Tiles are packed in a carton as a tight stack, and the carton corner is the point where several tile corners meet under the whole weight of the pack. A knock there chips several tiles at once, and a chipped tile in a box is a claim. A U channel over the pack ends spreads that contact across the stack instead of a few corners.
Where a tile pack fails
The vertical corners of the carton take the impact and pass it straight to the tile corners underneath. Because the tiles are rigid and stacked tight, there is no give, so the energy goes into the tile edge.
A channel over the end of the pack gives the carton corner something to compress before the tiles see the load. It does not make the pack drop-proof, but it removes the contact that causes most chips.
Specification at a glance
The channel is sized to the pack thickness rather than to a single tile, and short lengths are normal because the pack end is only as wide as the tile stack.
| Pack | Channel | Leg | Note |
|---|
| Carton, 300x300 | Pack thickness | 30-40 mm | Two short ends |
| Carton, 600x600 | Pack thickness | 40 mm | Heavier pack |
| Pallet corner | Carton stack | 40 mm | With corner boards |
| Banded pack | Pack thickness | 40-50 mm | Leg wider than the band |
| Retail display | Pack thickness | 30 mm | Clean removal, no adhesive |
Cartons, pallets and the retail display
In a carton, channel on the two short ends covers the exposed tile edges. On a pallet, the carton corners are protected with corner boards and the channel is used where cartons sit against the pallet edge.
For retail display packs, the pack is opened on the shop floor, so the protection has to come away cleanly and leave no adhesive on the carton print.
Weight, banding and the tile edge
A tile pallet is heavy, and the band tension goes through the carton wall into the tile edges. A channel at the band line spreads that load so the edge does not take a point pressure.
Where the pack is banded vertically, the band crosses the channel. Make sure the channel leg is longer than the band is wide, or the band will sit at the channel edge and crush it.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Will it stop tiles chipping on a drop?
It removes the direct contact that causes most chips. A high drop still needs a different pack design.
What length for a tile carton?
Usually 300-600 mm, matched to the pack width at each end.
Can it be used under banding?
Yes, and the leg should be longer than the band is wide so the band does not sit on the channel edge.
Does it mark the carton print?
No adhesive is used, so it comes away clean.
Is it suitable for large format tiles?
Yes, with a heavier pack the channel is sized to the stack and the legs are widened.
For a quotation, post the product dimensions, load and destination port to mona@hengnicepacking.com.
