Foam can come in solid or liquid form but the basic idea remains the same – it traps pockets of gas within its substance. Solid foams can be separated into closed and open-cell foams. In the former, the individual pockets are completely separate, making them unable to soak up liquids. Open-cell foams, on the other hand, such as sponges, can absorb and retain liquids.

Foam, both liquid and solid, has its uses in applications of all kinds and it is important for individuals and businesses alike to establish that, where possible, the foam used is fire-retardant. Foam used in sofas, chairs and beds, for example, poses an extreme fire risk if it is not fire-retardant and domestic furniture in the UK is subject to strict regulations to ensure that is thoroughly tested according to the specifications in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, considered the world’s toughest flammability standards for polyurethane foam. If the foam does not meet these requirements, it can cause extreme fire damage – once the flames get through the covering to the foam base, the fire can spread extremely quickly and ignite almost everything combustible within the room at the same time.

As the UK’s leading foam producer, we know that fire-retardant foam needs to meet FMVSS302, UL94 HF1 and Class O standards for a number of different applications besides furniture and bedding.

Building and Construction

Foam has a variety of uses in building and construction, including as wall insulation. Obviously, a building which is surrounded by foam contained within its walls needs to use fire-retardant foam. In fact, insulating a building’s walls with foam blocks will actually make the building more fire-resistant, as well as protecting against other extreme weather such as violent winds or earthquakes. We are a foam producer and supplier of Class O polyurethane and melamine foams which can be cut to fit your exact requirements. Basotect melamine products are a particularly popular choice for ceiling tiles and wall panels, being lightweight and extremely resistant to fire.

Another advantage of using foam in wall and ceiling insulation is its soundproofing capabilities. Foam absorbs shock, including sound waves, meaning that certain high performance acoustic foams can completely soundproof a room as well as being non-flammable.

Automotive Applications

Another area where fire-retardant foam is essential is in the automotive industry. Vehicles of all kinds pose huge fire risks because of the fuel and ignition they have on board, and so fire-retardant foam seats and padding are vital. Most vehicles now also offer sound insulation, which again is provided through fire-retardant foam.

As well as UL94 and Class O foams, we also offer carbon impregnated and foil faced foams, ideal for use where filters, absorption and insulation are required. As with all of our foam products, everything we supply to you can be cut and shaped to order, meaning you get a quality, tailor-made service which exactly meets your needs. Just give us a call to discuss your requirements and take advantage of our fantastic prices.

Over three quarters of polyurethane (PU) products used worldwide are made from foam cut to size. PU foams can be more or less equally divided into rigid and flexible foams, both of which are normally used behind other materials. Flexible foams, for example, are commonly used in commercial and domestic furniture products, and so are therefore covered with upholstery. Rigid foams, meanwhile, are found in fridges and freezers behind plastic walls, and in thermal insulation panels in construction.

Furniture

Flexible PU foams are cut into the necessary shapes from blocks for use in furniture, such as sofas, chairs and bedding. This type of foam is used because it recovers its shape well after having been subject to pressure and weight from being lain or sat on. For greater comfort, many manufacturers now use memory foam, which returns to its original shape more quickly and provides better support, although PU foams are also very comfortable. We provide PU foam cut to size for all your applications and have various grades, thicknesses and densities available, including in various colours if that’s what you require.

Car Seats

Car seats and other padding such as neck restraints and arm rests are also commonly made out of semi-flexible PU foam. As with most foam uses in the UK, all foam used in furniture, automotive and construction applications must comply to strict fire safety regulations because of its inherent flammable properties. You can rest assured when you buy foam products from us here at Technical Foam Services, they will meet the highest fire-resistant standards.

Construction

Rigid PU foams are used widely in the construction industry, often instead of wood and as simulated wood. Foam is used for wall and ceiling insulation, providing fire-resistance, thermal properties and soundproofing, and was even used for the entire construction (not just the insulation) of the walls and ceilings for the Xanadu Houses built in the early 1980s in the USA.

The construction industry perhaps represents the widest usage of polyurethanes, at over 25% of the market share. PU foam is also waterproof, as well as being extremely durable, making it a popular choices for other construction materials. It is commonly used for completely soundproofing certain rooms or properties, through the ‘egg carton’ shape pieces.

