Plastic Blu-ray Disc Cases: What Sizes Are They & Who Makes Them?

[primitiveskin]

A section titled Why are U.S. BD cases either 11mm or 12.5mm thick? has been added to discuss some of the legacy issues spawned by the format war between Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD.

In the blue corner...
http://www.mediapack-online.com/pdf/...9_SonyDADC.pdf

...and in the red corner
http://www.mediapack-online.com/pdf/...%20_HD-DVD.pdf

The What is the relationship between MeadWestvaco and AGI Media? was added, not only to discuss that relationship, but also to highlight that Amaray is a specific brand name, and not a generic term, like the way Xerox and Kleenex are misused for photocopies and facial tissue, respectively.

And speaking of generic terms, a What is an eco-case? section has been added to remind everyone that the Viva Eco-Box isn't the only green, eco-friendly game in town.

[primitiveskin]

The original post has been updated to provide more coverage of the plastic Blu-ray Disc cases available from Scanavo:

11mm Scanavo (single-disc case)
11mm Scanavo Vixible (single-disc case)
14mm Scanavo Vixible (single-disc case)
15mm Scanavo (single- and double-disc cases)
15mm Scanavo "Criterion" (single-disc case)

With the exception of the 15mm Scanavo "Criterion" case (used for releases from The Criterion Collection), none of the other Scanavo BD cases appear to be widely used in the U.S. Market. By virtue of its thickness, the 15mm Scanavo "Criterion" case should be spacious enough to accommodate another disc or two, perhaps utilizing the company's overlapping scheme.

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by primitiveskin

Let me preface this post by saying that I don't own any samples of these 7mm generic slim cases, so I may be needlessly mocking them, and you would be fully justified in subjecting me to your slings and arrows if you personally think that they're the greatest thing since sliced bread.... Available from CheckOutStore (http://www.checkoutstore.com/PREMIUM...-p/brcases.htm), these 7mm single-disc slim cases appear to share nearly all of the same design characteristics as the "Six-Ribbed" 12.5mm Generic singles or doubles that can be obtained from Octave (refer to the original post). And when I say that these slim cases share nearly all of the same characteristics, I really am talking about ALL of the same design features.

If you haven't already clicked on the link above to look at the product photo...don't worry, I'll wait until you take a gander...you may be disappointed that the cases do not appear to have been pad-printed with the Blu-ray Disc logo and symbol. However, to make up for that omission, you should be relieved to know that the manufacturer has not skimped on the feature that no self-respecting BD case can do without...booklet clips...that's right, booklet clips...in a...7mm case!!!

Slim cases are really...thin. They are basically designed to fit...one disc...and not much else. There are 6mm Viva Elites that can store one or two discs, but they don't include booklet clips because...well...the case probably wouldn't properly close if you tried to jam something else in there besides the BDs. Regular DVD slim cases are also 7mm thick...and you know...the ones that I've seen are also sans booklet clips. So, somebody out there in forum-land may need a slim Blu-ray Disc case with booklet clips, but to me, they're just superfluous nipples (my apologies in advance, should any of my fellow forum members actually have superfluous nipples of their own; my mockery is not aimed at you, just at these cases!!!).

I like the thin ones... I could put every disc in one and make my own covers... Ditch the digital copies.... Maybe one day when the studios rerelease everything on blu-ray they will have the movies and ALL the extras on one disc. And the artwork won't be messed up with Digital Copy banners all across the top....

[IanD]

Originally Posted by BallsDeepX

Wish I knew someone in Australia. Damn I know ppl all over the world but no one in Australia.

I'm in Australia and would be happy to send PCX 6-disc Bluray cases to US residents, if you can cover the costs.

Unfortunately PCX increased the price of bulk purchases recently and it costs to have the cases shipped to me first. International postage is also quite expensive from Australia.

I reckon I could post 4 PCX 6-disc Bluray cases to the USA for about AUD$34 total, but would have to confirm. This still seems a bit expensive.

[sonydude1966]

Originally Posted by IanD

I'm in Australia and would be happy to send PCX 6-disc Bluray cases to US residents, if you can cover the costs.

Unfortunately PCX increased the price of bulk purchases recently and it costs to have the cases shipped to me first. International postage is also quite expensive from Australia.

I reckon I could post 4 PCX 6-disc Bluray cases to the USA for about AUD$34 total, but would have to confirm. This still seems a bit expensive.

Yes, let's send some money to someone who just joined and has 1 post.

[IanD]

Originally Posted by sonydude1966

Yes, let's send some money to someone who just joined and has 1 post.

Way to go to make someone feel welcome.

Forget I even offered.

[primitiveskin]

The elders on this forum occasionally speak of this abomination, a veritable crime against nature (and maybe humanity), in hushed whispers. But what does it really mean, when they talk about...plastic cases...that have feet???






Some of the original Seastone Elite cases were apparently designed with two flat surfaces (feet) on the bottom edge in order to help support them when stored upright!?! I'm assuming that the feet, as well the disc hub button, were among the first things to be eliminated, or modified, when all of the Elite case intellectual property was acquired by Viva....

