Hercule Industrial logoHercule Industrial
1 / 3

ECMA F80.41.00.00

Easel Back Display Strut

  • Available in a wide range of custom configurations & material selection.
  • Order 1 sample. Or order 100K+ units. Or anything in between.
  • Affordable delivery across North America.
  • Design support, warehousing, testing, assembly available.
  • Widest machinery capability in America via 30+ specialist partner plants.
Get pricing

Best Price Guarantee

Already have a packaging quote? Let us beat it.

Send us the quote you have. We will beat it for the same specifications, quantity, and delivery requirements.

Upload a competing quote

Free quote review. No obligation.

30+specialist partner plants

We supply through the plant best suited to your price, material, production, and delivery requirements.

Why we can beat a lower quote

30+ plants give us more ways to lower the price.

Each plant has different machinery, material costs, order minimums, and freight rates. Our buying volume helps us secure better pricing. We then quote through the plant that gives you the lowest total price for your requirements.

Send us your current quote. Watch us beat it.

Attach it to the quote form or email it to us. We'll review it free and send you our price.

Upload a competing quoteinfo@herculeindustrial.com
Best Price Guarantee terms

To qualify, send a written supplier quote dated within the past 30 days and addressed to your company. It must cover the same dimensions, construction, material, print, finish, quantity, tooling, freight, delivery date, and delivery location. The guarantee does not cover taxes, expired quotes, liquidation or clearance sales, or obvious pricing errors.

Free white-glove consultations. Blazing-fast response time. Fast quotes.

Product details

Top highlights

  • Flat-packing auxiliary support for counter cards and retail signs
  • Integrated locking tab prevents the display from collapsing
  • Requires double-sided tape or adhesive for mounting

About this product

This one-piece auxiliary component attaches to the back of flat retail cards, signs, or promotional boards to create a freestanding display. Delivered flat, it features a central vertical hinge and a die-cut locking tab that wedges the strut open at a fixed angle.

Often called an easel back or display strut, it is typically pre-taped or glued to the primary display board by the converter, allowing retail staff to set up the display with a single folding motion.

Common uses

  • Point-of-sale counter cards
  • Freestanding promotional boards
  • Photo frames
  • Temporary retail signage

Get a quote

Share what you know. We'll take it from there. Or email us at info@herculeindustrial.com

Best Price Guarantee

Already have a packaging quote? Let us beat it.

Send us the quote you have. We will beat it for the same specifications, quantity, and delivery requirements.

Upload a competing quote

Free quote review. No obligation.

30+specialist partner plants

We supply through the plant best suited to your price, material, production, and delivery requirements.

Why we can beat a lower quote

30+ plants give us more ways to lower the price.

Each plant has different machinery, material costs, order minimums, and freight rates. Our buying volume helps us secure better pricing. We then quote through the plant that gives you the lowest total price for your requirements.

Send us your current quote. Watch us beat it.

Attach it to the quote form or email it to us. We'll review it free and send you our price.

Upload a competing quoteinfo@herculeindustrial.com
Best Price Guarantee terms

To qualify, send a written supplier quote dated within the past 30 days and addressed to your company. It must cover the same dimensions, construction, material, print, finish, quantity, tooling, freight, delivery date, and delivery location. The guarantee does not cover taxes, expired quotes, liquidation or clearance sales, or obvious pricing errors.

Files or competing quote (optional)
Optional

More details

You can skip this whole part, or open a section and answer only what you know.

Size and quantity
Units
Materials and print
Add details for paperboard preference
Add details for print and artwork
Current box or specs
Add details for do you have a current box, spec, or target sample?

Retail and promotional display uses

Countertop point-of-sale displays

Supports lightweight promotional cards near registers and checkout areas. The strut remains hidden behind the primary graphic.

Freestanding floor signs

Scales up with heavier corrugated board to prop up larger directional or promotional signage in retail aisles.

Photo and art frames

Provides a low-cost, flat-packing stand for temporary or lightweight framed items.

Tabletop menu boards

Holds temporary menus or pricing notices upright on flat surfaces, allowing quick replacement of the front card.

