A palletised shipment must remain properly supported and protected throughout handling, storage and transportation.
The packaging system placed around and beneath the products plays an important role in creating a stable unit. Rather than relying on a single packaging component, businesses should evaluate the pallet, product arrangement, corner protection, strapping and other supporting materials as one complete system.
Eltete Malaysia provides a Transport Packaging Solutions concept that combines products such as Edgeboard, Paper Pallets, Slip Sheets and Wrap Around profiles with stretch film or strapping. The objective is to develop an optimised solution according to the customer’s transport packaging requirements.
What Is Pallet Load Stability?
Pallet load stability refers to the ability of the products, packaging components and load-handling platform to remain together as a secure transport unit.
A stable palletised load should be designed according to factors such as:
– The product being transported
– Product dimensions and weight
– The way products are arranged
– The required stacking strength
– The type of pallet or Slip Sheet used
– The handling method
– The transportation destination
– The type of strapping or wrapping used
Eltete states that packaging and pallet options should be selected according to the product, handling method and destination. These factors allow the packaging solution to be optimised in terms of strength, space, material and cost.
There is therefore no single configuration that is automatically suitable for every palletised shipment.
Why Is Load Stability Important?
The stability of a palletised load is closely connected to the way the products are protected, supported and combined into one transport unit.
Eltete describes Edgeboard as a product suitable for palletisation, stabilisation and unitisation. It can be positioned externally around pallet corners or internally inside boxes to provide additional stacking strength.
A properly designed transport packaging system can help businesses:
– Reinforce pallet corners
– Support stacked packages
– Hold individual boxes together as one unit
– Protect areas exposed to strapping pressureC- reate a structure suited to the selected pallet
– Optimise the amount of packaging material used
Make better use of transport and warehouse space
Eltete’s overall packaging concept focuses on achieving the required protection while reducing unnecessary material, warehousing requirements and transport volume.
1. Start with the Correct Pallet Size
Load stability begins with the platform beneath the products.
Using a pallet that does not match the dimensions of the load may make it more difficult to create an optimised packaging configuration. The pallet should therefore be selected according to the product, handling process and transportation requirements.
Eltete Paper Pallets can be designed according to the exact requirements of the packaging application. Eltete offers different pallet sizes and heights so the solution can be adapted to improve the use of transport space and meet specific operational needs.
When selecting a pallet, businesses should review:
– The external dimensions of the product load
– The required pallet height
Whether two-way or four-way handling is needed
– How the pallet will be moved
– The shipment destination
– The expected load requirement
– Available container or truck space
Eltete explains that its pallet recommendations consider strength, space, material and cost expectations rather than treating pallet size as the only requirement.
2. Arrange Products According to the Pallet
The product arrangement and pallet should be considered together.
Before adding wrapping, strapping or Edgeboard, the business should determine how the products will be positioned on the selected platform. The completed arrangement should allow the protective components to be placed around the load properly.
A practical assessment can include:
– Whether the cartons form a consistent outer shape
– Whether the load dimensions fit the pallet
– Which areas require vertical reinforcement
– Which corners will receive strapping pressure
– Whether internal support is required
– Whether the products need to be separated or held in position
This assessment supports Eltete’s application-based approach, in which the product, handling method and destination are studied before a packaging solution is recommended.
The objective should be to form a transport unit that can be protected using the correct combination of materials instead of adding unnecessary layers after the load has been assembled.
3. Use Edgeboard for Pallet Stabilisation
Edgeboard is one of Eltete’s primary products for improving the structure of a palletised load.
Eltete Edgeboard is manufactured as a laminated carton-board profile. It can be applied externally around pallet corners or internally inside boxes.
According to Eltete, Edgeboard is suitable for:
Palletisation
Stabilisation
Unitisation
Corner protection
Stacking strength
Internal box reinforcement
Eltete also states that Edgeboard provides pallets with the stability required for transportation.