[Blu Holer]

I got my first set of 7mm cases from Checkoutstore.com and I am really pleased with the quality. Not as flimsy as the 6mm cases and plenty of room for the booklet, plus in 99% of cases, the cover art slipped right in place without having to alter it in any way. Sturdy but easily accesible button clasp for the disc.

Not quite the room saver that the 6mm would be but easily reduced shelf space by over a third. All in all, very pleased. Now if only they would make a double disk version.

Thanks for the info!

[primitiveskin]

The What's the difference between polystyrene and polypropylene? section has been revised to note the difference in materials used for the swing trays in multi-disc cases. The MeadWestvaco Vortex swing trays, and presumably the Amaray ones, are made of polystyrene, whereas, polypropylene is used for the swing trays in the Viva Elites. You should note the higher clarity of the swing trays in the Vortex cases, due to their being made of polystyrene. With polypropylene being an inherently cloudy plastic, the same level of clarity for an Elite swing tray can only be achieved through the use of clarifiers.

[primitiveskin]

Nexpak had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April of this year, and has subsequently been acquired by Clear-Vu last month:

http://www.nexpak.com/press_release.asp?id=13


With Clear-Vu's focus on security packaging at the rental/retail level, and continuing growth in the library market, it's not entirely clear if the 11mm PremierPak cases will continue to be manufactured. One vendor, tapeandmedia.com, has cited the acquisition of Nexpak as the rationale for their transition to selling 11mm single- and double-disc MeadWestvaco/AGI Polymatrix Vortex cases.

[primitiveskin]

What is Brackley Industries?

Occasionally, someone on this or another forum will make the senses-shattering, heart-racing and drool-inducing "discovery" of multi-disc Blu-ray cases from Brackley Industries (http://www.brackley-industries.com/p...utions/blu-ray). But, what really is Brackley's place in the BD world?

Well, Brackley is not a subsidiary of Viva, despite being included on Viva's "Contact Us" pages (http://www.viva.com.hk/contactus.asp; http://www.viva-eco-box.com/contactus.html), but rather serves as their exclusive distributor in Australia. Being a part of the Australian Blu-ray Disc market, Brackley deals with certain sizes of Viva Elite cases, namely: 6mm; 15mm; and 25mm ones. To emphasize the point, let me make it perfectly clear...they do NOT deal with the 12.5mm Viva Elite that is so widely used in the U.S. BD market!

Anyway, whenever I see a post about Brackley Industries, I never see any follow-up replies about somebody submitting a free quote, and possibly getting shot down in flames if the size of Brackley's minimum order far exceeds the quote-seeker's intentions (Cases? Pallets? Shipping containers?). However, I had a two-fold reason for talking about Brackley today....


15mm Viva Eco-Box

The original post has been updated to break out the 15mm Viva Eco-Box from its 12.5mm sibling and placed into its own section. And, upon further review of photos of the 15mm Eco-Box, I'm making note of the snap hinges molded onto the inside of the spine that can accept either a single- or double-sided swing tray.




Thus, the 15mm Viva Eco-Box has a capacity of one to three discs. Normally, a 15mm Viva Elite has a capacity of up to six discs, but this is only possible if the "open" style of hinges are molded onto the inside of the spine, which can then accept an adapter/swing tray(s) assembly. So, this might be something to look out for in the future, 15mm Eco-Boxes with a capacity of up to six discs, and maybe a hinged, triple-disc 12.5mm Eco-Box.

[jcs913]

I posted this in the other thread, but needs to be in here too: Discmakers now has the Viva Elite cases in stock and advertised on their website. They also have the amaray cases. They are the only dealer that sells one or the other. The Viva is advertised, they other is the amaray. prices shipped are very good too. The only 2 disc they have is the amaray, not the Viva.

http://www.discmakers.com/shop/Paren...s/DVDCases.asp

[primitiveskin]

Originally Posted by jcs913

I posted this in the other thread, but needs to be in here too: Discmakers now has the Viva Elite cases in stock and advertised on their website. They also have the amaray cases. They are the only dealer that sells one or the other. The Viva is advertised, they other is the amaray. prices shipped are very good too. The only 2 disc they have is the amaray, not the Viva.

http://www.discmakers.com/shop/Paren...s/DVDCases.asp

To clarify, Disc Makers does NOT carry Amaray Blu-ray Disc cases. They sell Vortex cases. MeadWestvaco is the parent company of AGI Polymatrix and AGI Media. Vortex cases were originally developed by AGI Polymatrix and Amaray is a brand name for product lines at AGI Media. Vortex cases are 11mm thick, have distinctive disc hub buttons with the upward-pointing bucktoothed tab, and security latches over the finger well. Amaray cases are 14mm thick, have distinctive disc hub buttons that are divided into two hemispheres (yin and yang), and NO security latches.

[binarymelon]

Some spec sheets I received from MWV yesterday. Apparently there's an Eco Vortex case coming out. It can be seen in both the 11mm spec sheets.

