Pallet corner protection means covering the four vertical edges of a load so that the wrap, the band and the fork truck all meet paper first. It is a narrower job than full edge protection: the target is the corner itself, the point where film tension doubles and where every impact in a container lands.
Specification at a glance
| Guard type | Covers | Typical use |
|---|
| Vertical corner board | Full height, one corner | Wrapped pallets, standard export |
| Top corner cap | Horizontal top edges | Unwrapped loads, showroom display |
| Three-sided corner | Corner plus two short returns | Fork handling, rack storage |
| Rim board | Top and bottom horizontal rim | Tall loads, double stacking |
Why the corner, and not the face
When film is applied under tension, the force at a corner is roughly twice the force along a flat face, because the film turns through 90 degrees and pulls from two directions. That is why a load wrapped at normal tension still shows crushed corners and slack faces: the corner has deformed and taken the stretch out of the wrap.
A corner guard gives the film a radius to turn around instead of a sharp edge. The improvement comes from geometry as much as from material, which is why a 3 mm guard on a clean corner often outperforms a 5 mm guard forced onto a damaged one.
Three ways to protect a corner
Vertical corner guards run the full height of the load and are the default. Top corner caps cover the horizontal edges of the top layer only, useful when the load is not fully wrapped. Three-sided corner pieces wrap the corner in both directions and are used where fork tines are likely to strike.
Sizing against the carton, not the pallet
Measure the carton corner, not the pallet deck. On an overhanging load the guard should stop at the carton edge and let the overhang stay visible, otherwise the board is the first thing the fork tine hits and it folds into the load. For underhanging loads, add a base piece so the guard reaches the deck without bridging the gap.
Wall thickness follows the film, not the carton: hand wrapping needs 2.5-3 mm, machine wrapping at high pre-stretch needs 4-5 mm, and banded loads need 5-6 mm at the band line.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
How many corner guards per pallet?
Four for a standard load. Six or eight only when the load is wider than the pallet or is strapped in two directions.
Can one guard cover two corners?
No. A folded profile covers one corner. For a small carton, a U or wrap-around profile is the better part, not a longer L.
Will a corner guard stop a pallet from leaning?
It helps the wrap hold, but leaning comes from an unstable stack. Fix the stacking pattern first.
Do you supply corner guards with adhesive?
Not as standard. Adhesive tabs are possible on request but add cost and slow the line, so most buyers fit them by hand before wrapping.
What length should I order for a 1.5 m load?
Order 1.5 m and let the last 20-30 mm sit on the deck. We cut to the millimetre, so a 1,480 mm board is a normal order.
Quote requests with cut length and quantity reach us at mona@hengnicepacking.com and are answered within one working day.
