer hard drives can be delivered on a single pallet. This equals half the amount of end caps that would be required per pallet, thus reducing the frequency of packaging material deliveries.
Shipped flat and inflated when ready to use, Vistaflex cushions are also designed for computer hard drives, CD-ROM and DVD drives.
Besides providing excellent product protection while using a minimal amount of material, Vistaflex cushions provide a clean, dust-free aesthetically pleasing form of protective packaging. The cushioning is also easy to unpack. Although the product offers no electronic static discharge (ESD) protection, it can be placed into an ESD outer bag if needed.
Vistaflex won an AmeriStar award from the Institute of Packaging Professionals and a WorldStar award from the World Packaging Organisation, as well as a Technology of the Year award from Packaging Technology & Engineering magazine.
Sealed Air will document shock and vibration protection in its certified packaging lab at no charge to the customer.
For more information: Sealed Air Corporation, Vistaflex Packaging Customer Service, Tel: 800-510-3539, Fax: 230-790-0522.
Edited by Bill Noone