Being one of the star materials in the world of packaging, cardboard or corrugated paper is currently essential in packaging. From its use in product wrappers of well-known brands or the shipments of your ecommerce purchases, to that box with belongings that you used for the move. In all these cases, this material is used. But what are the reasons for its success?
Let’s see in principle, what is corrugated cardboard?
It is a type of cardboard that is designed and made differently from regular cardboards, with an inner liner or paper, an outer liner and a corrugated sheet in the middle. This makes it a sturdy material that can withstand enough weight and stress.
By manufacturing it in this way, with a wavy material between two coatings, it results in an enormous amount of benefits. From a high resistance in various scenarios, to economic savings when looking for more versatile materials.
Benefits for packaging
- Corrugated paper can withstand a high weight without tearing its fibers.This is due to the compressive strength that this material can withstand.
- Also, thanks to this resistance, it has greatly reduced the breakdowns that may suffer the products that are transported with boxes made of this material.
- It can protect its interior very well from very high or very low temperatures, since the superimposed sheets isolate from the external cold and in the case of heat the tubular structures of the corrugated can act as a radiator for the interior, passing the air between them.
- It is easy to handle when making a box of specific dimensions, unlike other materials.
- Ideal if you want to make personalized boxes.
- The boxes of this material are very economical, becoming a point in favor for companies.
- Due to the ease of its preparation, it is a material that will always have availability, that is, you can always find a manufacturer of corrugated cardboard boxes with good stock.
- It is friendly to the environment. This is because a certain amount of corrugated cardboard can be recovered and reused, since when it has contact with certain organic materials, it can degrade very quickly.
- In accordance with the previous point, it is a biodegradable material.
How to know what type of corrugated cardboard to use for packaging?
Corrugated cardboard is a material that obviously has different properties, which can be potentiated according to the different types of cardboard. How do you know which one to use?
1. Simple
It is the most flexible of all but, at the same time, the most fragile. It consists of a single smooth sheet, adhered to a corrugated sheet, the latter being visible. It is ideal for internal packaging, in those cases where the objects inside should not be touched.
2. Single wall
It is the best known, as it is the typical wavy sheet, covered by two smooth sheets on each side. Virtually all simple packaging boxes are made of this material.
3. Dual channel
It can be recognized by its wavy double face. In itself, it is made up of 5 panels, since they are 3 smooth sheets and two corrugated, glued together. They are still used to make boxes, but they are not very flexible, although highly resistant, and a little more expensive.
Is it only for packing or making boxes?
Because of all the properties and benefits of packing something with corrugated paper, its versatility has been tried and tested. It is for this reason that its use has spread, for example, for insulation. Look at some uses they have, besides being the raw material of packaging boxes:
Corrugated cardboard to protect floors
During the construction stage of a masonry work, sheets of corrugated cardboard are used to protect the floor. Although it is a material with a slightly higher resistance than those used for boxes, the principle of elaboration is the same (two sheets separated by a wavy). Its use has spread a lot, since it maintains its integrity for weeks even with the high activity of a construction.
Corrugated paper rolls
The packaging not only adheres to the use of boxes, but also of sheets that can wrap objects. Again, it is its resistance to impacts and tears that make it ideal for packing objects for transport.
Corrugated cardboard sheets
As well as the rolls and, in general, to take advantage of the properties of this material, its presentation in sheets make it ideal for protecting objects. In this case, it is used to divide objects that may otherwise be damaged if they touch each other.
Example of this property: in a box where glass objects are packed, it can not only prevent them from touching and consequently fracturing. In addition, thanks to its flexibility, if the cardboard is cut and molded, these fragile objects can be completely immobilized.
As you could see, corrugated cardboard is very diversified in packaging logistics. If you need a sturdy material, you have a double-sided corrugated; But if you need something very flexible, it will be simple face. That is why it has displaced other materials such as plastic or wood. Even if you notice, right now you have a box of this material near you.
Sources
https://hexabox.mx/que-tanta-resistencia-tiene-el-carton/
https://es.linkedin.com/pulse/lo-que-desconociamos-sobre-la-resistencia-del-carton-tarin-segura
https://cartonparaprotegerpisos.com/
https://cartonparaprotegerpisos.com/
https://peleteriamanuela.com/carton-corrugado/
https://www.corrugadosandina.com.co/por-que-los-empaques-de-carton-son-tan-populares