Protect and Survive

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Apr 15, 2008

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.012

TL;DR

Stern switched to foam block protection for machine shipping in 2004.

Summary

This 2008 article describes Stern Pinball's adoption in 2004 of protective foam blocks manufactured by Sealed Air Corp for shipping new machines, replacing cardboard that sometimes caused damage. The foam pieces are formed by expanding foam pressed into molds within wooden boxes to fit machine components, a process detailed in Packaging World Magazine and demonstrated at Pinball Expo 2006.

Key Claims

Stern moved to foam protection system in 2004, replacing cardboard
high confidence · Article states 'in 2004 Stern moved to a new system of machine protection using a product created by Sealed Air Corp'
Previous cardboard protection sometimes created as much damage as it prevented
medium confidence · Article notes 'cardboard pieces, and the cardboard wrapped around the legs, created almost as much damage as they prevented'
Protective foam pieces are formed by rapidly expanding foam sandwiched in silver liner, pressed into molds
high confidence · Article describes process: 'foam sandwiched inside the silver liner which is then pressed into moulds inside wooden boxes'

Notable Quotes

“in 2004 Stern moved to a new system of machine protection using a product created by Sealed Air Corp. Out went the cardboard corners and in came the silver foam pieces.”
Article author — Key fact about the timing and nature of the protective system change
“thanks to those silver blocks, you're more likely to receive your game in the same condition it left the factory.”
Article author — Summarizes the benefit of the new protective system for consumers

Entities

Stern PinballcompanySealed Air CorpcompanyJoe BlackwellpersonJohn PopadiukpersonPackaging World MagazineorganizationPinball Expo 2006event

Signals

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product_concern: Manufacturing process improvement to ensure machines arrive in factory condition to customers
high · Article emphasizes that foam blocks make it more likely machines 'receive your game in the same condition it left the factory'
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technology_signal: Stern implemented new foam-based protective shipping system in 2004, replacing cardboard protection that was ineffective and sometimes caused damage
high · Article explicitly states cardboard 'created almost as much damage as they prevented' and describes the 2004 transition to Sealed Air foam blocks

Topics

Manufacturing and packagingprimaryShipping and logisticsprimaryProduct protectionprimaryStern Pinball operationssecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.75)— Article presents the foam protection system as a beneficial improvement that protects customer investments and reduces shipping damage

Transcript

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Date: 15th April 2008. Thanks to John Popadiuk for spotting this article. Anyone who buys a N-I-B (new-in-box) Stern pinball machine is liable to get more than they bargained for. Apart from the machine itself, you get a cardboard box to either keep as a souvenir, pass on to someone shipping a game, or recycle. In addition, you also get a good selection of silver protective foam blocks which help to keep the game safe on its journey from the factory. But what are they, and how are they made? In previous years, games used to be shipped using more cardboard to protect against damage in transit, but it some cases those cardboard pieces, and the cardboard wrapped around the legs, created almost as much damage as they prevented. So, in 2004 Stern moved to a new system of machine protection using a product created by Sealed Air Corp. Out went the cardboard corners and in came the silver foam pieces. The pieces are formed inside the Stern factory by a rapidly expanding foam sandwiched inside the silver liner which is then pressed into moulds inside wooden boxes to form the appropriate shapes to fit the machine. Well now the process has been picked up by industrial publication Packaging World Magazine. In their article they talk to Stern's Joe Blackwell and explain the company's needs, the testing involved and the eventual solution. You can read the full article at the Packaging World website by clicking here. If you'd like to see the Sealed Air blocks being made, take a look at our Pinball Expo 2006 Stern Factory Tour where all is revealed. Whether you buy every new game that comes out or dream of one day owning a new-in-box machine, thanks to those silver blocks, you're more likely to receive your game in the same condition it left the factory. Back to the News page Back to the front page