External Edgeboard Application
For a palletised load, Edgeboard can be placed vertically along the outer corners.
Eltete’s products can be combined with stretch film, plastic strapping or steel strapping according to the needs of the transport packaging application.
Practical Pallet-Stability Review
Businesses can use the following process to review an existing palletised shipment.
Step 1: Record the Current Configuration
Document the product dimensions, pallet size, arrangement, Edgeboard, straps, wrapping and internal components.
Step 2: Identify the Required Functions
Determine which components provide:
Corner protection
Vertical strength
Stacking strength
Internal support
Unitisation
Pallet handling
Strapping protection
Step 3: Check the Pallet Dimensions
Confirm whether the pallet fits the product and transportation requirements.
Step 4: Review the Product Arrangement
Determine whether the arrangement creates a suitable structure for applying Edgeboard, wrapping and strapping.
Step 5: Identify Vulnerable Areas
Locate the corners, edges, round surfaces or internal spaces requiring targeted protection.
Step 6: Select the Relevant Eltete Components
Consider Edgeboard, Wrap Around, Honeycomb Board, a Paper Pallet or a Slip Sheet according to the specific requirement.
Step 7: Design the Complete System
Determine how the selected profiles, pallet and securing materials will work together.
Step 8: Produce and Test a Trial
Evaluate the trial packaging configuration against the required strength and handling conditions.
Step 9: Compare Material and Space Use
Review whether the proposed system maintains the required protection while optimising packaging material and transport space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to improve pallet load stability?
The packaging should be designed according to the product, handling process and destination. Eltete’s approach combines suitable pallets or Slip Sheets with products such as Edgeboard, Wrap Around, Honeycomb Board, stretch film and strapping.
What is Edgeboard used for on a pallet?
Eltete Edgeboard is used for palletisation, stabilisation and unitisation. It can be positioned around external pallet corners or inside boxes to provide protection and stacking strength.
Can Edgeboard be used with strapping?
Yes. Eltete’s Transport Packaging Solutions concept combines Edgeboard and other transport packaging products with plastic or steel strapping and stretch film.
Can Edgeboard improve stacking strength?
Eltete identifies stacking strength as one of the functions of Edgeboard. It may be used externally around pallet corners or internally inside boxes according to the packaging application.
How are round products protected during transportation?
Eltete Wrap Around edge protection can be used for round products such as steel coils, paper rolls and drums. The profile can be selected according to the product and strapping requirements.
Can Honeycomb Board help hold a product in position?
Eltete Honeycomb Board can be cut or shaped into packaging components. An official Eltete case study describes shaped Honeycomb components being used to tie a product inside a heavy-duty packaging system.
Should the pallet be customised according to the product?
Eltete Paper Pallets can be designed according to the exact packaging requirement. Different sizes and heights are available to optimise strength, space, material and cost expectations.
Are Slip Sheets suitable for stabilised palletless loads?
Slip Sheets may be suitable when the handling operation supports palletless transportation. Their size, model and strength can be adapted, but the complete load and handling process must be evaluated.
Should pallet packaging be tested?
Yes. Eltete selects packaging profiles based on the application and required strength. Compression, bending and strapping tests may also be conducted when required.
Create a More Stable Transport Packaging System
Improving pallet load stability requires more than adding extra wrapping or straps.
The pallet, product arrangement, Edgeboard, internal support and securing materials should be designed as one complete transport packaging system.
Eltete Malaysia supplies Edgeboard, Paper Pallets, Slip Sheets, Wrap Around, Honeycomb Board and other recyclable transport packaging components. These products can be combined according to the product, handling method, destination and required strength.
Contact Eltete Malaysia to discuss a transport packaging solution designed to improve palletisation, stabilisation and unitisation while optimising material and transport space.
This arrangement creates defined vertical edges around the shipment. The profiles can then be combined with stretch film, plastic strapping or steel strapping as part of Eltete’s complete transport packaging concept.
