As an importer or distributor in the aluminum foil packaging industry, you need reliable products that provide durability, clean appearance, and consistent performance during transport, heating, and food handling. Among multi-compartment meal trays,
3 compartment foil containers and 4 compartment aluminum trays are widely used across catering, airline meals, meal-prep brands, and ready-to-eat foods.
However, not all aluminum alloys perform the same. Although many standard single-compartment containers use 3004 alloy, multi-compartment trays rely heavily on 8011 alloy. Understanding why is essential if you want to choose the right products, avoid deformation issues, reduce defect rates, and maintain a dependable supply chain.
Zhengzhou Eming Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd., as a professional
foil container manufacturer, supply all 3 compartment aluminium foil container products using high-grade 8011 alloy, because it is the only alloy that performs well in complex, irregular shapes. Below, we explain in detail why.
1. Why 3 Compartment Foil Containers Use 8011 Instead of 3004?
Although 3004 alloy has higher hardness and mechanical strength, it does not perform well in deep-drawing processes for irregular shapes.
3004 alloy is too hard and brittle for complex trays
It often cracks or tears when forming:
- 3 compartment containers
- 4 compartment airline trays
- Deep trays with sharp transitions
- Irregular geometric molds
3004 alloy has lower elongation, which means it cannot stretch smoothly into multiple deep cavities.
8011 alloy offers higher elongation and flexibility
This allows it to:
- Deep-draw easily
- Stretch uniformly
- Form multiple compartments without cracking
- Maintain consistent thickness
- Produce accurate dividing walls
This difference is the primary reason manufacturers worldwide choose 8011 for multi-compartment designs.
2. 8011 Alloy Provides Excellent Deep-Drawing Formability
When producing divided aluminum pans, the metal must stretch into multiple mold cavities in a single operation. The corners, transitions, and compartment walls require a softer, more flexible alloy.
8011 stretches evenly and predictably
This allows manufacturers to:
- Form deep pockets without splits
- Produce smooth and clean shapes
- Maintain proper wall thickness
- Avoid cracking in thin-drawn areas
For this reason, 3 compartment foil containers and divided foil pans almost always rely on 8011 alloy for stable production.
3. Cleaner Rim Curling and Stronger Edges
Multi-compartment trays require more edge curling and rim shaping than simple pans. Each compartment influences the rim geometry, making the forming process more demanding.
8011 alloy provides:
- Smoother curling
- Crack-free edges
- Strong, consistent rims
- Clean sealing surfaces for lids
In comparison, 3004 often wrinkles or cracks during the edge curling process when the perimeter shape is irregular.
4. Uniform Wall Thickness for Multi-Compartment Designs
When drawing metal into several deep sections, uniform stretching is critical. Uneven distribution can cause weak points or collapse in the dividing walls.
8011 alloy ensures:
- Stable compartment walls
- Even thickness across all pockets
- Better resistance to pressure and weight
This stability is essential for airline meals, refrigerated ready-to-eat meals, microwaveable trays, and catering packaging.
5. Heat Resistance Suitable for Baking, Reheating, and Hot Transport
Although 8011 alloy is softer than 3004, it still offers excellent performance under heat.
Benefits for end users:
- Withstands oven temperatures up to 300°C
- Safe for microwave reheating (depending on local regulations)
- Maintains structural integrity when carrying hot food
- Resists warping even when carrying heavy meals
This makes 3 compartment aluminium foil container products ideal for restaurants, meal delivery brands, and frozen-food manufacturers.
6. Superior Food Safety and Barrier Properties
Food safety is essential for distributors serving restaurant chains, supermarkets, airlines, and catering companies.
8011 alloy offers:
- Non-toxic and food-contact safe material
- No reaction with fatty, salty, or acidic foods
- Excellent oil and water barrier
- Complete protection against odors and contamination
This ensures longer shelf life and better taste retention for hot and cold meals.
7. Highly Efficient Manufacturing and Lower Waste Rate
In deep-drawing production, formability is strongly tied to production cost. Because 8011 stretches more easily:
- Production speed increases
- Mold life is extended
- Cracking rate is significantly lower
- Material waste is reduced
This means better supply consistency for importers and fewer product variations between batches.
At Eming Aluminium, our fully automatic stamping machines and optimized mold designs maximize 8011 alloy performance, allowing us to supply large volumes with stable quality.
8. Perfect Balance Between Strength and Flexibility
Even though 8011 is not as hard as 3004, it still provides adequate mechanical strength after forming—especially when produced in 70–120 micron thicknesses.
Advantages for distributors:
- Trays hold heavy meals without collapsing
- Compartments maintain shape even with oily foods
- Rims remain firm during sealing
- Containers stay stable during stacking and transport
This makes 8011-based divided foil pans suitable for commercial and industrial food packaging needs.
9. Versatility for Complex Tray Designs
8011 alloy supports various sizes, shapes, and mold structures, making it ideal for:
- 3 compartment meal trays
- 4 compartment aluminum trays
- Airline containers
- School lunch and hospital trays
- Microwave meal packaging
- Ready-to-eat food containers
Because 8011 adapts well to deep drawing, it remains the global standard for multi-compartment aluminum trays.
10. 8011 Alloy Is the Best Choice for Multi-Compartment Foil Containers
When comparing alloys, the manufacturing and performance advantages of 8011 are clear:
| Alloy |
Best For |
Reason |
| 3004 Alloy |
Simple one-compartment pans |
Higher hardness, strong but not flexible |
| 8011 Alloy |
3-compartment and 4-compartment trays |
Superior elongation, smooth forming, no cracking |
Therefore:
✔ Simple shape → 3004 alloy
✔ Irregular multi-compartment shape → 8011 alloy
For 3 compartment foil containers, 3 compartment aluminium foil container, divided aluminum pans, and 4 compartment aluminum trays, 8011 is the only alloy that ensures:
- Strong forming performance
- Excellent food safety
- Reliable manufacturing efficiency
- Clean, stable shape
- High durability during food processing and delivery
Zhengzhou Eming Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd. uses high-quality 8011 alloy to guarantee stable supply, competitive factory pricing, and consistent product performance for global importers and distributors.
