In transit, a pack is loaded, lashed, driven, lifted and unloaded, and each of those puts the load on an edge or a corner. A folding U protector is the part that turns with the pack, so the protection is continuous from one face round the edge to the other, including where the pack meets the container wall.
The four moments that damage a pack
Loading: the pack is slid across a floor and the bottom edge takes the friction. Lashing: a strap crosses the pack and prints through at the edge. Road leg: the pack vibrates against its neighbour. Unloading: the pack is tipped and lands on a corner.
A U protector addresses the first three directly and the fourth partly. It is not a cushion; it distributes contact and stops the pack bearing on a bare edge.
Specification at a glance
Export packs use the heavier end of the range, because the pack is handled more times than a domestic one.
| Contact | Protector | Note |
|---|
| Bottom edge on the floor | Full length, 4-5 mm | Friction and load |
| Lashing point | Wider than the strap | Stays under tension |
| Container wall corner | Notched, both faces | Keeps off the corrugation |
| Pack to pack | Short pieces at corners | Stops edge to edge contact |
| Top edge under load | Full length | Prevents the lid bearing |
Lashing points and the container wall
Where a lashing crosses an edge, the protector should be wider than the strap and long enough to stay in place while the strap is tensioned. A short piece slides out under tension.
Against the container wall, the corner is the contact point. A protector that covers the edge and both faces keeps the pack off the corrugation, which is where condensation and abrasion both start.
Humidity, and why paper is still the right choice
A container is a humid box and paper takes on moisture. That is a reason to keep the protectors wrapped until fitting and to avoid laying them on a wet floor, not a reason to avoid paper.
A dry paper protector at the contact points does the mechanical job and goes into the paper waste stream at destination. Where the pack will sit in standing water, paper is the wrong material and we will say so.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Is paper suitable for sea freight?
Yes at the contact points, provided it is dry when fitted. It is not for standing water.
How wide should the piece be at a lashing?
Wider than the strap, so it cannot slide out under tension.
Does it stop condensation?
No. It keeps the pack off the container wall, which reduces contact wetting.
What wall for an export pack?
4-5 mm where the pack is handled several times.
Can it be printed with handling marks?
Yes, which is useful on a pack that is unloaded by a third party.
Tell us the piece size, quantity per shipment and how it is handled at mona@hengnicepacking.com and we will advise on the board build.
