Tempex box: what it is and where the name comes from
A Tempex box is an insulated box made of EPS, expanded polystyrene, also called styrofoam. Tempex was originally a brand name. It is the same material as an EPS box: light, stackable and suitable for shipping chilled products, such as medicines, meat, fish, vegetables and meal boxes. Below you find where the name comes from and what to look at when you choose.
What is Tempex and where does the name come from?
Tempex is a white, light plastic that consists of about 98% air, enclosed in closed cells. That air slows down heat transfer and makes the material a good insulator. Tempex started as a brand name for expanded polystyrene. A Tempex box is the same as a styrofoam shipping box or an EPS box.
Tempex box, Tempex tray or Tempex cooler?
The terms overlap, but in practice there are two forms. A Tempex box or tray with a separate lid is the standard transport packaging. If you want to use several Tempex boxes at once, look at our Tempex boxes per piece. A Tempex cooler is the same box, but meant as a piece that you take along again and again, to the market or on the boat. You find those at our EPS foam coolers.
What do you use a Tempex box for?
- Fish and seafood: choose a version with drain holes, so meltwater runs away.
- Meat and BBQ packages: delivering or transporting chilled without a broken cold chain.
- Frozen goods and dry ice: ice cream, ice cream cakes and frozen products stay frozen for up to 72 hours with dry ice.
- Plants, cuttings and aquarium shipments: protection against cold and heat when shipping live cargo.
- Moving and storing fragile items: light, rigid and shock-absorbing.
Choosing a Tempex cooler: what the box does and does not do
The box does not cool, it holds the temperature. The cold comes from the product itself and from the cooling elements.
Wall thickness
The thicker the wall, the longer the contents stay at temperature. A thin-walled box of 20 mm keeps products cool for roughly eight to twelve hours, while a thick-walled box of 40 to 50 mm reaches 24 to 48 hours with gel packs. For shipments longer than a day, choose a thick-walled version (30 mm or more).
Inner size and filling
Choose the box by the inner size, not the outer size, and fill it as full as possible. Still air is fine, circulating warm air is not. See also choosing the right box size.
Fit with the master carton
For extra protection during transport, a matching cardboard master carton is available for several sizes.
Cooling elements with a Tempex box
- Place the cold on top. Cold air sinks. Elements at the top of the package cool the whole contents.
- Medicines. For medicines that must stay between 2 and 8 degrees, read the guide shipping medicines chilled.
As coolant you use gel packs or cooling elements.
Tempex boxes in the range: the product data
Our Tempex boxes are EPS boxes from our own production. The table shows four sizes with the data from the product description. Every box is delivered including a matching lid. A separate lid is only available on request.
| Volume | Outer size (mm) | Inner size (mm) | Wall thickness | Drain holes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 liters | 300 x 200 x 200 | 240 x 140 x 140 | 30 mm | without drain holes |
| 5 liters | 300 x 200 x 155 | 270 x 170 x 120 | 15 mm | with and without |
| 12 liters | 400 x 300 x 155 | 365 x 260 x 125 | 20 mm | with and without |
| 25 liters | 600 x 400 x 155 | 540 x 340 x 110 | 30 mm | with and without |
The wall in this selection runs from 15 to 30 mm. In the whole range it goes up to 60 mm for the 173 liter EPS box. The standard EPS boxes are made of polystyrene. The product descriptions call them reusable.
Besides EPS, the range has an EPP box, for example 425 x 345 x 305 mm with 24 liters of volume and a 30 mm wall, 42 pieces per pallet. The product description calls it shock-resistant, reusable and 100% recyclable.
Tempex box or thermal box?
An alternative is the foldable thermal box: a cardboard box with a separate insulated bag. It is delivered flat, so up to 5 times more fits on a pallet than with EPS, and it holds temperature for up to 48 hours. See insulated shipping bags for the alternative.
Frequently asked questions about the Tempex box
Is a Tempex box the same as a styrofoam box?
Yes. Tempex, styrofoam and EPS are names for the same material. The difference lies in wall thickness, size and lid.
How do I choose between Tempex boxes with and without drain holes?
Choose with drain holes for fish and other products that give off meltwater. For dry or liquid products you choose without drain holes.
Can I reuse a Tempex tray?
Yes, EPS boxes are reusable. For structural reuse, an EPP box is an alternative.
How long do frozen products stay frozen in a Tempex box?
According to our collection page, ice cream, ice cream cakes and frozen products stay frozen for up to 72 hours with dry ice.
Is a lid included with a Tempex tray?
Yes. Every EPS box is delivered with a matching lid as standard. Separate lids are only available on request.
Do you want to know whether a certain size fits your product and process? Take a look at our Tempex box in all standard sizes, from our own production since 1972 and available directly from stock.
You will find all names in our glossary.
