IC Tubes
IC Tubes are extruded plastic channels designed to hold through-hole and surface-mount electronic components in a fixed orientation during transport and assembly.
What IC Tubes Actually Is
IC Tubes are extruded plastic channels designed to hold through-hole and surface-mount electronic components in a fixed orientation during transport and assembly. SEWATE manufactures them in PVC, PS, PC, PETG, and ABS, with lengths from 50mm to 1000mm and wall thicknesses between 0.30mm and 1.85mm. Profiles are oval, square, or customized to match the device body. Anti-static protection is achieved through surface layer treatment or additives built into the resin, ensuring consistent ESD performance throughout handling and storage. These tubes are used from the component vendor to the feeder of an SMT or insertion machine, preventing jamming, damage, and orientation issues.
What IC Tubes Buys You
- Holds components in fixed orientation so they feed directly into tube feeders without re-orientation
- Anti-static by surface layer process or built-in additives, chosen to match your storage and handling conditions
- Wall thickness from 0.30mm to 1.85mm allows trade-offs between material cost and drop resistance
- Critical dimension control within 5 mils on PVC ensures parts slide smoothly without jamming
- Tube length from 50mm to 1000mm cut to match your machine magazine pitch
- Stock profiles ship in 5-15 days, reducing downtime when replacing a supplier
Where IC Tubes Is Used
Shipping relays, switches, and connectors from a component plant to an overseas EMS or SMT line
Feeding DIP, SOIC, TO series, and other through-hole devices into automatic insertion or pick and place machines
Storing moisture-insensitive components in a warehouse between incoming inspection and production build
Re-packing bulk devices into fixed counts per tube for kitting, traceability, and inventory control
Protecting long-lead semiconductors and power modules in buffer stock against allocation delays
Who Buys IC Tubes
- IC distributors re-packaging bulk devices for their customers
- Semiconductor and passive component manufacturers packaging finished goods
- EMS and SMT plants receiving tube-packed devices and needing spares for re-work
- Relay, switch, and connector manufacturers shipping components too large for tape and reel
- Purchasing teams replacing a tube supplier whose profile no longer matches the device
Problems IC Tubes Removes
- Devices jam mid-tube due to internal profile drift or dimensional inaccuracy across a production run
- Electrostatic discharge damages sensitive components during transport and manual handling
- Bulk-packed parts arrive in random orientation, increasing operator time to load manually
- Tubes crack on drop during transit, spilling contents inside the carton
- Device body is too large or too heavy for tape and reel but still requires fixed orientation
- Anti-static performance degrades after repeated wiping when only surface treatment is used
How IC Tubes Is Built
- Oval or square extruded profile matched to the device body and lead span
- Anti-static achieved by surface layer process or additives built into the resin
- Symbols, part numbers, or handling marks can be printed on the tube surface
- Rubber end plugs, plastic pins, nails, plastic caps, and EPE plugs available as closures
- Stable internal dimensions and smooth surface prevent binding during part movement
- Good impact strength and drop resistance ensure tubes remain intact after carton handling
IC Tubes Specification
Values are taken from the SEWATE product data for this item.
| Model Number | SE-IC-001 |
|---|---|
| Length | 50mm-1000mm or as customized |
| Wall Thickness | 0.30mm-1.85mm |
| Profile | Oval or square or customized |
| Material | PVC / PS / PC / PETG / ABS |
| Colour | Transparent, blue, black, red, yellow, purple, etc. |
| Dimension Control | Within 5 mils on PVC |
| Certification | RoHS |
| MOQ | 10000 pieces |
| Sample Time | 3-5 days or according to customers’ requirements |
| Lead Time | 5-15 days or depend on quantity |
| Capacity | 50000 pcs per week |
| Supply Ability | Monthly output of final products is 150 tons |
| Payment Terms | T/T, L/C, etc. |
| Place of Origin | Shenzhen, China |
Material Choice for IC Tubes
- PVC provides high strength, good flexibility, stable geometry, and long storage life; it is the common default for IC tubes
- PS is halogen free, easy to process, and low cost but more brittle with lower impact strength than PVC and ABS
- PC is selected when the tube must withstand higher temperatures or heavier handling
- PETG is used when clarity and stable geometry are prioritized over cost
- ABS is used when impact strength is more important than transparency
How IC Tubes Is Made
- Review of application requirements and tube functionality during quotation
- Drawing created from the purchase order and issued for your approval before tooling
- Mould making and tooling trial on the approved profile
- Sample production with 20-50 free tubes for fit testing on your device
- Extrusion of the approved profile followed by cutting to the ordered length
- Anti-static treatment applied via surface layer process or built-in additive as specified
- Plug fitting, counting, and packing into cartons
Quality Control on IC Tubes
- Critical dimension control within 5 mils on PVC tubes to prevent jamming
- Fit testing of sample tubes against your device or drawing before mass production
- Anti-static value verified to remain stable after handling and storage
- Drop and pressure tests performed on tube bodies before packing
