A window or door frame is a closed box with four welded or crimped corners, and every one of those corners is a finished surface. Damage is usually a small flat spot on the weld or a scuff on the profile face, and both are visible to the end customer after installation. Paper edge protectors cover the corner and a strip of the face without hiding the frame from inspection.
Profile data for frames
| Item | Protection | Why |
|---|
| PVC window frame | 25-40 mm legs, 3 mm, white top | Weld corner plus face strip |
| Aluminium frame | 40 mm legs, 3 mm | Face scuff between frames |
| Door leaf | Full edge board, 4 mm | Finished face and long edges |
| Stillage pack | 8 corner pieces per stillage | Four corners, two directions |
| Flat stack | Full length boards on 4 edges | Corner pieces will not stay put |
What fails on a frame in transit
The weld. A PVC frame corner is welded and then cleaned by hand, so the corner is the most labour intensive part of the frame. A knock that flattens the weld cannot be polished out on site and the frame is usually rejected.
The profile face. Aluminium and PVC faces scuff against each other when frames are stacked. A protector with a 25-40 mm leg covers the face strip that touches, which is enough to keep frames apart.
The hardware. Handles, hinges and espagnolette rods protrude and take the impact before the frame does. Those need a separate recess or a foam wrap; paper boards only handle the frame itself.
Stacking method decides the profile
Frames shipped upright in a stillage need corner protectors on the two lower corners and the two upper corners, plus a board between each frame where faces touch. Frames shipped flat and stacked need full-length boards on the four long edges of the stack, not corner pieces.
For a mixed load of doors and windows, protect the doors first. A door leaf is a flat panel with a finished face and no frame to absorb impact, so it needs a full edge board and a face board rather than a corner.
White top, and the tape question
Frames are usually wrapped in tape or stretch film after protection. Tape applied directly to a PVC face leaves residue that has to be cleaned with solvent, which can dull the finish. A white paper board under the tape gives the tape something to grip and comes away clean.
If the buyer specifies a printed frame code on the protection, print it on the leg that faces out, not on the face that touches the frame.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Will the board hide a defect during inspection?
It covers the corner while packed, but the board is removed before inspection, so nothing is hidden from the buyer.
Do you supply boards with adhesive?
Not as standard. Tape or film is applied after the board, which is why a white face is preferred.
What about protecting the glass inside the frame?
That is a separate job. Glass in a frame usually needs a foam or EPE insert, not a paper board.
Can the boards be re-used for returnable stillages?
Paper creases on the first trip. For returnable packaging, plastic corner guards are the better fit and we will say so.
What length for a 1.2 m window?
1,200 mm with a 20 mm allowance, or 1,180 mm if the board has to sit inside a stillage lip.
To compare profiles, send a photo of a packed pallet and the band tension you use to mona@hengnicepacking.com.
