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FEFCO 0949

Corrugated Shock Absorber Pad

  • Available in a wide range of custom configurations & material selection.
  • Order 1 sample. Or order 100K+ units. Or anything in between.
  • Affordable delivery across North America.
  • Design support, warehousing, testing, assembly available.
  • Widest machinery capability in America via 30+ specialist partner plants.
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30+specialist partner plants

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30+ plants give us more ways to lower the price.

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Product details

Top highlights

  • Replaces EPS foam with a mono-material corrugated buffer
  • Produced with straight parallel creases without shaped cutting
  • Requires two-handed manual insertion to hold the pad closed

About this product

A heavy-duty, 100% fiber-based alternative to EPS foam blocks and plastic edge protectors. This single-piece corrugated pad folds into a dense rectangular buffer, creating a localized crumple zone between your product and the outer shipping box.

Because it uses straight parallel creases without interlocking tabs, it can be produced using simple straight cuts. The tradeoff is packing labor: operators must fold and hold the pad closed against the board's natural spring-back while sliding it into the master carton.

Common uses

  • Electronics and technical equipment protection
  • Glass and porcelain shipping
  • Industrial kitting and heavy parts separation

Get a quote

Share what you know. We'll take it from there. Or email us at info@herculeindustrial.com

Best Price Guarantee

Already have a packaging quote? Let us beat it.

Send us the quote you have. We will beat it for the same specifications, quantity, and delivery requirements.

Upload a competing quote

Free quote review. No obligation.

30+specialist partner plants

We supply through the plant best suited to your price, material, production, and delivery requirements.

Why we can beat a lower quote

30+ plants give us more ways to lower the price.

Each plant has different machinery, material costs, order minimums, and freight rates. Our buying volume helps us secure better pricing. We then quote through the plant that gives you the lowest total price for your requirements.

Send us your current quote. Watch us beat it.

Attach it to the quote form or email it to us. We'll review it free and send you our price.

Upload a competing quoteinfo@herculeindustrial.com
Best Price Guarantee terms

To qualify, send a written supplier quote dated within the past 30 days and addressed to your company. It must cover the same dimensions, construction, material, print, finish, quantity, tooling, freight, delivery date, and delivery location. The guarantee does not cover taxes, expired quotes, liquidation or clearance sales, or obvious pricing errors.

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Product types that use the side shock absorber

Fragile electronics and technical equipment

Absorbs side impacts during transit, keeping heavy or sensitive components suspended away from the rigid outer box walls.

Glass and porcelain shipping

Provides a deep, compressible air gap that prevents direct strikes from shattering brittle goods.

Sustainable EPS foam replacement

Allows brands to eliminate mixed-material packaging and shift to a fully fiber-based, paper-based protective system.

Heavy industrial components

Separates heavy metal parts or sub-assemblies inside a shared master crate, preventing metal-on-metal transit damage.

Fulfillment and supply chain advantages

High-volume fulfillment

Shipped flat, these pads take up a fraction of the warehouse space required by pre-formed foam blocks, reducing inbound freight and storage space.

Industrial kitting

Useful for separating heavy metal parts or sub-assemblies inside a shared master crate without investing in complex die-cut partitions.

Reverse logistics and returns

Consumers can easily fold and re-insert the pad when returning items, maintaining the protective air gap without needing complex instructions.

When to consider a different protective insert

When you need to wrap the entire product

The 0949 acts as a standalone side bumper. If you need to protect four faces of an item simultaneously, compare the 0905 Horizontal Wrapper.

When packing speed is the top priority

Because this pad springs open if let go, it requires two hands to insert. If you need a faster workflow, compare self-locking corner blocks that hold their 3D shape before insertion, though they will require shaped cutting.

Close variants and lookalike dielines

The closest library neighbors include 0950, 0907, 0122. Use this as a variant check if a buyer brings an old code, sample, or dieline that looks close. The deciding details are usually the lock, slot, closure, wall build, part count, or fold sequence.

Board, depth, and packing labor choices

Board grade vs. folding effort

Heavy double-wall board maximizes shock absorption but increases the physical effort required to fold the pad on the packing line. We recommend testing physical samples to balance crush resistance against operator fatigue.

Standoff depth

The height of the folded side walls determines your crumple zone. Deeper buffers consume more raw material but provide a larger air gap for heavy impacts.

Flute direction

The direction of the corrugated flutes changes how the pad absorbs impact. We can help orient the flutes to maximize side crush resistance for your specific payload.

Master carton fit

The pad relies on friction. The outer dimensions must be calibrated to wedge tightly between the product and the master carton so it does not spring open during transit.

Adjusting the buffer dimensions

Buffer depth calibration

The side walls can be extended or shortened to match the exact clearance between your product and the outer carton.

Board thickness compensation

If you change the board grade to increase protection, the fold allowances must be recalculated so the rectangular tube closes squarely without bowing or binding.

Asymmetric side walls

The two side walls do not have to be identical. One wall can be extended to accommodate irregular product shapes or off-center placement inside the box.

Board and packing details

Friction-fit retention

This pad has no native locks or glue joints. It relies entirely on being wedged tightly between the product and the master carton to hold its shape during transit.

Straight-cut production

As long as the design relies only on straight parallel creases, it can be produced on standard slitter-scorer equipment without flatbed die-cutting.

Additional notes

Sample testing for operator fatigue

Because heavy board grades resist folding, we recommend testing a physical sample on your pack bench to ensure the spring-back tension is manageable for your team.

Flat delivery and storage

Unlike foam blocks that ship full of air, these pads arrive completely flat, maximizing pallet density and freeing up floor space.

Related protective packaging

0950: Cushion Pad

Nearby FEFCO style to review if the buyer wants a similar job but the closure, flap overlap, wall build, or part count changes the package choice.

0907: Open Liner (HLW)

Nearby FEFCO style to review if the buyer wants a similar job but the closure, flap overlap, wall build, or part count changes the package choice.

FAQs

Product fit and usage

Can this pad be used without an outer box?

No. The pad relies on the rigid walls of a master carton to keep it from springing open. It is strictly an internal protective component.

Assembly and packing

Does it require tape or glue to assemble?

No. The pad is folded by hand and held closed by the packer until it is wedged into the box. Friction and the outer carton keep it secure.

Protection and performance

How does it compare to EPS foam for drop protection?

Corrugated buffers act as excellent crumple zones, but exact parity with foam depends on the board grade, product weight, and drop height. We recommend physical drop testing with your specific payload.

Assembly and packing

Will this slow down our packing line?

It requires two hands to fold and insert, which is slower than dropping in a pre-formed foam block. You are trading packing speed for warehouse space savings and sustainability.

Modifications

Can we add cutouts or ventilation holes?

Yes, but adding any internal cutouts or interlocking tabs means the pad must be die-cut, which removes the straight-cut production advantage.

Board and material

What board grade should we choose?

Standard single-wall works for lightweight void fill, while heavy double-wall is best for replacing foam in heavy-duty applications. We can help balance the required crush resistance against operator folding fatigue.

Print and finish

Can we print handling instructions on the pad?

Yes, but because it acts as a hidden internal buffer, most brands leave it as plain kraft board. If packers need fold guidance, simple directional marks can be added.

Product fit and usage

Can the pad protect multiple sides of the product at once?

The 0949 is designed as a single-sided bumper. If you need to protect multiple faces simultaneously, a horizontal wrapper or a multi-piece insert system is a better choice.