Inflatable cushioning — air column bags and air pillows — is inflated only when you use it. Flat film rolls take almost no storage, yet give even cushioning, which suits bottles, electronics and regular items.
Four types of inflatable cushioning
| Type | What it is | Best for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air column bags (formed) | Product-shaped columns for bottles and cans | Wine, glass bottles, cosmetics, electronics | Each column has its own valve: one puncture does not deflate the rest; choose the size per SKU |
| Air pillows / cushions | Small pillows made on demand from a roll | Filling void around regular items | Fills space rather than hugging the item; fastest with a cushion machine |
| Air column roll (generic film) | Continuous columns torn to length | Many SKUs, odd items wrapped on the fly | Versatile but less snug than a formed bag |
| Container dunnage bags | Large bags for pallet or container gaps | Full carton or pallet loads | Rarely needed by small sellers |
Choosing inflation equipment
| Equipment | Suits | Indicative (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand pump / small compressor | Low volume, occasional | ~A$20–60 | Slow but zero setup; formed column bags often come with a small pump |
| Electric inflator for column bags | About a dozen to a few dozen per day | ~A$80–250 | Several times faster; inflates formed bags at a fixed point |
| Air cushion machine (pillow maker) | 50+ orders per day, many pillows | ~A$300–1,200 | Feeds a roll, then inflates, seals and cuts pillows continuously |
Three key moves
- Inflate to about 70–80%: pillows should feel springy and give under a press; over-inflated ones go hard, pop and stop cushioning.
- Pre-inflate in quiet time: make a batch of pillows, or inflate the formed bags for the day, before the rush — not one order at a time.
- Rest and leak-check: leave them for a few minutes and pull out any that visibly deflate; one dead column on a formed bag does not scrap the whole bag.
Mount the film roll or cushion machine just before sealing, film feeding downward, in the same hand position as bubble wrap so there is no extra walking.
Equipment prices are indicative Australian retail bands in AUD for 2026. They vary by brand, retailer, promotion and over time, and exclude GST, freight and installation; the invoice at purchase prevails. “Seconds saved” are ranges from published warehouse-operations material — estimates, not guarantees. Time your own process with a stopwatch first. See Sources & method.
Trade-offs against other fill are in fill & helper films; product-specific use is in the fragile, liquids and electronics specs.