Building materials can create demanding transport-packaging requirements.
Products may be:
– Long
– Flat
– Heavy
– Difficult to stack
– Sensitive around the edges
– Vulnerable to strapping pressure
– Exposed to repeated forklift handling
Because of these differences, there is no single packaging configuration that is suitable for every building-material shipment.
Eltete Malaysia identifies building materials among the industries and applications where paper-based export packaging and fibre-based load carriers may be suitable.
The final packaging should be developed according to the product’s weight, dimensions, handling method, transportation conditions and storage requirements.
Explore Eltete Malaysia Transport Packaging Solutions
Q – What Packaging Challenges Are Common With Building Materials?
A – Building-material products can create several packaging challenges at the same time.
Consider a long board, panel or profile.
The product may require:
1 – Edge protection
– to prevent damage around vulnerable sides.
2 – Surface separation
– to reduce direct contact between adjacent products.
3 – Load support
– to distribute the product weight correctly.
4 – Strapping protection
– to prevent securing materials from damaging edges.
5 – Load stability
– to keep grouped products together during transport.
6 – Forklift compatibility
– to allow the complete unit to be moved throughout the logistics chain.
Eltete recommends developing packaging according to the actual load instead of applying one standard configuration to every shipment.
A suitable building-material packaging system might therefore combine several different components.
1. Edgeboard for Corners and Exposed Edges
One of the most relevant Eltete products for building-material packaging is Edgeboard.
Eltete Edgeboard is a laminated carton-board profile designed for applications including:
– Corner protection
– Edge protection
– Palletisation
– Stabilisation
– Unitisation
– Stacking support
– Strapping protection
Eltete also states that Edgeboard can be combined with stretch film, plastic strapping or steel strapping according to the packaging application.
Explore Eltete Edgeboard
Q – Why is edge protection important?
A – Long boards and panels may have large surfaces but relatively vulnerable edges Damage to one small corner may affect the presentation or usability of an otherwise undamaged product Rather than adding protection across the entire product, Edgeboard allows protection to be positioned around the areas that require reinforcement. For a palletised load, vertical Edgeboard can also help connect the structure of the load from the bottom to the top while providing protection around the corners.
2. Protect Products From Strapping Pressure
Strapping is commonly used to secure industrial loads.
However, high strap tension concentrated on a product edge can also become a source of damage.
Eltete explains that steel strapping is used for heavy-duty applications such as metal products, construction materials and industrial equipment, while also warning that high tension can damage products if appropriate protection is not used.
One approach is:
Product edge
↓
Eltete Edgeboard
↓
Strapping
The Edgeboard creates a protective layer between the strap and the vulnerable product or outer packaging.
This can also distribute pressure across a larger area rather than allowing the strap to concentrate force on one narrow point.
3. U-Profiles for Boards, Panels, Doors and Long Products
Some products require protection around more than one surface.
Eltete U-Profile provides three-sided protection around the edge of a suitable product.
Eltete identifies applications including:
– Boards
– Panels
– Profiles
– Frames
– Doors
– Selected steel products
– Furniture components
– Other long industrial products
Eltete also states that tailored U-Profiles are commonly used to protect tables and boards.
Learn more about Eltete U-Profiles
A U-Profile can cover:
Top surface + Edge + Bottom surface
rather than protecting only one corner.
This may make it particularly relevant for selected flat and long products where protecting the complete edge is important.
4. Separate Boards and Panels During Transportation
Damage can also occur when products contact each other.
If multiple boards, doors, panels or profiles are transported together, movement can create:
– Surface contact
– Edge-to-edge impact
– Scratching
– Pressure points
– Product movement
Eltete states that U-Profiles can also be used to separate a load into smaller units.
Profiles may be positioned between suitable:
– Panels
– Boards
– Doors
– Furniture parts
– Long profiles
– Other industrial components
to reduce direct product-to-product contact.
The U-Profile should not automatically be treated as the only load-restraint component, however.
If the products can still move during handling, the complete shipment may also require suitable strapping, wrapping, internal supports or other securing components.
5. Paper Pallets for Building-Material Loads
The product protection above the pallet is only part of the packaging system.
The platform underneath the product must also match the load.
Eltete identifies building materials among the applications where fibre-based pallets and Slip Sheets may be suitable.
Eltete Paper Pallets can be designed according to the specific packaging requirement, including different:
– Sizes
– Heights
– Fork-entry configurations
– Load requirements
Eltete’s approach considers strength, space, material and cost expectations when selecting the pallet configuration.
Explore Eltete Paper Pallets
Why Weight Distribution Matters
A heavy product does not necessarily create an evenly distributed load.
