VBoard® stabilizes pallet loads by helping to ensure even weight distribution.

It is common to see pallets where the bottom tier of cartons is collapsing under the weight of the rest of the pallet, due to high humidity or temperature, double stacking or poor packaging techniques.

The use of VBoard in combination with pre-stretched film will relieve some of the weight bearing down on the bottom layer or tier of cartons. This promotes even weight distribution, reducing carton compression while increasing stacking strength. Here is how it works.

Stretch film is made from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), a common film that has excellent rubber band characteristics. After it is stretched and applied to the pallet, this film, because of its memory, attempts to return to its original length. This creates an even tension around all four corners of the pallet as the film “creeps” tighter. As this occurs, the pallet load stays tight and actually gets tighter over time.

If four pieces of VBoard are applied prior to the stretch-wrapping process, they will tighten around the pallet load as the film creeps tighter. This allows the film and VBoard combination to partially hold the weight of the upper tiers of boxes from bearing down on the lower tiers of boxes. Please note that this is only effective when a stretch-wrapping machine with a pre-stretch device of at least 240 percent is used. Hand stretching does not put enough tension on the pallet load.

In fact, if you were to set this up, then cut the film horizontally and remove one layer of the boxes in the center of a pallet load with boxes of similar weight, the top layer would not fall. But without the edge protectors, the film would not have the rigidity and stiffness to suspend the top layer.

For applications where stretch film is already being applied by a stretch-wrapping machine, VBoard is the ideal packaging solution. Not only does adding VBoard to this packaging mix provide essential edge protection, it also provides the support needed to ensure load stabilization and stacking strength, saving manufacturers and distributors unnecessary costs spent on product damage.