Edge Damage: When Logistics Undermines Coating Performance

Your coating is perfect. Caliper is in spec. Release force is clean. But once the rolls reach the converter, they misfeed. Edges fray. Dust appears. Labels curl.

What happened?
In many cases, the problem didn’t start in coating. It started at the warehouse dock.

Edge damage is one of the most overlooked sources of failure in release liner systems. And it doesn’t take much:
– A roll dropped 3 cm on its edge
– A forklift turning too tight
– A roll stored sideways against a concrete wall
– Manual handling without edge protectors

This damage leads to:
– Liner breaks in high-speed lines
– Curl and flatness distortions at splice zones
– Particulate contamination from crushed edge fibers
– Poor tension control and inconsistent peel
– PET liners are more forgiving—but glassine and CCK are especially sensitive to sidewall compression and shear.

How to prevent it:
– Use rigid edge protectors in transit and storage
– Store rolls vertically with core plugs, not on their sides
– Use carts or lifts that don’t compress the edge during transfer
– Clearly mark no-contact zones on stored inventory
– Reject rolls with crushed edges, even if surface looks perfect

You can’t rewind a crushed edge.

Are your liners protected only in production—or also in the truck?