One of the biggest mistakes people make when talking about corrugated boxes is that they are cardboard boxes. Although they might look similar, they are quite different. A cardboard box is most often used with lightweight products, such as cereal boxes, coloured pencil packaging, board game containers, and more. A corrugated box, also called a corrugated fibreboard box, is used for things such as shipping, product displays, and other retail packaging. The corrugated style is used for many applications that require a lightweight but sturdy material.
1. Composition of a Corrugated Box
Corrugated fibreboard is made up of two components: linerboard and a thick paper medium. Linerboard is the flat, outside surface of the medium that adheres to it. Between the liners, the medium is the wavy, fluted paper. Both are constructed from a specific type of strong paper known as containerboard. Board strength varies according to the linerboard and medium combinations used.
Here is a quick look at the different types of compositions:
- Single face – the flutes are exposed, and a corrugated medium is glued to a single flat sheet linerboard.
- Single wall/Doubleface – two sheets of linerboard are used. The corrugated medium is then glued between the linerboard sheets.
- Double wall – there are three linerboards used and two corrugated mediums. They are stacked as follows: linerboard, corrugated medium, linerboard, corrugated medium, linerboard.
- Triple wall – set up the same way as a double wall, but four linerboards and three corrugated mediums are used.
2. Understanding Flutes
The corrugated board may be manufactured in a variety of flute profiles. Larger flute profiles often provide increased vertical compression strength and cushioning. For retail packaging, smaller flute profiles give increased structural and graphic capabilities.
Numerous flute profiles can be blended onto a single piece of composite board. A triplewall board, for example, may comprise one layer of A-flute medium and two layers of C-flute medium. Designers may alter the resulting board’s compression strength, cushioning strength, and overall thickness by combining flute profiles.
3. How Boxes Are Measured
When it comes to finding the size of the corrugated box, the dimensions should always be written in the following order: length, width, and depth. This order isn’t followed only when it comes to dividers, bin boxes, and book folds. In those cases, the order is as follows: width, length, then depth.
Generally, boxes are measured from the inside, with the measurements referring to the assembled box’s opening. The thickness of the corrugated board varies, so the inside dimensions are utilized to determine the dimensions. A box made of B flute will have different outside dimensions than a box made of E flute. When measuring the interior of an existing box, begin at the crushed fold line.
4. Different Box Styles
Most box types are classified as Slotted Boxes, Telescope Boxes, Folders, and Self-Erecting Boxes. Additionally, corrugated boxes can be customized to match the customer’s exact requirements.
- Slotted – made from one piece of corrugated fibreboard. For folding purposes, the fibreboard is slotted and scored.
- Telescope – this style has two boxes, a top and bottom piece that fit perfectly over each other
- Self-Erecting – use a telescope-style top or a regular slotted container. The top folds over but is considered a one-piece box rather than two.
- Folders – uses one or more pieces of a combined board. The bottom piece is unbroken but is scored to allow for folding the box around the product.
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