- Quality management system to ISO14001 with after-sales support on shipped lots
Customising IC Tubes
- Tube length cut to your magazine or carton pitch from 50mm to 1000mm
- Internal profile designed from your tube drawing, device drawing, or physical sample
- Material selected from PVC, PS, PC, PETG, or ABS based on cost, clarity, and impact needs
- Colour chosen from transparent, blue, black, red, yellow, purple, or other options for line identification
- Anti-static method specified as surface treated or additive loaded based on storage and handling
- Surface printing of symbols, part numbers, or handling marks available
- Closure selected from rubber end plugs, plastic pins, nails, plastic caps, or EPE plugs
IC Tubes Against the Alternatives
| Tape and reel | Tubes handle larger and heavier bodies that tape pockets cannot support, but tape is better for high-volume automated placement of small SMD parts |
|---|---|
| Vacuum formed trays | Trays offer better protection for fine-pitch and fragile packages; tubes cost less per device and load directly into tube feeders |
| Bulk bag packing | Tubes cost more per unit than bags but eliminate random orientation, ESD exposure, and manual loading time |
| Standard stock tubes from a catalogue | Custom profiles require one-time tooling and 4-6 weeks lead time; stock profiles ship in 5-15 days but only fit devices the profile was designed for |
Using IC Tubes
- Send a tube drawing, device drawing, or sample tube so the internal profile can be matched
- If no drawing exists, send the physical component so the profile can be measured from it
- Confirm tube length against the magazine on your insertion or placement machine before tooling
- Specify whether anti-static must survive repeated wiping and long storage to select the right treatment
- Choose the closure type based on the tube profile and how often the tube will be opened: rubber plugs for repeated use, pins for one-way shipping
- Store tubes flat and dry in the carton; keep them out of direct sunlight to avoid deformation
- Plan for one-time tooling cost and 4-6 weeks lead time when ordering a new custom profile
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Plastic Anti Static IC Tubes are extruded channels made from PVC, PS, PETG, PC, or ABS to hold electronic components in a fixed orientation during shipping and processing.
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Plastic IC Tubes
Plastic IC Tubes are extruded channels made from PVC, PS, PC, PETG, or ABS that hold electronic components in a fixed orientation during shipping, storage, and feeding into assembly machines.
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IC Shipping Tubes
IC Shipping Tubes are extruded plastic channels designed to protect electronic components during transport and storage, preventing electrostatic discharge, mechanical shock, and environmental damage.
View DetailsRelated Guides
Background reading before you specify ic tubes.
Materials For Anti Static IC Tubes
IC shipping tubes are made from several plastics including PVC, PS, PET, PC, and ABS.
Read GuideWhy IC Shipping Tube MOQ Is High
The minimum order quantity for custom anti-static IC shipping tubes is high because each production run requires machine re-molding, setup adjustment and dimensional verification.
Read Guide
Custom Anti Static IC Tube Guidelines
To begin customization, supply four items: the tube material, part size, desired tube length, and plug type.
Read GuideWhere It Is Used
Where ic tubes is used in production.
Connectors Relays And Switches
Connectors, relays, terminal blocks, switches and power modules are too large or heavy for standard tape and reel packaging.
See Application
Medical And Instrument Electronics
Medical and instrument electronics require packaging that maintains traceable fixed-count orientation, stable anti-static performance over long storage, and clear material declarations.
See ApplicationQuestions About IC Tubes
What is the minimum order quantity for IC tubes?
10000 pieces on standard profiles. The high MOQ is due to extrusion setup: a run must be long enough to justify the changeover, so short runs cost more per tube than they save.
How long does a stock tube order take?
5-15 days depending on quantity. Samples for fit testing are delivered in 3-5 days.
What is the lead time for a custom tube profile?
There is a one-time tooling set up cost. A basic low volume project can be 25-day ARO, typical lead time is 4-6 weeks, and complex or high volume tools can take 10-12 weeks.
What do you need from me to quote a tube?
One of: a drawing of the tube, a drawing of the device going into it, or a sample tube. If none exists, send the physical component so the profile can be measured from it.
Which material should I choose?
PVC is the usual default for strength, stability, and long storage. HIPS is halogen free and cheaper but more brittle. PC, ABS, and PETG are used when temperature, impact strength, or clarity is the deciding factor.
Is the anti-static property permanent?
It depends on the method. Surface layer treatment can degrade with repeated wiping and long storage. Additives built into the resin maintain anti-static performance more consistently. Specify your storage time and handling needs to select the right option.
Do the tubes come with plugs?
Yes. Rubber end plugs, plastic pins, nails, plastic caps, and EPE plugs are available and selected based on the tube profile and how often the tube is opened.
Send the Device and Get IC Tubes Quoted
A drawing, a sample or the physical component is enough. Sales and engineering come back within 24 hours.