Edge Protectors 101: Everything You Need to Know - Imperial Dade

Delivering damaged goods can often have a greater impact on your business than on the customers you serve, especially in the packaging industry. 

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When a customer receives a damaged package, it gives them the impression that your business is careless or cannot effectively deliver goods. On a similar note, it indicates to your potential customers that they can expect to deal with lost time and damaged products when working with your business.

By protecting your products in transit, you’re also protecting the good name of your business. That’s why it’s important to fortify the most vulnerable parts of a package against impact, side, or corner damage. 

One of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to safeguard goods is by utilizing edge protectors.

You may be wondering: what are edge protectors and what is the purpose of edge protectors? We’re going to cover that, along with why they’re useful, and everything else you need to know about edge protectors also known as corner boards.

What are Edge Protectors?

Edge protectors reinforce a package, palletized load, or stack of boxes. They can be applied to every corner for maximum protection, support, and stability, or they can be used as needed to protect against damage from strapping and provide additional layers of support.

What are Edge Protectors Used For? 

Edge protectors, sometimes called corner boards or edge boards, are incredible at securing the most vulnerable places on a package, the edges, because they are able to provide uniform weight distribution. Acting as an internal pallet reinforcement, they create stability for multilevel stacking by moving more stress to the edges of a container.

By strengthening the edges, a corner board turns one of the weakest and most damage prone areas of a package into a support beam. In doing this, the package or load gains increased structural stability and stackability. An additional benefit is that they also increase the effectiveness of stretch wrap, plastic strapping, or tape by further securing the load.

What is the Purpose of Corner Boards? 

Corner boards or edge protectors provide several layers of protection past simply strengthening boxes and improving stackability. They protect edges and corners against blows, scratches, and damage from straps, as well as prevent secured packages from colliding, falling, or shifting during transit.

You can easily use edge protectors to add an extra layer of protection to your goods, saving you money that otherwise would have been spent replacing damaged goods or recouping lost time. 

What are Corner Boards Made Of? 

Most edge protectors are made by laminating together multiple layers of 100% recycled paper. These layers are formed with water-based adhesives, then shaped into a rigid right angle, or “U” shape, before finally being coated with a biodegradable, water-resistant coating. 

Edge protectors have an almost unlimited variety in shape, thickness and size. The shape can be molded to almost any configuration to protect 

Some corner board manufacturers also offer the option to print custom graphics onto the board. While this is only a visual difference it does a fantastic job advertising the manufacturer throughout the life of the shipment and beyond. An added benefit is that printing is offered at a very low cost for large orders.

Selecting the Right Edge Protector

All in all, edge protector are an incredible option if you’re looking for an affordable and effective way to protect edges, strengthen boxes, and facilitate stacking. But before you can buy any corner boards, you need to know how to select the right one for your operation. 

How to Measure Edge Protectors

There are four measurements to consider when selecting edge protectors:

1. Leg length A
2. Leg length B
3. Board Length
4. Caliper

Leg length determines the length of each side of the edge protector. Leg lengths are measured independently of each other because they can be different lengths. Most corner board manufacturers can do custom leg lengths depending on your needs.

The longer the leg, the more protection it provides against strapping. Most corner board manufacturers offer leg lengths ranging from 1.5” to 3”.

Board length is equal to the overall length of the corner board. You can always cut a corner board shorter, so it’s common for businesses to order their corner boards longer than needed. Corner boards are largely available from 6” to 240”. 

The last measurement you need to consider is the caliper. Caliper is the thickness of the corner board and is measured in thousandths of an inch. You can commonly find caliper sizes ranging from .080” to .3”. 

How to Choose Corner Board Strength

The strength of a corner board is directly tied to its caliper, or thickness. There are three levels of thickness: 

• Light Duty Caliper Corner Boards 
• Medium Duty Caliper Corner Boards 
• Heavy Duty Caliper Corner Boards

Light Duty Caliper Corner Boards 

Light duty calipers range from .080” to .150”. Corner boards that fall under this caliper range are best used for reinforcement purposes. The corner boards will provide additional strength to boxes, as well as protection from strapping, but that’s all. 

This is the way to go if you’re trying to save on cost. There is no need to go for the strongest and most expensive corner board when a light duty one will do the trick. 

Unless you’re going to be stacking boxes, stick to light duty corner boards. Light duty will handle the pressure of strapping and protect the corners, but it provides the least amount of stability and stacking support compared to the other two calipers. 

Medium Duty Caliper Corner Boards 

Medium duty calipers range from .160” to .200”. Corner boards that fall under this caliper range are effective supports. They will provide better weight distribution, which makes for a safe, stable base if you need to stack another box on top.

This is the best option if you stack boxes for transportation. It’ll provide protection than light duty, is stronger, and has the added benefit of improved stacking. 

