A paper roll is a heavy cylinder that wants to roll. In a container the roll is usually chocked, and the chock takes the whole of any movement. A honeycomb cradle gives the roll a shaped seat so the contact is spread along the curve instead of concentrated on one chock edge, and it does that with a board that can be cut to the roll diameter.
Why a flat chock damages a roll
A timber chock contacts a roll on a line, and under the roll weight that line crushes the outer wraps. The mill then has to cut away damaged paper before the roll can be used, which is a direct loss.
A shaped cradle follows the curve over a wider arc. The load is shared, the outer wraps stay intact, and the roll is less likely to walk when the container flexes.
Specification at a glance
Cradles are built from 20-30 mm board, cut or laminated to the roll diameter, often in two or three pieces that nest under the roll.
| Roll position | Component | Board | Note |
|---|
| Horizontal in container | Cradle | 20-30 mm laminated | Cut to the roll diameter |
| Against axial movement | Wedge | 20 mm | Both sides of the roll |
| Roll end, clamp truck | Ring or curved board | 10-15 mm | Separate part from the cradle |
| Stacked rolls | Separator | 20 mm | Between roll and roll |
| Small rolls in a box | Die-cut insert | 10-15 mm | Seat per roll position |
Cutting the seat to the diameter
The seat is cut to the roll diameter plus a small clearance, so the roll sits in contact without being pinched. Too tight and the cradle splits when the roll settles; too loose and the roll rocks and works the cradle loose.
For a large diameter, the cradle is laminated from layers so the seat is a stack of shaped boards rather than one thick cut. That keeps the core vertical under the load and avoids a weak end-grain face.
Wedges, end protection and lashing
Cradles hold the roll against rolling; wedges stop it moving along its axis. Both are usually needed, and both are consumable paper components that go with the roll at destination.
The roll end is a separate problem. A ring or a curved board protects the end face where a clamp truck touches it, and that is a different part from the cradle. Specifying one does not protect the other.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Can cradles be cut to our roll diameter?
Yes, cut to the diameter with a small clearance, and laminated where the diameter needs a deep seat.
Will a paper cradle hold a 1 tonne roll?
It holds the roll in position and spreads contact along the curve. The lashing and the container structure carry the roll; the cradle does not.
Is a cradle better than a timber chock?
For surface protection and load spreading, usually yes, and it avoids treated wood inside the container. For very heavy rolls, a timber chock is still used alongside.
Do you supply end rings as well?
Yes, ring and curved profiles from the same board.
How are cradles shipped?
Flat, in nested sets, labelled by roll diameter.
Send the sheet size, thickness, core cell and facing weight to mona@hengnicepacking.com and we will quote the construction that fits the load.
