Rigid HDPE ice bricks
Useful for EPP boxes, medical coolers, delivery bags, and return loops that need durable shells, easy cleaning, fixed placement, and inventory control.
View reusable ice bricksCustom coolant systems for repeatable packouts
Custom PCM Packs & Ice Bricks for Cold Chain Shipping
Choose the phase point, PCM form, dimensions, shell, conditioning method, fixed placement, labels, and repeat-order requirements around your product limits and insulated shipper.
Start from product limitsSelect the phase behavior only after the acceptable temperature range is defined.
Fix every positionMatch brick or panel dimensions to the chamber, pockets, dividers, and packing sequence.
Control conditioningRecord how each PCM unit is prepared, staged, inspected, returned, and reused.
Prepare your sample request
Build your PCM pack and ice brick brief
Select the shipment details your quality, logistics, and packing teams already know. Tempk can use the brief to recommend samples; the final phase point, quantity, and placement must be checked in the complete packout.
What needs to be customized?
Recommended starting configuration
Choose the operating form
Match the PCM format to the shipper and daily workflow
Rigid bricks, flexible pouches, and panel arrays solve different fit and handling problems. Select the form around usable chamber space and repeatability, not appearance alone.
Flexible PCM pouches
Useful when the coolant must fit narrow side gaps, lid spaces, or irregular payloads while limiting unused volume in a one-way shipper.
Compare PCM behaviorPCM panels or cartridges
Useful for fixed medical or high-value shippers where every panel position, conditioning state, separator, and logger point is recorded.
Plan pharmaceutical packagingHybrid coolant packout
Combines rigid and flexible PCM, or PCM with another approved cold source, when the chamber needs both fixed capacity and gap-filling coverage.
Plan packout testingRepeat-order control
Keep the approved PCM system consistent after sampling
A repeatable packout depends on more than the coolant formula. The physical unit, starting condition, position, and operating checks must stay aligned with the tested assembly.
PCM identity
Fix the phase point, formulation reference, fill mass or volume, batch controls, and label used for the approved program.
Physical fit
Fix the outside dimensions, thickness, shell or film, orientation, number of units, and chamber clearance.
Starting condition
Record conditioning temperature, minimum conditioning time, staging limit, and how ready units are identified.
Pack-and-return process
Control placement, separators, opening sequence, cleaning, inspection, inventory, and retirement of damaged units.
Choose by temperature requirement
Start with the handling range, then confirm the complete packout
Use these options to narrow the first samples. Final performance depends on the payload, PCM quantity, conditioning, insulation, placement, and route profile working together.
| Shipment requirement | PCM starting option | Placement and separation | What the sample should confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–8°C freeze-sensitive medicine | Conditioned PCM selected against the approved product limits, in a rigid panel, brick, or fixed pouch arrangement. | Use a separated payload chamber and prevent direct frozen-coolant contact unless the qualified design permits it. | Warmest and coldest product points, freeze risk, delay margin, conditioning repeatability, and assembly accuracy. |
| 15–25°C controlled room temperature | PCM phase behavior and starting condition chosen for both hot-season and cold-season protection. | Place units to buffer external exposure without creating a localized cold zone beside the payload. | Summer heat ingress, winter cold soak, handoff transitions, staging time, and seasonal operating instructions. |
| Chilled food or local delivery | Rigid ice bricks or PCM pouches sized to available bag or box space and the required delivery cycle. | Use pockets, dividers, or fixed top and side positions to stop movement, crushing, or direct contact with fragile food. | Arrival condition, condensation, product pressure, bag balance, opening frequency, cleaning, and refreezing workflow. |
| Frozen route | Subzero PCM or a hybrid system compared with other approved frozen cold sources and carrier constraints. | Distribute the cold source around the frozen chamber while protecting packaging, labels, and products from concentrated contact. | Payload warming, remaining cold source, route delay, pressure or vapor considerations, labels, and receiver handling. |
Fit the coolant to the chamber
A PCM unit must fit the shipper after it is fully conditioned
Frozen or conditioned thickness, cap clearance, molded corners, divider position, payload removal, and packing speed can all change whether a brick works in practice.
Measure usable space
Share internal shipper and payload dimensions, not only the outer carton size.
Check dimensions after conditioning
Check the unit after conditioning for thickness, flatness, fit, and surface condition.
Fix orientation
Use pockets, slots, labels, colors, or a packing diagram so operators repeat the same layout.
Protect the payload
Review separators and pressure points around cartons, vials, trays, bottles, and labels.
Conditioning and reuse
Design the operating routine together with the PCM
A good sample can still fail in daily use when a brick is only partly conditioned, staged too long, placed in the wrong slot, or returned without inspection.