Heavy Duty Caliper Corner Boards 

Heavy duty calipers range from .225” to .300”. These are the strongest, thickest corner boards you’re going to find commercially available. Anything thicker than this will probably have to be custom made for the order. 

The company is the world’s best pvc corner protectors supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

This is the best option for multi-layer stacking, stabilization, and overall protection is heavy duty. They add the most strength to a box, providing it with sufficient weight distribution to promote the highest level of stability. If you’re worried about goods falling over in transit, these corner boards are your solution.

Final Thoughts

Your customers deserve the highest quality service, it’s why they went to you in the first place.  An investment in edge protectors is an investment in the safety and well-being of you and your customer’s products. 

The best thing you can do for your customers and your business is to ensure the highest quality services by investing in high levels of protection. 

Edge protectors or corner boards are a great, affordable option if you’re looking for high quality protection. They protect goods by improving box strength and load stability, saving you money in the long run on lost time and damaged goods.

With custom graphics, you can even use edge protectors to expand and advertise your brand. 

If you’re interested in ordering edge protectors or corner boards, or have any questions about how you can use corner boards to improve your transportation operation, consider reaching out to an Imperial Dade facility near you. 

At Imperial Dade, our experts are highly experienced in shipping, transporting, and packaging goods. Reach out to one of our packaging experts today for a free consultation of your packaging program. 

Related Articles

6 Best Edge Guards

Style: Edge & Corner | Material: Foam

The Roving Cove Baby Proofing Edge Corner Protector is a simple edge and corner protection set. It includes 18 feet of foam edge guard and eight foam corner protectors. The foam has an adhesive backing that is easy to install and works well. It is available in 3 colors, and the foam is free of BPA, phthalates, heavy metals, latex, and SCCPs. We like that this product is doing one thing and doing it well.

Like all adhesive products, the adhesive can fail if not used correctly or is pulled on aggressively over time. However, this is true of any edge protection guards, as they are all adhesive installations. Overall, we like this edge guard, and corner protectors are easy to install and work well with no muss and no fuss. If you need a guard for a hearth, check out the KidKusion Hearth Cushion, which has double sided adhesive.

Style: Edge & Corner | Material: Foam

The Bebe Earth - Edge and Corner Guard Protector Set is a great budget-friendly set that includes 20 feet of edge protection, 8 corner protectors, and a door bumper. This set has the adhesive strip separate from the foam, so it can be applied to the surface before messing with the foam cover. The foam is compliant with US and EU child safety regulations and is BPA and phthalate-free should your little one decide to take a taste test. We like the look of this foam, the adorable cow door bumper, and the easy installation. This kit comes with the most straight-edge linear feet of foam in the group, making it a must-have for longer placements that require protection.

While the adhesive roll might be easier for some, we imagine others will be frustrated by the two-step process compared to the contenders where the adhesive comes attached to the foam. Also, while the edge guard is available in three colors, it looks like only the white option includes the cute door bumper, which is disappointing. Overall, we love this set, and even without the bumper, the longer foam with a reasonable price means you get more protection for your buck, which is a win, in our opinion. If you're shopping for an option with pre-installed adhesive, the CalMyotis Corner Protector may be worth a look.

Style: Corner | Material: Foam

The Sure Basics Corner Guards is a pack of 8 corner guards in three sizes. The foam already has the adhesive backing on it as one piece, and they are thick enough to protect from just about any accidental bump or fall. These corner pieces are straightforward options for protecting little ones from sharp corners on furniture counters and more.

While we didn't experience it during testing, any adhesive can fail given the right circumstances. During installation, you should take special care and don't expect great results on heavily textured surfaces. That being said, we think these corner protectors are a helpful addition to any childproofing lineup where sharp corners are a concern. If you like the idea of thick corners but also need edge protection, consider the Roving Cove Baby Proofing Edge Corner Protector.

Style: Hearth | Material: Foam

The KidKusion Hearth Cushion is a product designed for hearth use, providing edge and corner protection around fireplaces. The foam with this kit has a double-sided adhesive Velcro backing and is crinkle-free, closed-cell. This foam is made in the USA and free of BPA, phthalates, latex, and obvious odor. It comes in two colors, and the hearth-specific cushion has a semi-beveled edge that looks somewhat fancier than the rolled edge we see on most of the competing guards. The foam is easy to install and looks nice.

This edge protector is relatively thin compared to some of the competition and will only work in specific situations. The Roving Cove Baby Proofing Edge Corner Protector is our first pick for thicker protection. To avoid disappointment, we recommend measuring your space and checking your fireplace hearth for compatibility before purchasing. However, if the KidKusion Hearth Cushion is the right selection for your home, it makes hearths a safer place for little ones to stumble.

