A refrigerator or a washing machine is a large flat panel with a painted face and a thin steel skin, and a dent in that skin cannot be repaired economically. The corner takes the impact, the skin deforms, and the unit is written off at the retailer. Paper corner protection is the cheapest way to move the impact away from the painted corner.
Profile data for appliances
| Unit | Protection | Note |
|---|
| Fridge or freezer | 4 corners, 4 mm, 60 mm leg | Top rear edge needs a rim board |
| Washing machine | 4 corners, 3 mm | Watch the door hinge side |
| Oven or hob | 4 corners plus top cap | Glass lid is fragile |
| Small appliance carton | 300 mm pieces, 2.5 mm | Protects the printed carton |
| Palletised units | Corner boards under film | Full height for stability |
Why the corner, and why the top edge
Appliances travel upright, so the top four corners and the bottom four corners are the exposed points. The top corners take the impact when units are stacked or when a second unit is lowered beside the first; the bottom corners take the set-down.
The top rear edge also matters, because the condenser or the control housing often sits there and cannot be compressed. A rim board along the top rear edge keeps a gap between units without loading the housing.
Paper against foam and plastic
Foam absorbs impact but does not spread band or film pressure and it takes space in the carton. Plastic corner guards are reusable and weatherproof but cost more and are a separate waste stream. Paper is the middle option: it spreads pressure, adds little thickness, and goes into the carton waste stream with the packaging.
The honest limit: a paper board will not absorb a drop from height. It prevents the repeated small impacts of handling and stacking, which is where most appliance damage originates.
Packing line practice
Fit the four corner boards before the unit goes into the carton, taped or held by the carton itself. Boards added after the carton is closed rarely stay in place. Where the unit is film wrapped on a pallet instead of cartoned, the boards go under the film and the wrap holds them.
For units with a protruding handle or control panel, cut a notch in the board rather than forcing it over the protrusion, which is the fastest way to crack a plastic housing.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Will a paper board stop a dent from a drop?
No. It spreads handling and stacking pressure. A drop from height needs a foam or moulded insert.
Which grade for a white appliance?
Natural kraft is fine on white paint when dry. White top is used where the board is visible at retail.
Can you supply notched boards for handles?
Yes, die-cut notches are possible as a custom profile with a one-off die.
Is the board recyclable with the carton?
Yes, it repulps with old corrugated containers.
What length for a 1.8 m fridge?
1,800 mm full height, or 600 mm pieces at the four corners if the carton provides the rest of the support.
For a specification sheet, post the load weight, pallet footprint and band type to mona@hengnicepacking.com; we reply with a drawing and price.