For example, two products may both weigh 800 kg.
– Product A
Its weight is distributed across almost the complete pallet surface.
– Product B
Its entire weight is concentrated onto several narrow contact points.
These two products can create very different requirements for the pallet and internal supporting structure.
This is why Eltete recommends selecting fibre-based load carriers according to factors such as:
– Product weight
– Load distribution
– Handling method
– Storage conditions
rather than relying only on the total number of kilograms.
6. Honeycomb Board for Support and Weight Distribution
Eltete Honeycomb Board can also form part of a customised industrial packaging system.
Depending on the application, Honeycomb Board can be cut and shaped to create:
– Supporting components
– Dividers
– Cushioning
– Weight spreaders
– Protective panels
– Internal packaging structures
Explore Eltete Honeycomb Board
For selected heavy or irregular products, customised internal components can help transfer product weight more appropriately into the pallet or supporting structure.
This supports Eltete’s wider packaging approach of selecting the correct component for each required function rather than simply adding more material around the entire shipment.
7. Slip Sheets for Suitable Palletless Building-Material Loads
Some manufacturers may also evaluate palletless handling.
Eltete Slip Sheets provide a thin fibre-based load carrier that can be used with suitable Push-Pull handling equipment.
Eltete identifies building materials among the industries where fibre-based pallets and Slip Sheets may be considered.
Slip Sheets generally occupy substantially less space than conventional pallets because of their much thinner structure.
Explore Eltete Slip Sheets
However, a Slip Sheet should only be considered when the complete handling process supports it.
The operation should evaluate:
– Product weight
– Load arrangement
– Slip Sheet strength
– Push-Pull compatibility
– Receiving equipment
– Transport method
– Load stability
A trial should be carried out before changing an established pallet system.
8. Packaging Long Products
Long building and industrial products can create packaging challenges because protecting only the four corners may not provide enough continuous protection.
Eltete’s official U-Profile information references products such as:
– Boards
– Panels
– Profiles
– Frames
– Doors
– Steel products
and documents profile lengths suitable for selected long-product applications.
For example, a long product could potentially use:
U-Profile along exposed edge
Edgeboard at important corners
Paper Pallet / suitable load base
Strapping
The exact configuration should depend on the product rather than treating this as a universal packaging specification.
9. Build the Pallet and Product as One System
Load stability should not be considered only after the products have already been placed on the pallet.
Eltete recommends considering the product arrangement and the pallet together.
Before applying wrapping and strapping, manufacturers should review:
– Does the product fit the pallet?
– Are there unsupported sections?
– Where will straps contact the product?
– Which edges require reinforcement?
– Is internal separation required?
– Does the load need vertical support?
– Can the forklift access the unit correctly?
– Is the load suitable for stacking?
The objective is to develop the load as one complete transport unit.
Example Building-Materials Packaging Configuration
A suitable configuration for a selected board or panel product might look like:
Step 1 — Paper Pallet
Provides the handling platform.
↓
Step 2 — Honeycomb Supporting Components
Distribute or support the product where required.
↓
Step 3 — Boards or Panels
Arranged according to the pallet dimensions.
↓
Step 4 — U-Profiles
Protect exposed long edges or separate selected products.
↓
Step 5 — Edgeboard
Protects corners and areas exposed to securing pressure.
↓
Step 6 — Strapping / Wrapping
Unitises the complete shipment.
Not every load requires every component.
Eltete’s Transport Packaging Solutions concept focuses on choosing components according to the product, handling method, destination and required strength.
10. Test Heavy Building-Material Packaging Before Implementation
A packaging system that looks stable while stationary may behave differently during actual handling.
Eltete recommends testing fibre-based load carriers according to conditions that represent the real supply chain.
Possible evaluations include:
– Static load testing
– Dynamic handling trials
– Compression testing
– Forklift handling
– Push-Pull trials
– Stacking tests
– Vibration testing
– Humidity conditioning
– Container-loading trials
– Trial shipments
The test method should represent the actual product and transport conditions as closely as possible.
This is particularly important for heavy, long or unusual building-material products.
11. Consider Storage and Moisture Conditions
Paper-based transport packaging must also be stored appropriately.
Eltete recommends practices such as:
– Indoor storage
– Keeping pallets away from wet floors
– Protecting packaging from rain
– Inspecting shipping containers
– Keeping packaging materials dry before use
– Considering expected humidity conditions
The packaging supplier should be informed about the expected transportation and storage environment.
This information should be provided during the packaging-development stage instead of only after problems occur.
12. Building Materials for Export
Packaging requirements become particularly important when building materials are exported.
