Plain-language definitions of the material properties, certifications and trade terms that come up when specifying or importing EVA foam — written for procurement, engineering and sourcing teams, not chemists.
A closed-cell copolymer foam combining flexibility, cushioning and water resistance. It's the base material behind our automotive, packaging and sports flooring product lines, valued for holding a consistent shape and density across a wide temperature range.
The mass of foam per cubic meter — the single most important specification for foam behavior. Higher density means firmer, heavier, more durable material at higher cost; lower density means softer, lighter, more compressible material. Typical EVA foam ranges from 40 kg/m³ (soft padding) to 180+ kg/m³ (dropped-weight gym flooring).
A standardized scale (using a durometer) measuring a material's resistance to indentation. Shore A is used for softer foams; Shore C is common for medium-density products like tatami mats. Density and Shore hardness aren't interchangeable — two foams at the same density can have different hardness depending on cell structure.
A foam structure where the gas cells are individually sealed rather than interconnected, making the material water-resistant, non-absorbent and dimensionally stable. This is the standard structure for EVA foam and the reason it's used in wet or outdoor-exposed applications like car mats and export packaging.
A foam structure where the gas cells are interconnected, allowing air and moisture to pass through the material. This makes open-cell foams softer and more breathable, but not water-resistant — a tradeoff worth understanding when comparing EVA to materials like polyurethane.
A conformity marking indicating a product meets applicable EU health, safety and environmental protection standards. CE marking is required for many product categories sold in the European Economic Area and is included as standard on our finished products.
Restriction of Hazardous Substances — an EU directive restricting the use of specific hazardous materials (lead, mercury, certain flame retardants, etc.) in manufactured products. RoHS declarations are included in our standard export documentation.
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals — an EU regulation governing the chemical substances used in manufactured goods sold within the EU. REACH compliance confirms a product doesn't contain restricted Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) above threshold levels.
A customs document certifying that goods are in free circulation within the EU-Turkey Customs Union, which allows Turkish-manufactured goods to enter the EU without the import duties applied to non-Customs-Union origins. See our export markets pages for which destinations this applies to.
A document certifying that a specific production batch meets the agreed technical specification — density, thickness, hardness and applicable standards. We issue a batch-specific COC with every shipment.
The smallest order volume a manufacturer will accept for a given product. MOQ varies by product line — raw material, finished components and private label programs each have different thresholds, generally lower for first-time evaluation orders.
An Incoterm meaning the seller delivers goods on board the shipping vessel or truck at the named origin point (typically Istanbul for us); the buyer takes on shipping costs, insurance and risk from that point onward.
An Incoterm meaning the seller delivers goods to a named destination, with the buyer responsible for import clearance and duties once the goods arrive. A common middle-ground term for EU deliveries.
An Incoterm meaning the seller delivers goods to the buyer's location with all duties, taxes and customs clearance already handled and paid — the most turnkey delivery term for the buyer.
A manufacturing process using a shaped steel tool (a die) to cut foam into precise, repeatable custom shapes. Standard for high-volume packaging inserts and gaskets, with a one-time tooling cost.
Computer-controlled cutting of foam into custom shapes without the tooling cost of die-cutting. Better suited to low-volume orders, prototypes, or designs that change frequently.
Production of goods under a buyer's own brand — custom colors, logo embossing, packaging and labeling — rather than the manufacturer's. See our private label martial arts mats and private label automotive mats programs.
Automotive industry terms describing supply chain position: Tier-1 suppliers sell directly to vehicle manufacturers, while Tier-2 suppliers sell to Tier-1 companies. See our automotive page for how this affects raw material vs. finished component sourcing.