Packaging

When you receive products which contain foam packing materials, the chances are they are made from PU. Its shock absorbency properties make it ideal for packing items susceptible to damage, including the most fragile of items, and different grades and densities are available and can be moulded and cut to size.

Other Everyday Uses

PU foam products are found everywhere and are used every day by millions. High density versions are used to create outer and inner soles for footwear, while PU can also be found in waterproof and windproof clothing, shower curtains and nappies, as well as forming part of Lycra.

PU foam can also be impregnated for use in medical applications (swabs, wipes and wound dressings), cleaning materials (sponges and wipes) and for filters, particularly those which require fungicide resistance such as water filters.

Nowadays, online retail is a big business. Almost anyone can set up an e-shop and start trading and the benefits to consumers are obvious – convenience in a global, 24-hour marketplace that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. People lead busy lives and don’t have time to traipse from store to store looking for what they want or need, so having it all there at their fingertips appeals to many. However, for an online business to succeed, the product needs to be good but also the delivery and packaging needs to be top notch too. The Internet is also a fickle marketplace, so dissatisfied customers who receive goods which are broken or damaged are unlikely to return, and may well spread the word to their friends and acquaintances too. Social media tools mean messages, good and bad, can spread like wildfire, losing you hundreds or thousands of customers in minutes.

Foam products are used by businesses worldwide to protect their goods while in transit. Foam blocks, rolls and pieces can each be used to absorb the shocks parcels and packets experience while being loaded and unloaded, while moving around in transit vehicles and, dare we say, while being dropped by clumsy handlers. As leading engineering-biased foam manufacturers in the UK, we know that packaging foams don’t come in a one size fits all form. Foam products can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, densities, hardnesses and materials. The type you need will most likely depend on the product(s) that you ship, and you may well need different kinds.

Loose Fill Packaging Foam

Products which only require a small amount of support can be protected through loose fill packaging foam, sometimes referred to as ‘peanuts’. These are, as the name suggests, small foam pieces which are poured into the packing box and surround the item, no matter what its shape. Make sure to also cover the top of the item thoroughly in case your package is turned upside down in transit or handling.

Shaped Foam Blocks

As leading foam manufacturers, we can offer packaging foams and inserts in different shapes and sizes, which you can then use to fit around specific items. For example, when shipping a television, a company would typically use shaped foam pieces around the sides, which would then protect the whole television set. This way, you get maximum support for fragile items, but you will obviously need to customise the foam for each different product.

We offer PE foams for added protection, as they are extremely durable and strong, and are also available in different colours – perfect for fitting in with a particular brand or design image. We believe that your packaging materials should look good as well as being effective, as this will also leave a lasting impression on your customers. This is why we’ve teamed up with an established printed carton supplier, meaning you can improve the aesthetics of your packaging and make it completely bespoke to your business. We can also even apply laminated fabrics to packaging foam.

Foams have a ubiquitous presence in modern life. You might not always be conscious of exactly how extensively they are used, but simply casting your eyes around you may well reveal a number of applications. They are used in toys, promotional items, machinery, electronics and much more.

Also, foam suppliers are adept at creating versions that are suitable for audio use. The material appears in speakers, microphones, headsets and so on. Meanwhile, it can also be found in ear plugs as it is superb at blocking out noise.

The royal seal of approval

One very well known lady recently made use of ear plugs. During last month’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations held in honour of the Queen’s 60th year on the throne, a special concert was held outside Buckingham Palace. Organised by Take That singer Gary Barlow, it was an action-packed and noisy event – and it seems a little too noisy for the guest of honour.

The Queen was pictured wearing discreet ear plugs to help control the level of sound she was exposed to. Commenting on this, the Daily Mail remarked: “The monarch was careful to dim the noise, as she wore a pair of yellow foam ear plugs fitted snugly into her ears throughout the ear-splitting show. At the age of 86, the Queen… proved to be pillar of strength over the weekend of spectacular Jubilee celebrations, but her sensible use of ear plugs gives just the slightest hint to her advancing years.”

