What Is Edge Protection and When Should You Use It?
Products can face a surprising amount of pressure before they reach their destination. Cartons may be stacked, strapped, wrapped, moved by forklift and loaded alongside other goods. Even when the contents are well packed, exposed corners and edges can still be vulnerable to crushing, scuffing and damage.
Packaging edge protection provides additional support around these vulnerable areas. It can help protect individual products, reinforce cartons and improve the stability of complete pallet loads during storage and transport.
But what exactly is edge protection, and when is it worth using?
What Is Packaging Edge Protection?
Packaging edge protection refers to protective boards, profiles or corners placed around the edges of a product, carton or palletised load.
Depending on the application, edge protectors may be manufactured from cardboard, corrugated board, plastic or moisture-resistant materials. They are available in different shapes, lengths and strengths to suit anything from individual cartons to larger industrial loads.
Edge protectors are frequently used alongside packaging strapping and stretch wrapping. Together, these materials help hold a load in position while protecting the areas most likely to be damaged by pressure.
Tripak’s edge protection range includes edge boards, corrugated corner protectors and plastic options for different packaging and transit requirements.
What Does Edge Protection Do?
Stops Strapping Cutting Into Cartons
Strapping must be applied with enough tension to secure a load, but that tension can press into the corners of cardboard boxes or mark the surface of a product.
Placing protectors between the load and the strap spreads the pressure across a larger area. This allows the strapping to secure the load without bearing directly against a vulnerable edge.
Reinforces Pallet Loads
Cartons positioned around the outside of a pallet can move, lean or become compressed during handling. Vertical edge boards add support around the corners and can help the stack retain its shape.
This is particularly useful for tall pallet loads or loads that will be handled several times before reaching their destination.
Protects Corners From Impact
Corners are often the first part of a carton, sheet or product to make contact with warehouse equipment, another package or the inside of a vehicle.
A suitable protector provides a barrier around the exposed area, helping to reduce dents, chips, scuffs and crushed carton corners.
Improves the Effectiveness of Stretch Wrap
Stretch film holds cartons together, but it can pull tightly against exposed corners. Edge boards provide a stronger and more consistent shape for the film to wrap around.
This combination can make the finished pallet easier to secure and help prevent the film from pressing into weaker cartons.
Helps Products Arrive in Better Condition
Damaged outer packaging may result in rejected deliveries even when the product inside remains usable. It can also affect how customers perceive the goods they receive.
Protecting visible edges and corners helps cartons remain presentable while reducing the risk of more serious damage to their contents.
When Should You Use Edge Protection?
Not every parcel requires additional edge protection. However, it is worth considering in the following situations.
When Strapping a Pallet or Carton
If polypropylene, polyester, steel or another type of strapping will contact the corners of a carton or product, edge protectors can prevent the strap from cutting into the surface.
The greater the tension required to secure the load, the more important it becomes to distribute that pressure correctly.
When Transporting Stacked Cartons
Tall stacks of cartons can lean or lose their shape as a pallet is moved. Edge boards placed around the vertical corners help hold the boxes in alignment.
They can be particularly useful where cartons vary slightly in size or where the load will travel through several stages of a distribution network.
When Packaging Products With Vulnerable Edges
Furniture, appliances, doors, panels, sheet materials and manufactured components may all have corners that can be chipped, scratched or dented.
Corrugated or plastic corner protectors can provide targeted protection without requiring the entire item to be covered in heavy packaging.
When Shipping Heavy or Irregular Loads
Heavy products place more pressure on the cartons and packaging beneath them. Irregular loads can also create isolated pressure points where straps or wrapping contact the product.
The correct edge protection can spread this force and provide a more stable surface for securing the load.
When Loads Will Be Stacked
Goods stored or transported in stacked configurations must withstand pressure from above. Edge boards can help reinforce the vertical corners, although the cartons and pallets must also be strong enough for the load.
Edge protection should support a correctly designed pack rather than compensate for unsuitable cartons or pallets.
When Moisture May Be Present
Standard cardboard protection is suitable for many dry storage and transport environments. Where loads may encounter moisture, condensation or repeated outdoor handling, plastic or moisture-resistant protection may be more appropriate.
The storage and transport environment should therefore be considered alongside the product’s weight and vulnerability.
When Presentation Matters
Edge protection is also useful where the external appearance of a carton or finished product is important. Preventing strap marks, crushed corners and scuffed surfaces can be valuable for retail packaging, customer-facing deliveries and high-value goods.
What Types of Edge Protection Are Available?
The best option depends on what is being packed, how it will be secured and the conditions it will encounter.
Cardboard Edge Boards
Cardboard edge boards are commonly used along the vertical corners of palletised cartons. They provide support, distribute strapping pressure and can help the pallet retain a consistent shape.
They are a practical choice for many dry storage, warehousing and distribution applications.
Corrugated Edge and Corner Protectors
Corrugated protectors provide cushioning around particular corners or edges. They can be used with cartons, furniture, appliances, panels and other products that need protection from knocks or surface damage.
Different shapes are available for open, closed or expanding corner applications.
Plastic Edge Protectors
Plastic protectors are useful where resistance to moisture or repeated handling is important. Smaller plastic profiles may also be positioned directly beneath strapping to spread its force across an individual contact point.
Tripak supplies cardboard, corrugated and plastic edge protection, including Kraftek® edge boards and several Transpal® and Safeguard® options.
How to Choose the Right Edge Protection
Before selecting a product, consider:
- The weight and height of the load
- Whether it consists of uniform cartons or irregular products
- The type and tension of the strapping
- Whether stretch film will also be used
- Which corners or surfaces are most vulnerable
- The storage and transport conditions
- Whether the protectors need to resist moisture
- Whether the packaging will be used once or repeatedly
The protector should cover the area exposed to pressure without making the load unnecessarily difficult to wrap or handle. Heavier loads and tighter strapping may require a stronger or thicker option than lightweight cartons.
If you are unsure, it is better to assess the complete packaging system, including the pallet, cartons, strapping, stretch film and edge protection, rather than selecting each part in isolation.
How Should Edge Protectors Be Applied?
For a conventional pallet of stacked cartons, vertical edge boards are usually positioned along the outer corners of the load. They should sit straight against the cartons and cover the areas that need reinforcement.
Stretch film can help hold the boards in position while the load is wrapped. Where strapping is used, it should pass over the protectors rather than directly against the carton edges.
Smaller corner pieces may instead be positioned only at individual contact points. Whatever the method, check that the protectors remain correctly aligned as the straps are tensioned and the pallet is prepared for dispatch.
Is Edge Protection Always Necessary?
Edge protection is not required for every shipment. A light, robust parcel that is not strapped or palletised may gain little from it.
It becomes more valuable as the weight, height, handling frequency or vulnerability of the load increases. If damaged corners, strap marks, unstable pallets or rejected deliveries are recurring problems, edge protection is a relatively simple part of the packaging process to review.
Find the Right Edge Protection for Your Load
Tripak supplies a range of edge boards and corner protectors for protecting products, cartons and palletised loads during storage and transport.
View our edge protection range, or contact the Tripak team for help choosing the right option for your packaging application. You can also call 0191 495 0101 to discuss your requirements.