Meal kits and grocery
Prioritize low-mess receiving, flat placement around trays, label protection, manageable parcel weight, and clear disposal instructions.
Review meal kit packout prioritiesCustom coolant packaging
Custom Gel Ice Packs for Cold Chain Shipping
Tempk develops gel ice pack samples around your product, target temperature, route time, carton size, and packing workflow. Customize pouch size, fill weight, film, printing, and case packing, then test the selected pack in the complete shipping packout before bulk production.
Route-based specification
Sample-first approval
Private-label options
Bulk packing support
Prepare a useful request
Build a gel ice pack sample brief
Select what is already known. The result gives Tempk a practical starting point for sample size, coolant format, packout placement, and testing.
Final gel pack quantity and hold time depend on the full packout, ambient exposure, payload, insulation, and route. Use the sample brief as a starting point, then validate with the actual shipment configuration.
Define the product
What can be specified for a custom gel ice pack?
The sample should confirm both the ice pack itself and how it works inside the intended shipping packout.
| Specification | What you can request | What the sample should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Pouch size and fill weight | Dimensions that fit the coolant pocket, payload layout, case count, and packing workflow. | Fit, frozen thickness, contact area, handling weight, and placement around the payload. |
| Film and seal | Film structure, thickness, edge profile, and seal design selected for puncture and handling risk. | Seal integrity after freezing, compression, orientation changes, and normal packing activity. |
| Gel behavior | Cooling behavior and flexibility appropriate for the target range and packout arrangement. | Conditioning method, surface behavior, freeze consistency, and thermal performance in the full packout. |
| Printing and identification | Logo, color, handling text, disposal wording, batch information, or customer-facing instructions. | Artwork position, print legibility, scan area, and approval of the final presentation. |
| Carton packing | Inner count, master carton count, dividers, labels, barcode position, and pallet packing requirements. | Packing speed, carton weight, storage fit, label visibility, and repeat-order consistency. |
| Project documents | Material information, SDS where applicable, sample record, packing specification, and agreed test evidence. | Which documents are required for approval, import, customer onboarding, or internal quality control. |
Match the pack to the shipment
Different products need different gel pack priorities
The same pouch size should not be copied across every route. Product sensitivity, moisture, handling, and receiving conditions change the specification.
Seafood and chilled proteins
Prioritize puncture resistance, wet-pack handling, liner compatibility, balanced coolant coverage, and containment if the payload releases moisture.
Review seafood cold chain optionsMedicines and diagnostics
Prioritize conditioned coolants, separation from the product chamber, logger placement, no-freeze review, and documented packing instructions.
Review medicine shipping risksSubscription and parcel routes
Prioritize orientation changes, hub compression, warm last-mile dwell, weekend delay margin, and carton condition at customer receiving.
Review parcel route conditionsPlan the complete packout
Choose the cooling direction by route condition
These are starting directions for sample planning, not guaranteed hold times. Final performance must be checked with the actual payload, insulation, coolant mass, route, and season.
| Same-day chilled delivery | Start with preconditioned gel packs sized for the available space. Place them where cold air and surface contact can reach the load without crushing trays or directly freezing sensitive products. |
|---|---|
| Up to 24-hour chilled parcel | Use an insulated carton or liner with balanced top and side cooling, controlled void space, and moisture protection where labels or paperboard can wet out. |
| 24-48 hours or warm weather | Review insulation, coolant mass, pack geometry, and a delay margin together. Prepare more than one sample layout and test the actual packed shipment before setting the bulk specification. |
| Below 0°C frozen route | Do not assume standard gel packs will maintain a frozen payload. Compare frozen PCM or dry ice, check carrier restrictions, and validate the complete frozen packout. |
| 2-8°C medicine route | Use conditioned coolants, a separated product chamber, controlled placement, and temperature monitoring. Direct contact between a frozen pack and the medicine may create freeze exposure. |
Need a first-pass coolant estimate? Use the Ice Pack Calculator, then confirm the result through a packed test. For coolant behavior and temperature ranges, use the Coolant & PCM Reference.
Protect the shipment
Control leakage, condensation, and wet cartons
A stronger pouch helps, but clean receiving also depends on conditioning, placement, insulation, absorbency, and carton protection.
1
Condition consistently
Define freezing or conditioning time, freezer loading, and the temperature of the pack when it enters the shipper.
2
Separate sensitive surfaces
Use dividers, sleeves, or payload chambers where direct contact could freeze medicine, mark cartons, or damage delicate food.
3
Manage moisture
Plan liners, absorbent layers, sealed product bags, and dry label areas around expected condensation or payload leakage.
4
Inspect the route trial
Check seal condition, gel leakage, wet-out, carton strength, temperature trend, and customer opening condition.
From brief to repeat order
Sample and approval process
Each stage should reduce uncertainty before the pouch, artwork, carton packing, and packout layout become the repeat-order specification.
Step 1
Shipment brief
Share product, target range, route time, box dimensions, payload, quantity, and custom requirements.
Step 2
Sample direction
Confirm feasible pouch dimensions, fill weight options, film, seal, printing, and carton packing.
Step 3
Packout trial
Condition the samples and test them with the actual payload, insulation, placement, and ambient risk.
Step 4
Approval
Approve physical sample, artwork, packout arrangement, packing specification, and required evidence.
Step 5
Bulk supply
Set carton count, labels, batch controls, inspection points, shipping plan, and repeat-order reference.
Use existing Tempk resources
Plan the pack before requesting samples
Use the relevant tool for a first-pass decision, then open the product or solution page when more context is needed.
Planning tools
Estimate first-pass gel pack quantity Compare gel packs, PCM, and dry ice Check route and delay risks Compare insulated packaging formatsQuestions before sampling
Custom gel ice pack FAQ
Can Tempk print our logo or handling instructions on gel ice packs?
Logo, color, handling text, disposal wording, and identification details can be reviewed as part of the custom project. Artwork position, printing method, sample approval, and minimum production requirements should be confirmed before bulk production.
How many gel ice packs should be placed in one shipping box?
The amount depends on target temperature, route time, ambient exposure, payload weight, insulation, empty space, and placement. Use the Ice Pack Calculator for a first-pass estimate, then test the complete packed shipment.
Can standard gel packs keep a shipment frozen below 0°C?
Do not assume that a standard chilled gel pack will maintain a frozen payload. Frozen PCM or dry ice may be more appropriate, depending on the product, carrier restrictions, duration, insulation, and validated packout.
Can gel ice packs be used for medicines or 2-8°C products?
Gel packs can be part of a 2-8°C packout, but the arrangement must control freeze exposure as well as warming. Conditioned coolant, payload separation, logger placement, packing instructions, and route testing should be reviewed together.
Can a gel pack be made completely condensation-free?
Condensation depends on surface temperature, humidity, conditioning, and the complete package. Film selection can help, but liners, absorbent layers, placement, packing timing, and carton protection also affect wet-out.
What should we send before requesting custom samples?
Share the product type, target range, route duration, internal box dimensions, payload weight, insulation format, expected quantity, branding files, packing requirements, and any documents or tests needed for approval.
Ready to review a custom gel pack sample?
Send your shipment profile, box dimensions, payload, target temperature, route time, expected quantity, and branding requirements.