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-jR...ZjI4MTEx&hl=en

[primitiveskin]

Case Colors

A new section, What colors can cases be?, has been added to the original post. It basically addresses the claim by Milliken Chemical that they can produce polypropylene colorants that match any Pantone color. However, I note that you probably can't get translucent metallics, fluorescents, and pastels. Those are probably colors that are better suited to opaque cases.


Eco-Lite Vortex Cases

Thanks to binarymelon for providing a link to PDF spec sheets, the OP now has a section for 11mm single- and double-disc Eco-Lite Vortex cases. One of the highlights of that discussion is the designated area on the double-disc Eco-Lite Vortex case for a radio-frequency electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag. From previous experience with 12.5mm single- and double-disc Viva Eco-Box cases, I note that the automated application process can screw up big time, and attach a nice sticky security tag right onto the back of the cover insert. I bet that my fellow forum members are eagerly waiting in anticipation for Sony or Disney to start inflicting them with these little love letters to Mother Earth!

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by primitiveskin

One of the highlights of that discussion is the designated area on the double-disc Eco-Lite Vortex case for a radio-frequency electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag.

I noticed on the left side there is a "square" area (which current eco cases don't have this) potentially for the other type of tag which is square in nature. Usually, these are the worst to try and get off as the spiraled circuit will rip and tear and the horrible black colored adhesive is also a pain to remove without leaving residue. However, I've noticed some titles are using a somewhat smaller square tag with a blue adhesive which is much much easier to remove.

[primitiveskin]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I noticed on the left side there is a "square" area (which current eco cases don't have this) potentially for the other type of tag which is square in nature. Usually, these are the worst to try and get off as the spiraled circuit will rip and tear and the horrible black colored adhesive is also a pain to remove without leaving residue. However, I've noticed some titles are using a somewhat smaller square tag with a blue adhesive which is much much easier to remove.

To clarify, up to two types of electronic article surveillance (EAS) security tags can be attached to the inside of the case (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro...e_surveillance): a) Acousto-magnetic, which are smaller, rectangular ones; and b) Radio-frequency (RF), that are larger, flatter and squarish. The schematics of the single- and double-disc Eco-Lite Vortex cases show specific areas where the acousto-magnetic tags can be applied. Only the double-disc Eco-Lite has a squared-off area on the booklet-side of the case where an RF EAS tag can apparently be attached. So, it appears that the single-disc Eco-Lite should only have an acousto-magnetic tag, whereas, the double-disc version can have both types of EAS tags.

While the Viva Eco-Box doesn't likewise have a specific area on its booklet-side that is squared-off for RF tags, the recycling symbol cutout is low enough that tags could probably be applied without hanging over the cover insert. However, more often than not, these squarish RF tags do tend to be placed above the cutout, potentially coming into contact with the back of the cover insert.

[jw]

Originally Posted by primitiveskin

To clarify, up to two types of electronic article surveillance (EAS) security tags can be attached to the inside of the case (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro...e_surveillance): a) Acousto-magnetic, which are smaller, rectangular ones; and b) Radio-frequency (RF), that are larger, flatter and squarish. The schematics of the single- and double-disc Eco-Lite Vortex cases show specific areas where the acousto-magnetic tags can be applied. Only the double-disc Eco-Lite has a squared-off area on the booklet-side of the case where an RF EAS tag can apparently be attached. So, it appears that the single-disc Eco-Lite should only have an acousto-magnetic tag, whereas, the double-disc version can have both types of EAS tags.

While the Viva Eco-Box doesn't likewise have a specific area on its booklet-side that is squared-off for RF tags, the recycling symbol cutout is low enough that tags could probably be applied without hanging over the cover insert. However, more often than not, these squarish RF tags do tend to be placed above the cutout, potentially coming into contact with the back of the cover insert.

They are generally Store specific based on the stores article surveillance method and they are sold wholesale with that in mind.(Either Checkpoint or Sensormatic)

Stores place orders with that in mind and some studios have gone to using both to eliminate a sku(Lionsgate was the first)

[primitiveskin]

My apologies for misreading the schematics of the Eco-Lite Vortex cases on the PDF spec sheets that binarymelon posted: http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-jR...ZjI4MTEx&hl=en. Eco-Lite cases do NOT in fact have die-cut sections that punch out plastic from the case like on the Viva Eco-Box. They use LESS polypropylene by having thinner sections. The structural parts of the case are 0.84mm thick, whereas, the "skin" portions of the case are thinner at 0.61mm. Since Eco-Lite cases do NOT have gaping holes in them like the Eco-Boxes, BOTH types of EAS security tags can be applied to the inside of the case without any danger of them sticking to the back of the cover insert.

[frodawgg]

hi, first time poster here.

i'm looking to get a 6mm double case; i have Batman 1989, which i bought the Special Edition in the "book" case. i am using that case for part of my Batman collection (i'm a dork) and i want a regular case for my BD collection. i know that the version in the anthology collection comes in a 6mm case, and i found a HQ scan of the cover online which will obviously fit a 6mm case.

i've tried contacting viva and brackley in order to get one of these cases, yet they either only sell in large quantities or have not returned my email.

does anyone know where i can get one (or a few at most) of these?

thanks a lot in advance!