Expanded Polyethylene (EPE Foam) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) are the two most quoted options for plastic foam products and cushioning in retail and display projects. Both are widely available, but they behave very differently once they are in service.
Use it as a working checklist when you write your next enquiry.
This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines plastic foam products and cushioning by three things: the base resin, the format or dimension, and the performance or certification level it has to meet. Typical options in this category include density 15 to 200 kg/m³; anti-static and flame retardant grades; moulded shapes. Materials most often specified are Expanded Polystyrene, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, Polyurethane, Expanded Polyethylene, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the retail and display sector the decision is usually driven by optical clarity and printability, with scratch resistance as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include shelving trays, point of sale displays, mannequins.
Typical values for a general purpose grade are listed below; filled, stabilised and speciality compounds will differ.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethylene Vinyl Acetate | 0.93-0.95 g/cm³ | 10-30 MPa | -40°C to 70°C |
| Polyurethane | 1.05-1.25 g/cm³ | 25-60 MPa | -30°C to 90°C |
| Expanded Polystyrene | 0.01-0.05 g/cm³ | 0.2-0.8 MPa | -40°C to 75°C |
Expanded Polyethylene is frequently the default selection here: EPE foam absorbs repeated impact, which is why it protects fragile goods in transit.
Expanded Polyethylene grades offer closed cell and waterproof, while Expanded Polystyrene brings 98% air, extremely light. For retail and display service the difference shows up in impact strength and in the long term behaviour under load.
In short: choose the first option when stiffness, heat and dimensional stability dominate; choose the second when impact, cost and processing speed matter more.
Beyond the base resin, most suppliers offer UV stabilised, food contact, flame retardant, anti-static and recycled content versions of the same product. Ask which additive package is included, because it is often the difference between a part that lasts three years and one that lasts ten.
Processing method drives both cost and performance, so it should be fixed early in the design.
Secondary operations such as printing, welding, machining and assembly are often cheaper to do in the same factory, and they reduce the risk of mismatch between components.
Use this checklist when comparing two or three supplier quotations.
Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.
Yes. {mat1} is one of our regular materials for this item, and we can supply virgin, modified and certified grades with full traceability. Material certificates and test reports are issued per batch.
Standard packing is export cartons on fumigation-free pallets, with custom labelling, barcode and retail packing available. We also handle consolidated containers and door to door delivery.
Standard production tolerance follows the relevant ISO or DIN tolerance class for the process; tighter tolerances are possible after machining or grinding, but they add cost. Define the tolerance only on the functional dimensions.
Colour is controlled with a masterbatch reference approved by the customer, and every production lot is checked against the approved sample under standard lighting before shipment.
A new tool typically takes 25 to 45 days depending on cavity count and complexity, followed by T1 samples within one week. Existing tools can usually start production within 10 to 15 days of order confirmation.
If you are planning a new retail and display project, send us your drawing, annual volume and target properties, and we will come back with a material proposal, a tooling plan and a budget quotation.
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