Heavy industrial products create very different transport-packaging challenges from ordinary consumer goods.
Metal parts, machinery components, industrial equipment and other heavy products may create concentrated loads, vulnerable edges and demanding handling conditions during storage and transportation.
For this reason, heavy industrial packaging should be developed according to the actual product rather than relying only on a standard box or pallet specification.
Eltete Malaysia provides paper-based Transport Packaging Solutions that can be customised according to factors including:
– Product dimensions
– Product weight
– Weight distribution
– Handling requirements
– Destination
– Required strength
– Storage conditions
– Transportation method
Eltete’s solutions include Paper Pallets, Honeycomb Board, Edgeboard, protective profiles, Slip Sheets, PallRun®, The Box and other customised packaging components.
Explore Eltete Malaysia Transport Packaging Solutions
Eltete’s published information identifies steel and metal products, automotive parts and other industrial components among applications where its transport-packaging products can be used.
Q – Why Do Heavy Industrial Products Need Specialised Packaging?
A – Heavy products do not necessarily require more packaging material everywhere.
They require the correct packaging structure in the correct locations.
For example, an industrial component may place most of its weight onto several small contact points.
Another product may have:
– Sharp corners
– Long exposed edges
– Irregular dimensions
– Large unsupported surfaces
– Sensitive finished surfaces
– Heavy concentrated sections
– Strapping contact points
These characteristics should be considered when developing the packaging.
A successful heavy-duty packaging system therefore needs to consider both:
Product protection and Load support
The solution underneath the product can be just as important as the protection surrounding it.
1. Paper Pallets for Heavy Industrial Products
The load base is one of the first areas to evaluate when packaging a heavy industrial product.
Eltete offers customised Paper Pallets designed according to the product, handling process and destination.
Rather than selecting a pallet based only on a standard dimension, Eltete states that its pallet solutions can be developed to optimise:
– Strength
– Space
– Material
– Cost
Different configurations can therefore be considered according to the actual load.
For heavy products, several factors become particularly important:
1 – Total Load Weight
– The pallet must be suitable for the complete packed weight.
2 – Weight Distribution
– An evenly distributed 1,000 kg load behaves differently from a 1,000 kg machine supported by only several small feet.
3 – Forklift Handling
– Fork-entry position and pallet configuration should correspond with the actual handling operation.
4 – Static and Dynamic Requirements
– A pallet sitting in storage may experience different forces from one being lifted, transported or moved repeatedly.
5 – Storage Conditions
– The expected storage environment should also be considered when selecting the pallet construction.
Eltete has published guidance explaining that fibre-based pallets can support selected heavy loads when designed according to product weight, load distribution, handling method and storage conditions.
2. Honeycomb Board for Weight Distribution and Structural Protection
Heavy products can create concentrated pressure on specific areas of the packaging.
This is where Eltete Honeycomb Board can become useful.
Eltete Honeycomb Board uses a hexagonal cellular paper structure to provide rigidity and compression strength while remaining lightweight.
Depending on the packaging design, Honeycomb Board can be used for applications including:
– Weight spreading
– Cushioning
– Product separation
– Void filling
– Protective panels
– Paper Pallet bases
– Heavy-duty box side walls
– Edge protection
– Customised outer packaging
Eltete also identifies Honeycomb Board as an option for selected wood-substitution applications.
1 – Why is weight spreading important?
Imagine a heavy machine with four narrow metal feet.
Placing the machine directly onto a load platform creates four highly concentrated load points.
A properly designed supporting component may help spread those loads across a larger surface.
The exact structure should be engineered according to the specific product and packaging configuration.
This is why customised industrial packaging should consider where the weight actually enters the packaging structure, rather than considering total weight alone.
3. Edgeboard for Corners, Edges and Strapping Protection
Heavy industrial products are often secured using strapping.
However, concentrated strapping pressure can create packaging problems if it is applied directly over vulnerable corners or surfaces.
Eltete Edgeboard can form part of a palletised heavy-duty packaging system.