External Edgeboard may be considered when the packaging must:
– Reinforce the pallet corners
– Connect several cartons as a single unit
– Provide vertical support
– Support the use of wrapping material
– Protect the corners beneath the straps
Improve the structure of stacked products
The size and strength of the profile should be based on the specific load rather than selected using the same configuration for every shipment.
Internal Edgeboard Application
Edgeboard can also be positioned inside a carton or other package.
Eltete states that internal Edgeboard can give the package additional stacking strength.
Internal profiles may be considered when the outer box requires reinforcement or when specific internal corners must be supported as part of the packaging structure.
This approach allows the protective material to be placed where additional strength is needed instead of increasing the thickness or number of complete packaging layers.
4. Combine Edgeboard with Strapping
Strapping can be used to hold the packaging components and products together.
Eltete includes plastic and steel strapping as part of its Transport Packaging Solutions concept. Edgeboard, Paper Pallets, Slip Sheets and Wrap Around profiles can be combined with suitable strapping or stretch film to create an optimised transport packaging system.
When Edgeboard is used beneath a strap, the profile becomes part of the overall pallet structure.
This combination can:
Hold vertical profiles against the load
Support the unitisation of multiple packages
Reinforce the protected corners
Connect the upper and lower sections of the palletised load
Help maintain the intended packaging configuration
The number, position and type of straps should be determined according to the product and packaging design.
Businesses should avoid assuming that adding more straps automatically produces the most suitable solution. The complete packaging configuration should instead be studied and tested according to its actual requirements.
5. Use Stretch Film as Part of the Complete System
Eltete also identifies stretch film as one of the materials that can be combined with its transport packaging products.
Stretch film can be applied around the completed load and vertical Edgeboards as part of a unitised packaging configuration.
The Edgeboards provide defined corners and structural profiles, while the wrapping material helps keep the selected components together around the load.
The exact application will depend on:
– The number and type of products
– The load dimensions
– The position of the Edgeboards
– The pallet or Slip Sheet used
– Whether strapping is also included
– The handling and destination requirements
Stretch film should therefore be treated as one component of the complete system rather than as the only method used to create load stability.
6. Add Stacking Strength Where Required
Some palletised shipments must support additional products or packaging above them.
Eltete identifies stacking strength as one of the functions of Edgeboard. Profiles can be placed externally around pallet corners or internally inside boxes to reinforce the packaging configuration.
When stacking is part of the transportation or warehousing process, businesses should assess:
– The vertical areas carrying the load
– The strength of the cartons
– The position of the Edgeboards
– The pallet dimensions
– The expected arrangement above the pallet
– The strength required by the complete system
The decision should be based on the actual application.
Using a standard profile without evaluating its required size or strength may not provide the same result across products with different dimensions and handling conditions.
7. Protect Round or Irregular Products
Products with round shapes may require a different protective profile from products packed in rectangular cartons.
Eltete Wrap Around edge protection can be used for round products such as:
– Steel coils
– Paper rolls
– Drums
– Other round objects
Eltete’s official company profile also identifies straight Edgeboard profiles for strapping and corner protection around products such as long steel sheets and steel plates.
Using a profile designed around the product’s shape allows the protective material to follow the exposed edge more closely.
For round or irregular products, businesses should review:
– The product diameter
– The surface requiring protection
– Where the strapping will be positioned
– Whether the product needs additional internal support
– The type of pallet or base used
– The required profile quality
The packaging should be adapted to the product instead of forcing every shipment into a rectangular packaging configuration.
8. Use Honeycomb Board for Internal Support
Some packaging applications require internal components to support or hold the product in position.
Eltete Honeycomb Board is a recyclable paper product with a hexagonal internal structure. Eltete describes it as lightweight while providing rigidity, compression strength and cushioning properties. It can also be cut or shaped into packaging components based on individual requirements.