Style: Corner | Material: Silicone

The CalMyotis Corner Protector are soft, clear PVC corner protectors. The protectors contain no phthalates, BPA, chemicals, or added toxic fire retardants. Each corner includes a clear, pre-installed adhesive that works well and installs easily (you may need a hairdryer to heat the glue). We like the look of these unobtrusive corner guards and think they are an excellent choice for those who need them but aren't interested in the unsightly foam options.

These guards are thin and are not soft or squishy, the same way foam protectors traditionally are. So, while you can avoid point-related injuries, it does not offer the same impact protection as a foam buffer. If you prefer foam to silicone, consider other contenders like the easy-to-install Bebe Earth - Edge and Corner Guard Protector Set. However, if aesthetics are your priority, CalMyotis corner protectors have the potential to protect little ones from sharp corner-related injuries.

Style: Corner | Material: Silicone

The Heelalbaby Safety Corner Protectors set includes 16 L-shaped corner guards and 8 ball-shaped corner guards. These guards are clear, non-toxic PVC to protect little ones from sharp corners. The collection has a stronger adhesive than previous versions and can be removed without leaving residue behind. We like that it comes with 8 additional adhesive strips if you need to move the guards or make a change. The protectors are somewhat flexible and soft. They are easy to install, and we like the look as it is less obvious than foam options.

Installation requires holding in place for a full minute. This process is longer than you think until you do it. Easier installation can be found with the thick foam on the Roving Cove Baby Proofing Edge Corner Protector. The Heelalbaby also is not soft, and while they can prevent stabbing injuries or breaking the skin, you can still get bumps and bruises with these guards. We think this contender could be a potential option for those who don't need significant protection and worry most about the overall aesthetic.

Why Trust GearLab

Senior Review Analyst and father of 7 Bob Wofford leads the edge guard review with extensive investigation on childproofing and edge protection. Bob has been our go-to tester for most things 7 years running. The edge guards were selected with safety in mind and tested for ease of installation and their effectiveness at getting the job done on various surfaces. Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Editor BabyGearLab team member circa , rounds out the childproofing team with the test results analysis and review write-up.

Analysis and Test Results

We tested 6 top competitors for edge guards in our childproofing testing. Each edge guard was assessed for ease of installation, potential longevity, and how well it worked, protecting little ones from possible injuries.

Ease of Use

There isn't much to the edge guards beyond a peel-and-stick installation. No matter which variety or style you choose, the majority boasts a 3M adhesive backing that universally works well when the surface is prepared correctly. Attempting to attach any adhesive product to a dirty or heavily textured surface is bound to fail; otherwise, we didn't experience any trouble.

Other considerations would be cutting the edging to fit the desired location. While corner pieces do not need modifications, the longer edge parts will. Most of the products are designed to be cut to fit, and for the most part, we didn't have any trouble cutting the foam with ordinary scissors. The only real challenge is getting the adhesive backing off and the protector in the correct location. Once it sticks, that is it; even if you manage to pull it off to reposition, it won't securely attach a second time, and there will always be a “weak” area that refuses to stay put.

We recommend you measure twice and cut once, then pull off the adhesive backing just a little bit at a time. This way, you won't accidentally create an un-sticky edge in your haste to finish what should be a simple, straightforward job but, in reality, requires more attention to detail. Corner pieces are easier to apply than longer edges, and the small silicone corner bumpers practically apply themselves. If you can solve your safety situation with just a single corner piece, save yourself the headache and stick with pre-created corners. Alternatively, if you have a longer edge, avoid using smaller pieces and always use a one-piece solution for safety and easier installation.

Efficacy

Using the products as directed in the right locations is very effective at preventing accidental injuries. Whether it is the sharp corner of a coffee table or the rock ledge of a fireplace, a tight-fitting edge guard can make all the difference between a nothing bump and a need for stitches. The two common ways edge guards can fail is an improper installation where the guard is not being used for its designed purpose, or it was installed without prepping the area properly, both of which can result in adhesive failure or unprotected areas and unintentional injuries.

The second failure occurs when kids spend time picking, pulling, or playing with the foam edging. This foam is a magnet for some toddlers, who find the puffy foam irresistible, much like a moth to a flame. For this reason, we encourage parents to monitor little ones and redirect them to more engaging activities should the bumpers become too intriguing. Preventing excessive play, picking, or pulling on the foam can increase the childproof device's longevity and decrease the potential for harm.

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Conclusion

Childproofing is one of the most tedious parts of early childhood, but it is necessary. Depending on your lifestyle and your child, you'll likely need to make an effort to utilize childproofing products, which can help you prevent potential injuries or death. Children on the move explore everything, and while nothing replaces adult supervision, any childproofing can be a significant help. Finding great edge guards and corner protectors can give you a leg up on keeping your little one safe from the potential head and eye injuries commonly sustained from falling into sharp edges and corners. We've tested many of the top-rated options to help you find the protection you need for most applications and budgets.