Identify the right PCM set
Use a part number, color, label, phase-point reference, and quantity list so different coolant families are not mixed.
Prepare every unit consistently
Define equipment, loading pattern, conditioning temperature, minimum time, staging limit, and readiness check.
Place and record the array
Use numbered positions, separators, a pack diagram, and logger locations that match the sample or approved assembly.
Clean, inspect, and retire
Check leakage, cap or weld integrity, deformation, contamination, labels, and missing units before reconditioning.
Choose your custom options
Approve the PCM unit and the way it will be supplied
| Customization item | Decisions to provide | What the sample or approval should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Phase point and formulation | Product limits, target band, freeze sensitivity, seasonal profile, reuse need, and material requirements. | Selected PCM reference, conditioning state, thermal behavior in the complete packout, and agreed documentation. |
| Dimensions and capacity | Maximum length, width, thickness, chamber clearance, payload layout, and required placement. | Conditioned fit, usable payload volume, orientation, pocket or rack fit, and packing speed. |
| Shell or pouch | Rigid HDPE, flexible film, panel construction, cap or weld, puncture exposure, and cleaning process. | Leak resistance, closure integrity, surface condition, handling, and compatibility with the intended operation. |
| Color, label, and numbering | Color coding, logo, product ID, phase-point label, conditioning instructions, barcode, and warning text. | Artwork, print or label adhesion, scan area, operator clarity, and traceability through return and reuse. |
| Conditioning and pack instructions | Equipment, temperature, time, staging, assembly sequence, separators, logger points, and receiving checks. | A repeatable SOP or packing diagram that trained operators can follow without changing the tested layout. |
| Carton and repeat supply | Units per carton, protective packing, pallet plan, export label, monthly demand, inspection, and reorder code. | Approved carton count, transit protection, incoming inspection, batch reference, and repeat-order specification. |
From samples to repeat orders
Approve the PCM system in stages
Confirm limits
Document the payload, temperature limits, route, shipper, and operating constraints.
Select candidates
Compare PCM phase behavior, form, dimensions, conditioning, and chamber placement.
Check physical fit
Condition sample units and review pockets, dividers, payload space, labels, and packing speed.
Run the packout trial
Test the complete loaded shipper under the agreed ambient and route assumptions.
Approve repeat orders
Approve the unit specification, conditioning record, packing diagram, carton plan, and reorder code.
Complete the PCM packout
Continue planning the complete packout
Planning tools
Coolant & PCM ReferenceCold Chain Packaging SelectorCold Chain Route Risk CheckerPackout Design & TestingProducts and applications
Reusable Ice Brick Range1200ml HDPE PCM Ice PlatePharmaceutical 2–8°C PackagingCustom Gel Ice PacksSelection and handling guides
Choosing PCM Ice BricksKeeping Medicine Cold Without FreezingInformation to Prepare Before an RFQGel Packs, Dry Ice and PCM ComparedQualification reference: Healthcare and vaccine projects should follow the product owner’s quality requirements and applicable transport procedures. WHO/PQS recognizes PCM packs as coolant packs with phase-change temperatures other than 0°C, while ISTA 7E provides a framework for evaluating thermal transport packaging against external temperature exposure.
Questions before sampling
Custom PCM pack and ice brick FAQ
Is the coldest PCM always the safest choice?
No. A colder phase point can increase direct-contact or freezing risk for sensitive products. Select the PCM against the approved product limits, starting condition, insulation, route, and separation, then test the complete packout.
Can the PCM phase point be customized?
Project-specific PCM options may be discussed, but the requested phase behavior, compatibility, conditioning method, quantity, and documentation must be reviewed before samples or bulk supply are approved.
Should we choose a rigid ice brick or a flexible PCM pouch?
Rigid bricks suit fixed, reusable layouts and easy cleaning. Flexible pouches fit narrow spaces and irregular payloads. The right choice depends on chamber dimensions, pressure points, reuse, and packing workflow.
How many PCM bricks are needed?
There is no reliable universal number. Quantity depends on payload mass, starting temperature, shipper performance, unit phase behavior, ambient profile, route duration, placement, and acceptable arrival condition.
Do PCM packs need conditioning instructions?
Yes. The approved packout should state conditioning equipment, temperature, minimum time, staging limit, readiness check, number of units, orientation, and placement sequence.
Can used ice bricks be returned and reused?
They can support a reusable program when the return loop includes cleaning, inspection, inventory, reconditioning, and retirement criteria for leaking, deformed, contaminated, or unidentifiable units.
Ready to configure a PCM pack or reusable ice brick set?
Share the product limits, payload, route, insulated shipper, conditioning equipment, preferred PCM form, reuse model, quantity, and required test or approval records. Tempk can recommend samples and prepare an OEM quotation.