Eltete identifies Edgeboard applications including:
– Corner protection
– Edge protection
– Strapping protection
– Pallet stabilisation
– Carton reinforcement
– Improved load stability
– Support for stacking performance
Eltete also lists metal products, automotive parts, long products, industrial components and building materials among suitable Edgeboard applications.
Example packaging arrangement
A heavy industrial shipment might use:
Paper Pallet
↓
Product-specific Honeycomb support
↓
Industrial component
↓
Edgeboard on exposed corners
↓
Protective top component
↓
Strapping / wrapping
The exact configuration depends on the product.
4. The Box for Heavy Industrial Export Packaging
Some heavy industrial products require a complete outer packaging structure rather than only pallet protection.
Eltete’s The Box provides a paper-based transport box developed using components such as:
– Honeycomb Board
– Packaging profiles
– PallRun®
Eltete states that The Box can be developed for both light and heavy products.
Heavy-duty applications may require:
– Stronger profiles
– Additional supports
– Different panel configurations
– Reinforced load bases
– Product-specific internal packaging
Eltete’s published information also notes that appropriate configurations can handle loads measured in several tonnes, although this should not be interpreted as one standard load rating for every version of The Box. Each packaging configuration must be designed and validated according to the application.
The Box can therefore be considered by manufacturers looking for a paper-based alternative to suitable heavy plywood or similar transport boxes.
5. Packaging Long Steel and Metal Products
Not every heavy industrial product fits into a conventional box.
Steel sheets, aluminium profiles and other long products create different problems because their:
– Edges remain exposed
– Products may slide against each other
– Strapping pressure may become concentrated
– Long surfaces may require support
– Corners may be vulnerable during forklift handling
Eltete provides paper-based protective profiles that can be used for suitable long and flat products.
Eltete’s own transport-packaging guidance specifically identifies applications including:
– Steel sheets
– Aluminium profiles
– Furniture panels
– Laminate boards
– Other long and flat products
Read Eltete’s guide to protecting long and flat products
Eltete also identifies straight protective profiles for strapping and corner protection on long steel sheets and plates.
6. Packaging Steel Coils and Round Industrial Products
Round products require a different protection strategy.
A standard straight corner protector may not follow the shape of:
– Steel coils
– Paper rolls
– Plastic rolls
– Drums
– Other cylindrical products
Eltete offers Wrap Around Edgeboard, a flexible carton-based protective profile developed for suitable round and irregular products.
It can be combined with:
– Protective sheets
– Solid discs
– Straight profiles
– Securing materials
– Other customised components
Learn more about protecting round and irregular products
Eltete specifically identifies steel coils among applications for Wrap Around Edgeboard.
7. Can Paper-Based Packaging Replace Wood for Heavy Industrial Products?
In selected applications, paper-based components can reduce or replace some wooden packaging components.
However, this should not be approached as:
Wood is bad, so everything should be replaced by paper.
The correct question is:
Which packaging material provides the required performance for this specific application?
Eltete’s Transport Packaging Solutions approach evaluates the complete packaging requirement rather than replacing materials without considering performance.
Potential paper-based alternatives include:
Wooden Pallet
→ Paper Pallet / PallRun®
Wooden Internal Support
→ Customised Honeycomb Board where suitable
Plywood Transport Box
→ The Box where suitable
Wooden Corner Protection
→ Edgeboard / packaging profiles where suitable
The suitability depends on the load, handling method, destination and required packaging performance.
8. Export Considerations for Paper-Based Pallets
Wood packaging used in international trade can be subject to phytosanitary requirements.
Eltete states that fully paper-based pallets generally do not require fumigation because they are manufactured from processed paper materials rather than solid wood.
For authoritative information regarding international phytosanitary rules affecting wood packaging material, exporters can also refer to the International Plant Protection Convention’s information about ISPM 15 – Regulation of Wood Packaging Material in International Trade.
Read the official IPPC information about ISPM 15
The requirements for an actual shipment should always be checked according to the materials used, destination and applicable regulations.
How to Select Packaging for a Heavy Industrial Product
Before deciding on a packaging configuration, manufacturers should collect the following information.
