Insulating panels draw interest from food shippers
A recent breakthrough is the use of ultrathin metallized polyester laminates to enclose the panels. VIP fabricators have used foil laminates as an oxygen and moisture barrier, but that creates an "edge effect," with heat being transferred around the panel. The application of DuPont Mylar SBL 300 metallized film by Advantek Inc. of Minnetonka, Minn., solves that problem. It also garnered the top packaging award for technical achievement from the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators.
An inch-thick VIP enrobed in metallized film has an R-value of 30, equivalent to 7 inches of polyurethane or polystyrene. Adventek lines plastic corrugated containers with the panels, creating a reusable shipping box much lighter and more efficient than alternative containers.