SCA Packaging Product Knowledge Programme

European Technical Training Programme

Corrugated Glossary A - Z

A-Flute: A-Flute, the original flute, is the highest flute size, and therefore, when combined with an inner and outer facing, is the thickest. It is sometimes also known as coarse flute. Adhesive: Material capable of adhering one surface to another. As used in connection with fibre boxes, a material to glue facings to corrugating medium in combined corrugated board, to glue to overlapping sides of a box forming the manufacturers joint, or to glue the flaps in closing a slotted box. B-Flute: B-Flute, the second flute size adopted by the corrugated industry, has lower arch heights than A and more flutes per metre. This means that the medium contacts and supports the liners at a greater number of points, providing a stiff, flat surface for high quality printing and die cutting and with excellent crush resistant properties. B-Flute is also preferred for high speed, automatic packing lines and for pads, dividers, partitions and other forms of inner packing. Complex die cuts and beverage trays are excellent applications for B-Flute as are can cases, wrap-around blanks, glass-to-glass packs and slipsheets. B-Flute is generally combined with light weight liners but can be used with heavier facings if the need arises. Box Compression Test (BCT) Strength test. The maximum loading before collapse. Box Makers Certificate (BMC): A statement printed on a corrugated fibreboard box or a solid fibreboard box testifying that all applicable container board requirements of the carriers have been observed. It identifies and locates the box maker. Brightness: This is a measure of the percentage of light reflected by containerboard paper. It is compared to the amount reflected by a known standard which has a brightness of 100. Improved (higher) brightness is normally desirable in producing containers with visual appeal. Bursting Strength: The strength of a material expressed in pounds per square inch as measured by the Mullen tester. Cardboard: Common term used by those outside the corrugated fibreboard industry for the products we make. C-Flute: C-Flute came along next to split the difference between A and B Flutes. Its thinner than A-flute, thicker than B, and offers good cushioning, stacking and printing properties. C-Flute is by far the most widely used flute size. This is also called coase flute. Clay Coated Paper: Outside liner paper made with a layer of clay or latex coating on top of the fibres to give a very smooth finish ideal for high quality printing. Containerboard: A collective term used to describe its two components: linerboard and corrugating medium. Think of it as a sandwich. The liner is the bread on both sides and the wavy bit in the middle is the medium that gives the container strength. Corrugator: The machine that actually makes the corrugated board from fluting and liner papers. Corrugating Medium: Paper used to form the fluted portion of the corrugated board. DCC: Die Cut Container. Die Cutting: Cuts and scores formed on corrugated sheets with a steel rule die like a biscut cutter, cutting out biscuit shapes. Double wall board: A board comprising liner - fluting - liner - fluting - liner Drop Test A test for severe shock forces on filled cases. Dry End: The end of the corrugator that cuts, slits, scores and stacks the manufactured corrugated boards. E-Flute: has a very high number of flutes per metre which gives it the greatest crush resistance and the flattest surface for high quality printing applications. The thin board profile of E-Flute (it is one-fourth the thickness of CFlute) reduces box size and saves storage space. Because of its thin profile and excellent cushioning properties, E-Flute can often substitute for conventional folding cartons or solid fiber containers. E flute gives good graphics and product protection. Also sometimes known as extra fine flute. Edge Crush Test (ECT): ECT is the edgewise compressive strength, parallel to the flutes of a short column of corrugated fibreboard. Test results are reported as the force required to cause compressive failure. ECT correlates directly to box compression strength. F flute: Fluting of height 0.75mm, also known as micro flute or N flute. Flat Crush Test (FCT): A test used to determine the strength of the flutes under pressure applied to the flat surface of the board.
Copyright SCA Packaging: V5-Eu-Ho.PM6 Overall page number: 66

SCA Packaging Product Knowledge Programme

European Technical Training Programme

Corrugated Glossary A - Z

Flexographic: A type of printing process. The machine may also slot, fold and glue to produce a finished case Flute: A single ridge in the fluting medium or a single ridge on the corrugator roll. Fluting: Paper that has been formed into the flutes that make up the ridged part of the corrugated board between the liners. Flute Profile: The shape of the corrugations made into the fluting paper. F-Flute: also known as micro flute or N flute. It is just a little more than half the thickness of E-Flute and is the newest growth segment in the corrugated industry. Facings (or Liners): A form of linerboard used as the flat constituents of a corrugated fibreboard sheet. Fibre or Fibreboard Box: A container made of either corrugated or solid fibreboard. Flat Crush: A measure of the resistance of the flutes in corrugated board to a crushing force applied perpendicular to the surface of the board. Flute or Corrugation: One of the wave or arch shapes formed in the corrugated medium. There are A, B, C, E, & N. Expressed in flutes per meter of corrugated fibreboard. Kraft: This term refers to unbleached linerboardmade from virgin softwood pulp. Liner: The paper used on either the inside or outside of the corrugated pack or board. Manufacturers Joint: Where the boxmaker joins the box together by taping, stitching or gluing. Mullen Test: A measure of burst test that indicates the ability of the pack to contain products. Increasingly, attention is turning away from bursting strength to a measurement of packaging performance called ECT. Multi-ply papers: paper made from a number of layers of pulped fibres. Newton: A unit of force. 1kg exerts a down force of 9.81 newtons. N flute: also known as micro flute or F flute. It is just a little more than half the thickness of E-Flute and is the newest growth segment in the corrugated industry. Porosity: A measure of the time in seconds required to pass 100 cubic centimeters of air through paper lt is measured by the Gurley Desimeter. Porosity has some affect on the glue ability and print ability of linerboard, as well as the ability of the box to be set up by case-erecting equipment using vacuum cups. Puncture Test: The strength of material by the Beach puncture tester. Recycles Liners: Recycled paper used to make the inside or outside of the corrugated baord. Ring Crush: This test is used to measure the edgewise compression strength of linerboard or corrugating medium. A long sample strip of board is placed in a circular holder and compression force is applied to the edge of the ring of containerboard. RSC: Regular Slotted Container or, Fefco 0201 or, ordinary box. SCA Packaging: Europe's leading corrugated packaging manufacturer. See www.sca.se Score: A creased in corrugated board to permit folding. Seam: Where two flaps meet. Shipping Container: A container which is sufficiently strong to be used in commerce for packing, storing and shipping products. Single Face: One piece of corrugated fluting glued to one liner. Single Wall: One corrugated flute glued between two liners. Stacking Strength: ECT has become especially important to many buyers and makers of shipping containers because in their distribution environment, stacking strength is essential. If your concern is for a package that holds up well under a stacking load, your focus may need to be on ECT for stacking strength rather than bursting strength for containability. Stitching: Closing the manufacturers joint with stitches of metal wire. Vibration Test: A test to measure persistent shaking forces on filled cases. Warp: The curve of a non-flat board. Wet End: The part of the corrugator where the fluting paper is corrugated and glued to the inside liner. Wrap Around Blank: A scored and slotted sheet that is machine assembled around a product to make a finished box.
Copyright SCA Packaging: V5-Eu-Ho.PM6 Overall page number: 67