Load damage is rarely caused by one weak point. It is the result of a pack that has no defined load path, so the forces of stacking, banding and handling find the weakest element and work on it. Edge protection is one element of that path, and it only works when the other elements, the carton, the pallet and the wrap, are specified together.
Pack protection data
| Risk | Protection | Check |
|---|
| Corner deformation | Corner board full height | Corner square after handling |
| Layer spreading | Rim board top and bottom | Top layer aligned |
| Product rubbing | Interlayer sheet | No scuff on faces |
| Band cutting | Board plus doubled line | No notch in the board |
| Fork impact | Base doubled 200-300 mm | Bottom 200 mm intact |
Find the load path before choosing a profile
In a stacked load the weight runs down through the vertical corners of the cartons. If the corners are unsupported the stack settles and the wrap goes slack. In a banded load the force runs through the band and into whatever it touches. In a handled load the force arrives at the corner that hits first.
Each of these paths lands on a different part of the product, which is why one profile size rarely covers a whole consignment. Map the paths, then place protection where they terminate.
Three protections that work together
Corner boards stop the corner deforming. Rim boards stop the top and bottom layers spreading. Face or interlayer sheets stop two products rubbing. Using one without the others leaves a gap that the load will find, usually in the first container transfer.
For a mixed consignment, the practical approach is to protect by risk rather than by item: the heaviest and most expensive items get the full set, and the light cartons get corner pieces only.
Proving it, rather than assuming it
A pack trial is the only honest test. Build one pallet exactly as it will ship, run it through the handling it will see, and inspect. If a corner deforms, the profile is too light or too short. If the band is loose, the board is too thin. If the surface is marked, the leg is too narrow.
We supply samples for that trial at no charge on stock grades, because a specification that has not been tried on the actual pack is a guess with a part number.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Can edge protection alone prevent all load damage?
No. It removes corner and band damage. Stack collapse, moisture damage and rough handling need changes to the pack or the route.
Do you help specify a full pack?
We specify the paper elements and will tell you when the problem is outside our product, which is more useful than selling a heavier board.
How many samples for a trial?
Enough for one full pallet, free on stock grades, in 3-5 working days.
What if the damage only appears at destination?
Photograph the pack on arrival before unloading. The position of the damage tells you which stage caused it.
Is there a standard pack specification we should follow?
Follow your buyer or retailer manual where one exists, and treat this page as the technical background to it.
Quote requests with cut length and quantity reach us at mona@hengnicepacking.com and are answered within one working day.
