A U-shaped paper edge protector is a kraft board folded twice, so it covers both faces of a panel and the edge between them instead of only one side. That third face is the point of the part: an L profile has to be held in place by a band or by hand, while a U profile grips the edge and stays there on its own. Legs run 25-100 mm, walls 2.5-8 mm.
What the third face changes
An L profile protects a corner and depends on something else to keep it there. A U profile wraps the edge, so the two legs hold each other in balance and the fitting resists being knocked off during handling.
That matters most where a panel is slid, stacked or turned on a packing bench. A protector that falls off during the move is not protection, it is a component that ends up on the floor.
The trade is fit. A U profile needs the inner width to match the panel within a millimetre or two, which is why it is made to the panel thickness rather than sold in a few stock sizes.
Specification at a glance
The three dimensions that matter are inner width, leg length and wall. Length is cut to the panel edge, and the opened width across all three faces is capped at 260 mm by the folding equipment.
| Panel thickness | Inner width | Leg | Wall |
|---|
| 3-6 mm | 6 mm | 25-40 mm | 2.5-3 mm |
| 10-18 mm | 18 mm | 40-50 mm | 3-4 mm |
| 20-30 mm | 30 mm | 50-60 mm | 4-5 mm |
| 40-50 mm | 50 mm | 60-80 mm | 5 mm |
| Up to 150 mm | 150 mm | 100 mm | 5-8 mm |
Where a U fits better than an L
A single panel that has to be protected on both faces, a stack that is banded at the edge, or a part that is handled by hand are all U jobs. An L is better where the panel is already fixed in a frame and only one face is exposed.
For a stack, the usual build is a U on each of the two long edges plus banding over it. That protects both faces of the outer panels and closes the edge line in one component.
Fitting, tolerance and the width limit
The panel should slide in with light hand pressure, not a hammer. If the inner width is tight, the profile creases at the fold when it is pushed on and the crease becomes the failure point. If it is loose, the profile falls off when the panel is turned.
Above 260 mm opened width the profile cannot be folded as one piece on our lines. A thicker panel therefore takes two L profiles back to back, or a different construction, rather than a stretched U.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
What is the difference between a U and an L profile?
A U covers both faces and the edge; an L covers one face and the edge. The U holds itself on the panel, the L needs a band or a hand.
How tight should the inner width be?
The panel should slide in with light hand pressure. Too tight creases the fold; too loose and the profile falls off.
What is the widest U you make?
260 mm opened across the three faces. Above that, two L profiles back to back are the practical answer.
Can the legs be different lengths?
Yes. Unequal legs are useful where one face is the working face and the other only needs to hold the profile on.
Can it be printed with our item code?
Yes, one or two colours, usually on the outer face so it stays readable in a stack.
Send the panel thickness, leg length and wall you need to mona@hengnicepacking.com and we will quote the U profile that fits.