Merchandising and fulfillment situations

Retail marketing

Needs displays that ship flat to stores and can be erected by staff in seconds without tools or complex instructions.

Kitting and fulfillment

Benefits from a component that adds almost no volumetric weight when packed flat alongside the primary display board.

Trade show and event promotions

Requires lightweight, disposable signage supports that travel easily and set up quickly on event tables.

When to compare other display supports

Heavy load-bearing displays

If the display needs to hold heavy product shelves, a fully structural corrugated base or multi-part stand is safer than a single rear strut.

Self-standing folders

If the display graphic and the stand should be a single piece of board, consider an integrated tent card or folder instead of a separate glued strut.

Board stiffness, attachment, and friction choices

Board stiffness and caliper

The strut must provide enough column strength to prevent the display from bowing. Thin folding boxboard works for small counter cards, while taller signs require rigid corrugated board with vertical flute direction.

Attachment method

Decide whether the converter will apply double-sided tape to the mounting panel before shipping, or if wet glue will be used during a separate assembly step.

Locking friction

The die-cut tab relies on friction to stay locked. If you change to a thicker board, the CAD clearances around the locking notch must be adjusted so the tab does not bind or tear.

Strut height and center of gravity

The strut must be tall enough to support the upper half of the display board without tipping backward, usually extending at least two-thirds up the back of the sign.

Height, taper, and base angle adjustments

Height and taper

The overall height and the angle of the sloping side can be adjusted to match the footprint and center of gravity of the primary display.

Tab position

The vertical placement of the locking stud can be moved higher or lower depending on where the display needs the most rigid support.

Base angle for tilted displays

The bottom edge of the strut can be angled so the primary display leans backward slightly for better visibility on low counters.

Board and packing details

Nesting and material waste

The trapezoidal shape of the strut allows for efficient head-to-tail nesting during die-cutting, reducing material waste.

Locking tab and stud variants

Semi-circular vs. tapered stud

The standard F80.41.00.00 uses a semi-circular locking tab with a V-notch. The F80.41.00.00.a variant uses a tapered, triangular stud that can offer a different friction fit or insertion profile depending on the board grade.

Additional notes

Grain and flute direction

For maximum column strength, the paper grain or corrugated flutes must run parallel to the central vertical hinge. Horizontal flutes will cause the strut to buckle easily.

Related display and support packaging

F80.52.00.00: Folder

A self-standing folded structure that can act as both the display surface and the base.

FAQs

Mounting and assembly

How is the strut attached to the display board?

It is typically attached using double-sided tape or liquid adhesive applied to the flat mounting panel (the left side of the vertical hinge). Converters often apply peel-and-stick tape before shipping so retail staff can easily attach the strut.

How does the strut lock in the open position?

When the unglued half is pulled away from the display, a die-cut tab in the center folds down horizontally. A small notch on this tab catches against the vertical panel, wedging the strut open at a fixed angle.

Materials and strength

What board grade should I use for an easel back?

It depends entirely on the size and weight of the display. Small counter cards can use standard folding boxboard. Taller floor signs require stiff corrugated board with the flutes running vertically to prevent the strut from buckling under the display's weight.

Can the locking tab fail if the board is too thick?

The locking notch is designed for a specific material thickness. If you switch to a heavier corrugated board without adjusting the template, the tab may bind, crush, or fail to lock securely. The cut-out clearances must be updated for the chosen material.

Printing

Are display struts usually printed?

Most easel backs remain unprinted because they are hidden behind the primary display. However, they can be printed if the back of the display will be visible to customers.

Shipping

How are these delivered?

They are die-cut and delivered completely flat. They can be shipped in bulk to a fulfillment center, or pre-taped to the display boards so the entire unit ships flat to the retail store.

Design and fit

How tall should the strut be compared to the display?

A common guideline is for the strut to reach at least two-thirds of the way up the display board. If the strut is too short, the top of the display may bend backward or tip over.

Can the display angle be adjusted?

The angle is fixed by the length of the locking tab and the base cut. If you need the display to lean further back, the template's base angle and tab length must be modified before cutting.