Your choice of audio foams

Here at Technical Foam Services we’re passionate about the potential of foams in the audio field. This material can be specially adapted and shaped to serve a crucial role in blocking out unwanted noise and vibrations while still allowing the right sounds to be heard clearly.

Whether you’re after microphone windshields, speaker covers, ear defenders, headset ear cushions, sound mufflers or anything else, we should be able to help.

Expertise you can rely on

Meanwhile, when you’re looking for foam suppliers to provide you with items like this, it’s important you contact the very best. After all, producing high-quality audio foams requires a great deal of knowledge and skill.

Thankfully, we have all the experience and expertise required to make projects like this a success. So, when you come to us for assistance, you can rest assured you won’t be disappointed.

Sound engineering

One of the things that sets us apart from many other manufacturers is our superb engineering capabilities. We have the most up-to-date lathes and sculpture cutting machinery, helping us to design and build tools capable of making products in virtually any size or shape imaginable.

We also have our own in-house engineering department on hand to ensure the tasks are completed to the highest standard.

Find out more

If you’re keen to find out more about what we have to offer, you can take a look around the rest of our website or get in touch. Of course, as well as offering a superb range of audio foams, we also offer cleaning sponges, memory foam items and much more.

There’s little chance you’ve managed to avoid the build-up to the Olympics. Soon, London is to become the focus of the sporting world and athletes and fans will flock to the city to take part in the proceedings.

As well as being an impressive exhibition of sporting prowess and a chance for consumers to enjoy the atmosphere and festivities associated with the international event, there will also be plenty of opportunities for businesses. To help ensure your firm is able to exploit this busy period, it may be a good idea to invest in promotional items made from rubber foams. Whether you decide to get coloured hands, cleaning sponges or anything else, these items may help you drum up custom.

A tourism boost

During the games, which will start on July 27th and run to August 12th, many people are expected to head to the English capital. Drawing attention to this, Heathrow director of the UK Border Force Marc Owen said hundreds of extra border staff will be drafted in to ensure the airport can cope.

In total, the hub has spent more than £20 million on preparations for the Olympics. The busiest day at the travel centre is expected to be August 13th, which is the date of the closing ceremony.  In total, around 137,800 people are expected to take flights from the airport on this day.

Mr Owen remarked: “We have got hundreds of staff. I am not going to go into a numbers game of how many staff we have got. We have got enough staff coming in to man our desks through the seven-week period.”

Getting in on the action

Whenever a big event like this takes place and you think your enterprise may be able to cash in on the extra consumer activity that occurs as a result, it’s important that you’re proactive in your attempts to drum up custom.

One way you might be able to bolster interest in your offerings is to promote them using rubber and foam creations. For example, here at Technical Foam Services we’re expert foam manufacturers and can make an array of superb objects to advertise your company.

Having fun with foams

One of the great things about rubber foams is the fact that they are so versatile and they can be used to create fun, interactive items that really capture consumers’ imaginations. For example, you might want to make the most of special foam hands. Also, you may be interested in our foam balls, dice, kneeling pads, play mats, hats, masks, giant letters and numbers or point of sale items.

We can produce objects in a vast array of colours, shapes and sizes and should be able to fulfil your brief with ease.

Creating the right impression

Of course, if you’re to succeed in raising the profile of your business by offering promotional items, it’s important they look and feel the part. Thanks to our attention to detail, you can rest assured that our products will meet your exacting standards.

Meanwhile, despite their superb appearance and great functionality, they represent impressive value for money, so you needn’t break the bank to achieve your goals.

If you need to source foam items, you may well be keen to benefit from great value for money. Whether you’re after foams for promotional items, medical foams, cleaning foams or anything else, it’s no doubt important that you source superb deals.

It may only be by doing this that you’re able to compete during these tough economic times. After all, businesses are under considerable pressure at present and if you don’t manage to keep your costs to a minimum, you may end up suffering considerable ill-effects.

Retail insolvencies expected to rise

For example, if you’re involved in the retail sector, you might be feeling the pinch at present. Retail sales declined in April by 1.1 per cent compared with the same month in 2011 and there are fears that company failures in the industry could increase.

