Oversize equipment does not travel in a container. It travels on a flat rack or in a break bulk hold, lashed with chain or heavy strap, and every lashing crosses an edge of the machine. Edge protection there is about keeping the lashing off the paint and keeping chain links from biting into a machined corner, under load cases that no carton board ever sees.
Profile data for out of gauge packs
| Position | Board | Extra layer |
|---|
| Chain over a painted edge | L 70 x 70, 5 mm, 300 mm long | Timber or rubber softener |
| Heavy strap over housing | L 60 x 60, 4 mm, doubled | None |
| Base on deck | L 60 x 60, 5 mm | Timber dunnage |
| Machined corner | L 50 x 50, 5 mm | Rubber sheet |
| Deck stowage route | Coated board 5 mm | Replace after transfer |
What is different about out of gauge cargo
The lashing load is far higher than a carton strap, so the board is not spreading tension, it is preventing abrasion and point loading. A chain over a steel edge will notch the edge before the board fails, which means the board has to be thick enough to keep the chain off the corner for the whole voyage.
The second difference is inspection. Flat rack cargo is surveyed at the terminal by a surveyor who records existing damage. Protection that is visibly fitted before loading protects the shipper in a damage claim, which is often worth more than the board.
Lashing points and the softener layer
At each lashing point the sequence is: machine surface, paper board, then the chain or strap. The board must extend 100-150 mm past the lashing on each side, otherwise the lashing walks off the board under vibration and the protection is lost.
Where chains are used, a board alone is not enough at a sharp corner; add a timber or rubber softener outside the board. Paper is the interface that protects the paint, not the structural softener.
Weather and the break bulk route
Flat rack and break bulk cargo gets wet. A paper board that is soaked loses its function and can leave a stain on a painted surface. Specify a coated board where the route involves deck stowage, and plan to replace protection after any port transfer.
Where the equipment is wrapped in shrink film before lashing, fit the boards outside the film at the lashing points only. Boards under film trap condensation against the paint.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Is paper strong enough for chain lashing?
As an interface layer, yes, provided a timber or rubber softener carries the structural load. Paper alone at a sharp corner will be cut.
How long should the board be at a lashing?
100-150 mm past the lashing each side, so 300-400 mm for a typical chain.
Can boards be supplied in long lengths?
Yes, up to 6,000 mm, which is usual for a long machine bed.
Do surveyors accept paper as protection?
Visible protection fitted before loading is what matters for a claim, and paper boards photograph clearly.
What lead time for a one-off shipment?
Samples in 3-5 days, production 7-15 working days. For a single flat rack we can often ship from stock grades.
Send leg width, wall thickness, cut length and monthly volume to mona@hengnicepacking.com and we will quote the profile that matches your load.