Shaped Honeycomb components may be considered when a product requires:
– Internal support
– A shaped holding element
– Cushioning
– Separation from other products
– Top or bottom protection
– A space-filling component
– Additional structural elements
An official Eltete case study describes a heavy-duty packaging solution in which Honeycomb Board was cut into shape to tie the product inside the package. The packaging was created by combining existing Eltete materials into a modular and lighter system suitable for heavy-duty transportation.
Another Eltete case involved a space-filling component created to improve packaging stability. The Honeycomb material was optimised for the required compression strength, while an Edgeprofile was added to its edge to withstand pressure from the strapping belt.
These examples demonstrate how internal support, Edgeboard and strapping can be designed as one system.
9. Consider Whether Slip Sheets Are Suitable
In some operations, a Slip Sheet may be used instead of a conventional pallet.
Eltete Slip Sheets are manufactured from laminated solid kraftliner and are intended for palletless handling. Standard models are based on common pallet dimensions, while the size, model and strength can also be adapted to individual requirements.
Eltete states that Slip Sheets are frequently used when businesses need to optimise space within the logistics chain. Their use can provide savings in transportation, packaging material and storage.
When using a Slip Sheet, the complete load should still be designed as a secure unit.
Businesses should assess:
– The Slip Sheet dimensions
– The required strength
– The product arrangement
– The use of Edgeboard
– The wrapping or strapping configuration
– The available handling method
– The receiving process at the destination
Slip Sheets should not automatically be treated as suitable for every shipment. Their application must match the handling and logistics process used by both the sender and receiver.
10. Avoid Unnecessary Overpacking
Pallet stability should not depend entirely on adding more packaging material.
Eltete’s approach focuses on creating tailor-made solutions by combining different components to achieve the required strength while optimising material use. Its official company material presents this as an alternative to overpacking.
A business reviewing its pallet packaging can check whether:
Several components are performing the same function
The Edgeboard is larger than the application requires
The pallet is oversized for the load
Excessive wrapping is compensating for poor product arrangement
A general filler is being used instead of a shaped support
The packaging was originally designed for a different product
Strapping is being added without a clear application requirement
Reducing unnecessary material does not mean removing protection without assessment.
The objective is to use the correct product in the correct position and create the required protection with an optimised amount of material.
11. Evaluate the Entire Logistics Chain
The packaging system should be reviewed from the point of packing until the product reaches the receiver.
Eltete’s Transport Packaging Solutions concept addresses more than the individual protective profile. It considers the combination of packaging materials and their effects throughout the logistics chain.
A pallet-load assessment should consider:
Packing
How are the products placed, supported, protected and secured?
Internal handling
How will the load be moved within the manufacturing or warehouse environment?
Storage
Does the packaging require stacking strength or additional warehouse space?
Transportation
What pallet, Slip Sheet, strapping or wrapping configuration will be used?
Destination
How will the receiver unload, handle, unpack and recycle the packaging?
Evaluating these stages can help the business avoid selecting a packaging design based only on the initial packing process.
12. Test the Proposed Packaging Configuration
A new pallet configuration should be evaluated before being introduced across regular shipments.
Eltete’s company profile states that packaging profiles are selected after studying the application and its strength requirements. It also identifies compression, bending and strapping tests among the tests that may be conducted when required.
Testing can be used to evaluate whether the proposed system provides the required:
– Compression performance
– Bending performance
– Strapping performance
– Pallet support
– Product positioning
– Packaging strength
– Stability for the intended handling process
Testing is particularly important when the proposed solution:
– Uses less packaging material
– Changes the pallet size
– Introduces a Paper Pallet
– Replaces a wooden component
– Changes from a pallet to a Slip Sheet
– Uses a new Edgeboard size
– Combines Honeycomb Board with Edgeprofiles
– Changes the strapping arrangement
The final design should be approved according to the actual product and application requirements.