1 – Product Dimensions
– Record the complete length, width and height.
2 – Product Weight
– Provide the actual packed product weight.
3 – Contact Points
– Identify exactly where the product contacts the pallet or supporting structure.
4 – Centre of Gravity
– Uneven weight distribution may affect both packaging design and handling stability.
5 – Product Shape
– Determine whether the product is:
– Rectangular
– Round
– Long
– Flat
– Irregular
– Multi-component
– Surface Sensitivity
Painted, coated, polished or finished surfaces may require additional protection.
Handling Method
Determine whether the product will be moved using:
– Forklift
– Pallet truck
– Crane
– Conveyor
– Push-Pull handling
– Manual handling
– Securing Method
Identify whether the shipment will use:
– Plastic strapping
– Steel strapping
– Stretch film
– Other securing systems
– Transport Method
Consider whether the shipment will move by:
– Road
– Sea
– Air
– Multiple transport modes
– Storage Conditions
Evaluate the warehouse and transportation environment before selecting the packaging specification.
Example Heavy Industrial Packaging System
A customised Eltete solution for a heavy industrial product could combine several components:
1. Paper Pallet or PallRun®
Provides the required load platform.
↓
2. Honeycomb Board Weight Spreaders
Support concentrated load areas.
↓
3. Customised Honeycomb or Profile Supports
Hold the product in position.
↓
4. Edgeboard / Protective Profiles
Protect corners, edges and strapping contact points.
↓
5. Honeycomb Panels or The Box
Provide suitable outer protection.
↓
6. Strapping / Stretch Film
Secure the complete transport package.
Not every shipment requires every component.
The objective is to use only the components required for the actual transport-packaging application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q – What is heavy industrial packaging?
A – Heavy industrial packaging is packaging developed for products that create demanding load-support, protection or handling requirements because of their weight, dimensions, shape or transportation conditions.
Q – Can paper-based packaging support heavy products?
A – Yes, for suitable applications. Eltete states that fibre-based pallets, Honeycomb Board, Paper Pallets and heavy-duty packaging configurations can be developed according to the actual load. Product weight, load distribution, handling and storage requirements must be evaluated.
Q – What packaging can be used for metal parts?
A – Depending on the application, metal parts can be protected using combinations of Paper Pallets, Honeycomb Board, Edgeboard, packaging profiles, The Box and suitable securing materials.
Q – How can strapping damage on metal products be reduced?
A – Edgeboard or suitable protective profiles can be positioned between the strapping and vulnerable corners or surfaces to distribute pressure and provide protection.
Learn more about Eltete Edgeboard
Q – Can Eltete package steel products?
A – Yes. Eltete identifies steel as one of the industries it serves. Its solutions include Wrap Around Edgeboard for suitable steel coils and straight protective profiles for steel sheets and plates.
Q – Can Paper Pallets carry heavy industrial loads?
A – Paper-based pallets can support selected heavy loads when properly designed according to the product weight, weight distribution, static and dynamic requirements, handling method and storage conditions.
Q – Can paper packaging replace plywood boxes?
A – Eltete’s The Box is presented as a paper-based alternative to plywood and similar transport boxes for suitable applications. Heavy-duty configurations should be developed according to the actual product and validated for the required load.
Q – Looking for Heavy Industrial Packaging in Malaysia?
A – Heavy-duty packaging should do more than surround a product with material.
It should provide the required support and protection at the locations where the product actually needs it.
Eltete Malaysia’s Transport Packaging Solutions approach allows manufacturers to combine:
Paper Pallets + PallRun® + Honeycomb Board + Edgeboard + Protective Profiles + The Box + Securing Materials
according to the specific product, load and transport requirements.
This makes paper-based transport packaging relevant not only for lightweight products but also for selected metal parts, steel products, machinery components and other heavy industrial applications.
Need a packaging solution for a heavy industrial product?
Contact Eltete Malaysia with your product dimensions, weight, contact points, handling method and transportation requirements to discuss a suitable Transport Packaging Solution.