Indeed, half of the UK’s insolvency practitioners polled by R3 expected the wholesale and retail sector to experience the highest number of insolvencies this year. Furthermore, 50 per cent of retailers reported they were experiencing decreased profits and reduced sales.

A steady stream

Responding to the figures, R3 president Lee Manning said: “We have seen a number of big name brands go bust very publicly. Our recent research shows that more retailers are experiencing the pressures caused by shrinking demand and consumer expenditure, compared to businesses in other sectors.”

He added: “Are we expecting a further bloodbath on the high street? We can’t say for sure but we can expect a steady stream of insolvencies in this sector over the course of the year.”

The place to come for great value foam

Thankfully, there are ways to minimise your expenditure. For example, by coming to us here at Technical Foam Services to source your memory foam and so on, you can rest assured you’ll be benefiting from competitive prices.

We’re always striving to supply exactly what our customers want at the best possible prices. This has helped us to establish lasting partnerships with many of our clients.

An honest and open approach

Meanwhile, we operate in an open and honest fashion, meaning we will never encourage you to waste your money on solutions that are not suitable. This means that if we can’t help you, we will tell you up front and endeavour to forward you on to a firm that might fit the bill.

So, when you place and order with us, you can rest assured that the outcome will be more than satisfactory. As well as helping you avoid financial wastage, this can provide you with greater peace of mind.

Come and see for yourself

We always welcome visitors to our factory and so if you want to come and look for yourself and meet our team, you can do precisely this.

When it comes to getting your hands on superb quality and excellent value flexible foams and so on, you may well benefit from taking a look at what we have to offer. To find out more, simply peruse our website or get in touch.

Ecommerce continues to grow in popularity. As more and more consumers switch on to the benefits associated with sourcing goods online, the proportion of transactions that take place in this medium increases. After all, it’s often far more convenient for people to purchase goods in this way and they can generally take advantage of greater choice and better value.

However, there are certain logistical issues associated with shipping products to customers. For example, if you’re firm’s involved in activity like this, you’ll no doubt be aware of the potential pitfalls associated with transporting goods and ensuring they remain intact. This is where special shaped foams come in useful. By packing items in supportive foams, it’s possible to provide much greater protection.

Boost in online sales

The demand for foam cut to size in this way may well be on the up. After all, figures released by comScore concerning the US market showed that during the first quarter of this year, web sales reached $44.3 billion (£28.7 billion). This was up by 17 per cent compared with the same three-month period in 2011 and it represented the tenth consecutive quarter of positive year-on-year growth.

Commenting on the statistics, comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni said: “While the economic recovery continues to be painfully slow, the channel shift to e-commerce appears to be accelerating. This presents opportunities but also challenges for brick-and-mortar retailers if they can’t hold onto their offline market share in the digital world. E-commerce has reached critical mass in several product categories, and it will be important to monitor these sales trends by category in order to correctly gauge the impact e-commerce is having on overall retailer performance.”

Sourcing the perfect packaging

If your organisation is seeking special machined foam to help protect the products you sell online and then dispatch to customers, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Technical Foam Services we’re experts in the field and know exactly how to create the ideal packaging.

We know that even if you have the best products on the market, if your packaging isn’t right, they will never fulfil their potential. That’s why we offer a wide range of packaging foams. Indeed, we can provide all our clients with bespoke solutions that offer optimum protection and look great.

Take your pick

You can take your pick when it comes to the density of your shaped foams, their hardness and the material they’re produced from. For example, we offer chipfoam, egg-crate foam and closed cell polyethylene foams.

Meanwhile, thanks to our impressive conversion machinery, we’re able to provide the widest choice of foams and inserts in terms of shape and size. This means you won’t have to compromise when you’re selecting your packaging.

Reducing waste and maximising consumer appeal

By selecting the perfect machined foam, you can ensure you minimise the number of items that are damaged in transit and therefore have to be replaced. This also helps you to live up to the exacting standards of consumers, meaning you’re more likely to get positive feedback. Also, because we know that image matters, we go out of our way to maintain high standards in terms of the aesthetics of our foams. In turn, this should reflect well on your organisation.