Heavy duty packaging

Heavy-duty packaging is any form of cardboard packaging used for safely transporting heavy, bulky or expensive items. It usually uses a double or triple-wall corrugated material but can also incorporate wood, foam, films and pallets. Heavy-duty packaging using multiple materials is also referred to as composite packaging.

Heavy-duty packaging typically uses a double or triple-wall cardboard material. However, adding foam, timber frames, wooden pallets, barrier films, bags and even specialist coatings to heavy-duty packaging can provide specific levels of protection and performance.

Heavy-duty cardboard is often called double wall or triple wall. These materials use two (double wall) or three (triple wall) layers of corrugated paper in their construction, proving increased strength compared to single wall material.

Most double or triple-walled cardboard (i.e., has more than one layer of fluting) is deemed heavy duty. However, the weight (GSM) of the papers used in producing the corrugated board can also be varied to achieve different strengths.

Triple wall cardboard, such as Tri-Wall or Tri-Mite, is widely regarded as the strongest type of cardboard. It can provide strength and compression resistance similar to timber cases but is considerably lighter and easier to recycle.

Composite packaging combines different materials to achieve a bespoke level of protection for a specific product, part or equipment. The most common type of composite packaging uses a combination of corrugated cardboard, foam, and timber. Composite packaging is popular in the manufacturing, medical, aerospace and industrial sectors.