Built Tough For Fragile Items

Shipping fragile products doesn’t have to be stressful. Glass, ceramics, heavy or bulky items, and other break-prone products need an extra touch when it comes to handling and shipping. Slimbox’s right-sized protective packaging helps you ship with confidence – reducing damage, avoiding unnecessary returns, and keeping customers happy.

When needed, protection goes beyond a perfectly fitted box

For Slimbox, a perfectly fitted box is often the foundation. But when it’s necessary, good packaging can go a step further – with smart extras that augment safety and can even improve the customer experience.

Corrugated air buffers: sturdy protection with built-in shock absorption

One of Slimbox’s solutions for fragile packaging is corrugated air buffers. These buffers combine a sturdy corrugated structure with a built-in air pocket that helps absorb shocks, drops, and rough handling during transit.

Because Slimbox creates packages that are custom-made to fit your product, the buffer inlays are made to match the box, too. That helps avoid weak spots, loose areas, or unprotected zones inside the package.

Two designs, depending on how tough you need it

Slimbox includes two elegant buffer options:

• Standard buffer: strong everyday protection for many fragile products.

• Reinforced buffer: adds extra strength with an additional corrugated layer in the center – ideal when you want packaging that feels truly “built tough.”

Use buffers wisely: extra protection comes with extra material and time

Air buffers offer great protection, but they do come at a cost. You’ll typically need a few extra centimeters of corrugated, and there’s also a bit more folding time for the packer. That’s why it makes sense to use buffers strategically – especially for high-risk, high-value, sharp-edged, or hard-to-pack items where the protection clearly pays off.

No need to overthink it: it’s just a box type in Slimbox

You don’t need to design anything. Buffers are simply a box type in the Slimbox software. Select the buffer option and push your dimensions to Slimbox (via API, scanner, or manual input). Slimbox does the rest.

To make it even easier, the Slimbox team also added a dedicated box type: Open FEFCO 203 with lid & buffers. This option allows you to package your product with six buffers – surrounding and cushioning it for a stronger, more robust shipment. Just push your product dimensions to Slimbox, and your Slimbox produces the complete solution.

Want even more protection (or SIOC-ready packaging)? Let edges “float”

Not yet satisfied – or do you want to package your products SIOC (Ships In Own Container)? A clever upgrade is to add cutouts/notches in the buffers so sharp or fragile edges can “float” inside the buffer. This reduces pressure on delicate points and helps prevent edge impacts during transport – especially useful for products with protrusions, corners, or sensitive details.