Eltete identifies building materials as one of the industries where export packaging solutions can be used. Its paper-based export-packaging range includes components such as:
– Paper Pallets
– Edgeboard
– Slip Sheets
– Honeycomb Board
– Pallet runners
– Customised carton-based transport packaging
Eltete recommends designing the solution according to product dimensions, weight, handling methods and transportation conditions.
Read Eltete’s Export Packaging Guide
Paper-Based Packaging and International Export Requirements
Exporters using wooden load carriers or wooden packaging should also consider relevant destination requirements.
The International Plant Protection Convention’s ISPM 15 addresses phytosanitary measures for wood packaging material made from raw wood moving in international trade.
For official information:
Read ISPM 15 information from the International Plant Protection Convention
The IPPC separately defines wood packaging material in this context as wood or wood products used to support, protect or carry goods, while excluding paper products from that definition.
Actual requirements should always be checked according to the materials used and the shipment destination.
How to Choose Packaging for Building Materials
Before contacting a packaging supplier, prepare the following information.
Product Dimensions
Provide:
– Length
– Width
– Height
Long products should include the complete required protection length.
Product Weight
Provide the total packed weight.
Weight Distribution
Identify where the product actually contacts the supporting platform.
Product Shape
Is the product:
– Long?
– Flat?
– Rectangular?
– Irregular?
– Round?
– Bundled?
1 – Edge Sensitivity
– Identify which corners and edges must remain protected.
2 – Surface Requirements
– Determine whether surfaces are sensitive to:
– Scratching
– Pressure
– Direct product contact
– Strapping
3 – Handling Method
– Explain whether the load uses:
– Forklift
– Pallet truck
– Push-Pull equipment
– Conveyor
– Other handling systems
4 – Securing Method
– Identify the planned:
– Steel strapping
– Plastic strapping
– Stretch film
– Other securing materials
5 – Storage
– Provide information about:
– Warehouse conditions
– Humidity
– Stacking
– Storage duration
6 – Transportation
– Specify whether the shipment will move by:
– Road
– Sea
– Air
– Multiple transport modes
This information allows the packaging to be developed around the actual logistics process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q – What packaging is suitable for building materials?
A – The correct packaging depends on the product’s dimensions, weight, shape, load distribution, handling process and transport conditions. Eltete identifies Paper Pallets, Slip Sheets, Edgeboard, Honeycomb Board and customised paper-based transport packaging among solutions that may be used for export applications including building materials.
Q – How can board and panel edges be protected during transport?
A – Eltete Edgeboard and U-Profiles can be used for suitable edge-protection applications. U-Profiles are specifically identified for products including boards, panels, profiles, doors and other long products.
Q – How can strapping damage be reduced?
A – A suitable protective component such as Edgeboard can be placed between the strap and vulnerable product edge. Eltete notes that high-tension steel strapping used for heavy industrial and construction-material loads can cause damage when suitable protection is not used.
Q – Can Paper Pallets be used for building materials?
A – Eltete identifies building materials among the selected applications for fibre-based load carriers. The pallet should be designed according to load weight, distribution, handling and storage requirements.
Q – Are Slip Sheets suitable for building materials?
A – They may be suitable for selected loads when the Slip Sheet strength, load arrangement and Push-Pull handling system are compatible. The complete operation should be assessed and tested before implementation.
Q – What can U-Profiles protect?
A – Eltete identifies applications including boards, panels, doors, frames, profiles, furniture components and selected steel products. U-Profiles can provide three-sided protection around suitable product edges.
Q – Should heavy building-material packaging be tested?
A – Yes. Eltete recommends evaluations including static loading, dynamic handling, forklift trials, stacking, vibration, humidity conditioning and trial shipments where relevant to the actual application.
Q – Looking for Building Materials Packaging in Malaysia?
A – Building-material packaging should not simply use more material because the product is long or heavy.
A better approach is to identify:
Q – Where is the product vulnerable?
Q – Where is the weight concentrated?
Q – Where will the straps apply pressure?
Q – How will the product be handled?
Q – How will it be stored and transported?
Eltete Malaysia can combine suitable paper-based components including:
Edgeboard + U-Profiles + Paper Pallets + Slip Sheets + Honeycomb Board + Protective Profiles
to create a Transport Packaging Solution according to the actual application.
Discuss Your Building-Materials Packaging Requirement
Provide Eltete Malaysia with:
– Product dimensions
– Weight
– Product images or drawings
– Load arrangement
– Current packaging
– Handling method
– Strapping method
– Storage conditions
– Transport route
– Destination
to discuss a suitable paper-based transport packaging solution.
Contact Eltete Malaysia
