Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) offer the highest thermal performance on the market for an equivalent thickness. Combined with phase change materials (PCMs), they enable EMBALL’ISO packaging from the VYPE range to maintain thermal stability for up to 144 hours, qualified to ISTA 7D Summer & Winter standards a decisive level of protection for the most temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products.
For a logistics or quality manager in the pharmaceutical industry, choosing an insulation material is never trivial: it dictates the possible transport duration, the weight of the packaging, its cost, and ultimately the safety of the product. Faced with conventional solutions (polyurethane, extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene), vacuum insulation panels are now establishing themselves as the benchmark for critical shipments. Here is why, supported by a technical comparison.
What is a Vacuum Insulation Panel ?
A vacuum insulation panel consists of an insulating core encapsulated in a hermetic multi-layer envelope inside which a vacuum is created. The near-total absence of air eliminates the main vector of thermal transfer via conduction and convection, which gives the VIP a thermal conductivity far lower than that of traditional insulation, while maintaining a significantly reduced wall thickness.
Concretely, this means that VIP packaging can offer equivalent or even superior thermal protection compared to conventional foam packaging, while being thinner, lighter, and more compact.
Technical comparison: VIP versus traditional insulation
| Insulation | Principle | Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIP (Vacuum Insulation Panels) | Vacuum-sealed insulating core, hermetic envelope | Lowest thermal conductivity on the market, thin profile for high performance | Requires careful handling (airtight envelope) |
| Polyurethane | Closed-cell insulating foam | Good rigidity, resistant to impact and moisture | Greater thickness needed for equivalent performance |
| Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) | Closed-cell structure, low water absorption | Lightweight, rigid, estimated lifespan of 50 to 75 years, recyclable | Lower thermal performance than VIP for equal volume |
| Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) | Expanded polystyrene beads, ≈98% trapped air | Economical and lightweight solution | Suitable for short-duration protection only |
This comparison highlights a recurring trade-off in pharmaceutical logistics: as transport duration and thermal stability requirements increase, the performance gap widens in favor of the VIP.
VYPE: the VIP applied to parcel shipping
At EMBALL’ISO, this technological combination is at the heart of the VYPE range, our PREMIUM+ isothermal solution for parcel shipping. VYPE combines vacuum insulation panels and phase change materials to guarantee maximum thermal stability, even under extreme external conditions.
Key features of VYPE:
Protection duration: up to 144 hours, qualified according to ISTA 7D Summer & Winter standards
Temperature ranges covered: COOL (+2°C/+8°C), TEMPERATE (+15°C/+25°C), FREEZE (-25°C/-15°C)
Reusable packaging, integrated into EMBALL’ISO’s Reuse & Reverse service
7 available volumes, from 8 L to 100 L, to adapt to all parcel shipping sizes.
VYPE technical table: volumes, dimensions and weight
| SYSTEM WEIGHT | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product name | Payload | Internal Space L x W x H | External dimension L x W x H | Volumetric weight | Cool / Temperate | Freeze | |
| VYPE 8 | 8 L | 202 x 202 x 198 mm 8.0 x 8.0 x 7.8 in | 390 x 375 x 360 mm 15.4 x 14.8 x 14.2 in | 9 kg 20 lb | 11.2 kg 24.3 lb | 13.5 kg 29.8 lb | |
| VYPE 14 | 14 L | 242 x 242 x 238 mm 9.5 x 9.5 x 9.4 in | 430 x 415 x 400 mm 16.9 x 16.3 x 15.7 in | 12 kg 27 lb | 14.7 kg 32.4 lb | 18.1 kg 39.9 lb | |
| VYPE 30 | 30 L | 312 x 312 x 308 mm 12.3 x 12.3 x 12.1 in | 490 x 475 x 460 mm 19.3 x 18.7 x 18.1 in | 18 kg 40 lb | 19.4 kg 42.8 lb | 24.2 kg 53.4 lb | |
| VYPE 38 | 38 L | 312 x 312 x 389 mm 12.3 x 12.3 x 15.3 in | 490 x 475 x 550 mm 19.3 x 18.7 x 21.65 in | 22 kg 48 lb | 21.6 kg 46.3 lb | 26 kg 57.3 lb | |
| VYPE 48 | 48 L | 395 x 395 x 308 mm 15.6 x 15.6 x 12.1 in | 580 x 575 x 460 mm 22.8 x 22.6 x 18.1 in | 27 kg 59 lb | 25.2 kg 55.1 lb | 31 kg 68.3 lb | |
| VYPE 60 | 60 L | 395 x 395 x 389 mm 15.6 x 15.6 x 15.3 in | 580 x 575 x 550 mm 22.8 x 22.6 x 21.7 in | 31 kg 68 lb | 31.5 kg 69.5 lb | 40.2 kg 88.6 lb | |
| VYPE 100 | 100 L | 600 x 380 x 437 mm 23.6 x 14.8 x 17.5 in | 800 x 600 x 648 mm 31.5 x 23.6 x 25.5 in | 52 kg 115 lb | 44 kg 97 lb | 52.5 kg 115.7 lb | |
A technical choice driven by the transported product
The Vacuum Insulation Panel is not systematically the best option for all shipments: it is a trade-off between the required protection duration, logistics budget, and handling constraints. For comparison, within the EMBALL’ISO range:
ISOGO (PREMIUM, insulation panels + PCM) covers up to 120 hours, a relevant alternative when the transport duration is shorter
STANDARD EXPORT (XPS + water gel briquettes) meets needs up to 96 hours for less critical flows.
For the most sensitive pharmaceutical products vaccines, oncology treatments, biological products on long or multi-stage routes, the VIP nevertheless remains the benchmark technology: it provides the widest thermal safety margin against logistics chain hazards (customs delays, transit disruptions, extreme weather conditions).
In summary
Vacuum insulation panels provide a measurable technical advantage over traditional insulation: minimal thermal conductivity at a reduced thickness, which translates into better thermal protection with optimized weight and space efficiency. Combined with phase change materials, this technology is at the heart of EMBALL’ISO’s VYPE range, specifically designed to secure the most demanding pharmaceutical shipments.
Discover the full VYPE product sheet and its availability based on your shipping volumes, or visit our page dedicated to vacuum insulation panels (VIP) to learn more about how this technology works. For tailored assistance, contact our teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes a vacuum insulation panel different from classic insulation like polyurethane or XPS ? The VIP relies on a vacuum created inside a hermetically sealed envelope, which eliminates thermal conduction through the air. It thus offers a much lower thermal conductivity than traditional insulation, for a significantly thinner wall thickness.
- How long can a VYPE (VIP + PCM) packaging maintain the temperature? Up to 144 hours, qualified according to ISTA 7D Summer & Winter standards, across the COOL (+2°C/+8°C), TEMPERATE (+15°C/+25°C) and FREEZE (-25°C/-15°C) ranges.
- Is VYPE a reusable packaging ? Yes, VYPE is part of EMBALL'ISO's reusable packaging range, integrated into the Reuse & Reverse service which handles the collection, reconditioning and repositioning of packaging.
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What volumes are available for the VYPE range ?
VYPE is available in 7 internal volumes, from 8 L to 100 L, to adapt to most parcel shipping needs in pharmaceutical logistics.