A pre-bent protector arrives already folded at the angle of the pack. The packer picks it up and puts it on, with no notch to open and no fold to judge. The trade is that the angle is fixed at the factory, so the drawing has to be right before the first carton is made.
When pre-bent is the right choice
Pre-bent suits a pack that repeats: the same panel, the same corner, the same angle, thousands of times. The line gets a part that goes on in one movement and cannot be folded to the wrong angle by a new operator.
It also suits a corner that is not 90 degrees. A chamfered or tapered pack is awkward to fold by hand consistently, and pre-bending removes that judgement from the line.
Specification at a glance
The angle is the specification that has to be agreed first. Everything else follows: inner width to the panel, leg to the face, wall to the handling.
| Angle | Use | Note |
|---|
| 90 degrees | Square panel corner | Standard pre-bent |
| 60 degrees | Chamfered crate | Drawing required |
| 120 degrees | Open corner | Drawing required |
| 135 degrees | Tapered edge | Drawing required |
| 45 degrees | Mitred frame | Sample first |
What fixed angle costs you
A pre-bent part is dedicated to one pack. If the panel changes, the part does not, and the remaining stock is scrap. That is why the angle should be confirmed against a physical sample rather than a drawing alone.
The other cost is volume. A pre-bent order is produced as a batch, so the minimum is higher than for a straight length that is notched on site.
Packing, counting and the line
Pre-bent pieces nest poorly compared with straight lengths, so a carton holds fewer meters. Freight per meter is higher, and that has to be in the landed cost comparison.
They are counted as pieces, not meters, which is easier on the line but needs a clear bundle label. A bundle of 90-degree pieces that is opened and tipped out is hard to count again.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Can I bend a pre-bent piece further?
No. Folding an already set part creases the leg. Order the angle you need.
How is the angle confirmed?
Against a physical sample of the pack corner, not a drawing alone.
Does it cost more than a bendable length?
Per meter usually yes, because it is a dedicated batch and nests worse in freight.
What is the minimum order?
500 m per size and angle.
Can different angles ship in one order?
Yes, as separate sizes, each with its own minimum.
For a quotation, post the panel section, the angle and the destination port to mona@hengnicepacking.com.
