Product Knowledge
Corrugated Board ECT and FCT Explained
Learn what ECT and FCT mean in corrugated board testing and how buyers should use these metrics.
Quick Answer
ECT (Edge Crush Test) measures how much compressive force a corrugated board edge can withstand before crushing. FCT (Flat Crush Test) measures crushing resistance of the fluted medium itself. Both help buyers evaluate board strength, but ECT is more commonly used for carton stacking decisions.
What Is ECT?
ECT reflects the board's ability to resist vertical compression when cartons are stacked on pallets or in warehouses. Higher ECT generally means better stacking performance.
What Is FCT?
FCT focuses on the crush resistance of the corrugated medium. It is useful for evaluating flute quality and production consistency.
Why Buyers Should Care
Choosing board only by thickness or flute name is risky. ECT and FCT provide measurable strength references for procurement and quality control.
Typical Buyer Questions
What ECT is needed for my stacking height?
Does the supplier test every batch?
How does humidity affect ECT performance?
Is there a correlation between ECT and burst strength?
Practical Sourcing Advice
Share your product weight, pallet pattern, and storage environment with the supplier. Request ECT test reports or equivalent quality documents.
PackTrades Recommendation
Use ECT as a starting specification, then validate with a real stacking test using your filled cartons.