A shipping load is handled at least six times before it reaches the buyer: at the plant, on the truck, in the terminal, in the container, at destination customs and again on the buyer truck. Edge protection has to survive all of them, which is why the profile is usually specified for the worst stage rather than the first one.
Specification at a glance
| Stage | What hits the load | What covers it |
|---|
| Plant and truck | Fork tines, stacking | Full height corner board |
| Container loading | Friction at the door corner | Board that extends 200 mm above and below |
| Sea leg | Vibration, condensation | 5 mm wall, moisture-resistant face |
| Terminal set-down | Impact on concrete | Base doubled 200-300 mm |
| Destination handling | Repeated opening | Clean cut end, no loose plies |
Map the handling stages before choosing a profile
The stage that damages most loads is the container loading itself, not the sea leg. Cartons are pushed and dragged into place, and the corner that faces the door takes the friction. A board that only covers the top and bottom of the corner will be pushed off during loading.
The second worst is the terminal, where the pallet is set down hard on concrete and the bottom 200 mm of the corner absorbs the impact. Doubling the wall at the base is cheaper than replacing crushed cartons.
Sea, rail and road ask different things
Sea freight brings condensation and long vibration. Vibration loosens banding, so protectors need enough wall to keep the band from cutting as the pack settles. Condensation does not destroy a paper protector overnight but it softens it, so a moisture-resistant face is worth specifying on a 30 day leg.
Rail brings longitudinal shock at coupling. The corner boards on the leading face take repeated impacts, and a plain 3 mm board will deform. Road is the mildest case unless the load is double stacked.
What to specify in one line
For a standard export carton load we quote a 60 mm leg, 5 mm wall, full height, doubled at the base, natural kraft, with a moisture-resistant face where the sea leg exceeds 25 days. That single line covers most shipments and avoids stocking three grades.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Do I need different protection for sea and air?
Air freight is handled more than sea freight but for a shorter time. A 4 mm wall with 50 mm legs covers most air cargo.
Will paper protectors survive a 40 day sea leg?
They soften but hold if the face is coated and the bundles are kept wrapped until use. Uncoated boards stored open in a humid dock will lose stiffness.
Is edge protection enough without corner boards?
No. Edge protection covers the vertical edges; corner protection covers the three faces at the corner. Most loads need both.
Can you supply a mixed set for one shipment?
Yes. We bundle by length and label each bundle, which is usual for a container with several carton sizes.
What about customs inspection?
Paper protection opens and closes without tools and needs no treatment certificate, which is one reason buyers move away from timber.
For a specification sheet, post the load weight, pallet footprint and band type to mona@hengnicepacking.com; we reply with a drawing and price.
