Why are custom foam inserts for cases so important?

Whatever you’re transporting or storing, you want your equipment or goods in perfect condition. Foam inserts for cases can offer complete protection, whether they’re holding medical, electronic, military or camera equipment, or some other delicate items.

How do they do this? Well, foam inserts for equipment cases have several vital properties. They are:

• Precisely shaped to provide full support to equipment
• Rigid enough to carry objects’ weight
• Soft enough to cushion items against impact
• Designed to avoid reacting with equipment, through discolouration or adhesion, for example

In addition, foam inserts must also look presentable for items that will be showcased in their cases.

How do foam inserts protect equipment?

Simply put, if there’s an impact on a case, the foam inserts come between that impact and the case’s contents. The energy from the impact is dissipated in the foam. Individual objects within the case are also prevented from coming into contact with one another, as each item sits within its own niche, which has been precisely cut out of the foam to hug the item on every side.

As well as guarding against impacts, the foam also protects equipment against prolonged vibration, which can loosen parts and lead to damage.

For added protection against impacts, hard cases are required. They can soak up more powerful impacts, sometimes becoming damaged themselves while leaving the goods inside untouched. When these powerful impacts occur, the foam decelerates the items before they can make contact with the case’s inside surface or, indeed, with each other. The foam then recovers, ready to protect against any further accidents.

Choosing the right foam 

If the contents of a case are to be fully protected, selecting the correct density and rigidity of foam is vital. The choice made will depend upon the mass of the contents and how delicate they are.

If there isn’t enough support coming from the foam, the objects inside could crash into the case. Thicker foam allows more room for deceleration after an impact and reduces the peak load on the equipment inside. However, thicker foam will require a larger case.

How are foam inserts made?

To create spaces in foam inserts for individual objects, CNC (computer numerical controlled) machining is often used. It smoothly and precisely cuts the foam to exact specifications, with measurements taken directly from the objects themselves, from scanned data or from 3D data supplied by the items’ manufacturers.

The objects can then travel together, but separated from each other to prevent damage. This has the added benefit of making the items easy to find and identify in their case.

A professional look

Not only do foam inserts in protective cases prevent damage to the contents. They also provide an elegant option for displaying a brand. Different colours and two-tone foam are available, as well as logos and text, helping to showcase a brand’s identity alongside its products.

CP Cases offers expertly crafted foam inserts, which have gone through a rigorous process of precise machine cutting, sculpting and hand-forming. We offer various options for colour, multiple laminations and foam materials, including those with anti-static, conductive and self-extinguishing properties.

If you have any questions about foam insert protection or wish to discuss a bespoke foam design,  contact CP Cases on 0208 568 1881 or email info@cpcases.com.