Edge Crush Tester – Corrugated Board & Carton Strength Testing

Strong and durable corrugated boxes are essential for safe packaging, storage, and transportation. An Edge Crush Tester (ECT) is a specialized testing instrument used to measure the edgewise compressive strength of corrugated board and cartons, helping manufacturers ensure packaging reliability and load-bearing performance.

What is an Edge Crush Tester?

An Edge Crush Tester determines how much force a corrugated board can withstand when pressure is applied to its edge. During testing, a sample is placed vertically between compression plates, and force is gradually applied until the sample collapses. The maximum load recorded indicates the edge crush strength of the material.

Importance of Edge Crush Strength Testing

Edge crush strength directly affects a carton’s stacking strength and its ability to protect products during transit. Weak boards may collapse under stacking loads, leading to product damage and financial loss. By using an Edge Crush Tester, manufacturers can optimize board grade, flute structure, and material selection to ensure consistent packaging performance.

Applications Across Industries

Edge Crush Testers are widely used in:

• Corrugated Board Manufacturing – quality control and grading
• Packaging Industry – cartons, boxes, and shipping containers
• E-commerce & Logistics – transit packaging validation
• Paper Testing & R&D Laboratories – material evaluation and development

These industries rely on accurate ECT values to design strong, cost-effective packaging solutions.

Key Features and Benefits

Modern Edge Crush Testers offer digital load measurement, stable compression platens, and user-friendly operation. Key benefits include:

• Accurate and repeatable edge crush strength results
• Compliance with ASTM, ISO, TAPPI, and FEFCO standards
• Improved carton design and material optimization
• Reduced packaging failures and transportation damage

Conclusion

An Edge Crush Tester for corrugated board and carton strength testing is an essential quality control tool for packaging manufacturers and laboratories. By measuring edgewise compressive strength, it ensures cartons meet performance requirements, providing safe, durable, and reliable packaging solutions.