Insulated Shipping Boxes
Insulated shipping boxes are especially designed for the safe transportation of temperature and time sensitive materials. They play a particularly integral role in the logistical operations of pharmaceutical, food, pet, floral, and medical companies.
There are several different types of insulated shipping boxes. To determine the most appropriate one for your particular application(s), you must take into consideration things such as the size of the shipment, the weight of the contents being shipped, what is an acceptable temperature range in which the contents can be exposed to, the duration of the trip, the expected climate and temperature of the external environment, the method of shipping, and the shipping budget.
For the majority of temperature controlled shipping jobs, however, consider using an insulated shipping box like the model depicted below.
This type of shipper is lined with foil, especially designed for long term insulation. In simple terms, it is a bubble wrapping material with a highly reflective foil laminate. This material provides cushioning, so should the box be dropped, the contents will not be damaged. The foil acts as an exceptional radiant barrier that prevents thermal transfer between the internal and external environments. Used with refrigerants, you can generally expect these types foils to keep pre-frozen materials at or below freezing temperatures for about 72 hours.
Foil also has the advantage of being lighter than foam insulations such as Expanded Polystrene, Extruded Polystrene, and Polyurethane. It also takes up much less space. Furthermore, the actual material cost of foil is far less, about fifty percent less. So, not only will you generally pay less for these types of insulated shipping boxes, but you will also see a significant savings on the cost of shipping out your products, about twenty five percent.
The outside carton is a RSC cardboard box with bottom and top flaps that are sealed with packing tape. The cardboard in which this box is constructed is corrugated, which helps thicken up the walls of the box so that it can resist puncturing. Furthermore, the corrugated structure adds rigidity to the box, so in the event another package or object should fall on top of it, or should the box be dropped, it will not be crushed and the internal contents will be spared from damage. Most insulated shipping boxes will come standard with a single wall corrugated cardboard carton with a 200 lb / 32 ECT strength certification, which can generally transport contents weighing up to 40 – 65 pounds.
However, the model shown here has a double corrugated wall structure, which provides enhanced protection, strength, and durability. You can generally expect these types of cartons to have a 275 pound test / 44 ECT strength rating, which is certified to ship heavier contents weighing 65 – 95 pounds.
If you are interested in using a box like this for your shipping applications, consider purchasing the R.N.C. Industries Control Temp Heavy Duty Insulated Shipping Kit, which is the model that we have been referencing. It is in fact the most popular model on the market. The kit comes with helpful packing tips, and four 24-ounce gel packs that you can use as refrigerants. External dimensions measure at 15 x 15 x 15 inches. Internal dimensions measure at 13 x 13 x 13 inches. You can purchase it for $20 – $25.
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