Ideal Packaging Material: Corrugated Cardboard

August 2015 –The members of the Association of Cardboard Manufacturers saw their turnover in corrugated cardboard increase by well over 50 million m² between January and June 2015 compared to the same period last year. Analysts of the ‘Ceresana’ market research institute believe that demand for corrugated cardboard will continue to rise up to 2021.

A recent survey conducted on the importance of packaging made from carton, corrugated cardboard and solid board in European markets found that the output of corrugated cardboard packaging for foodstuffs and chemical products, in particular, is expected to rise in the near future. At present, the popularity of this material is primarily linked to the ever increasing popularity of e-commerce. As it is robust, light in weight and easy to stack, it is the ideal packaging material for merchandise ordered online. In view of its versatility, corrugated cardboard is also ideally suited as ‘shelf-ready packaging’ at the POS.

Fragile goods in particular, such as glass bottles, benefit from the protection that customised corrugated cardboard packaging offers. Be it wine, juices or sauces: innovative corrugated cardboard packing shields valuable products from external factors during transport.

The ‘STI Group’ has developed a special corrugated profile for ‘Zwiesel Kristallglas AG’ for the packaging of wine bottles. It is made from thinner paper with a thickness of about 2 mm, its properties are identical to the coarser E-corrugated profile to be replaced, and it requires about 20 percent less logistics volume. Some 600 customised units can be placed into the packing machine compared to 500 before. This in turn has a positive effect on the operational performance of the machine, as the machine’s containers need to be filled less frequently. Moreover, the quality of printed images on the packaging is greatly enhanced by the lower washboard effect of this new corrugated profile.

Wine is often dispatched in six packs. So-called multipacks connect the bottlenecks to form one unit. The customised glued corrugated cardboard units are tightly connected to each other and reduce material consumption by up to 10 percent compared to other rectangular cartons. Apart from the customer-friendly take-away effect, the broader surface renders itself for advertising brand messages or special promotions. The corrugated cardboard multipacks can be imprinted and/or varnished in monochrome or multi-coloured flexo or offset print with a matt or glossy finish.

Corrugated cardboard on the outside, a foil sleeve inside: this air-repelling vacuum packing method guarantees the shelf life of juices, sauces or liquid seasonings for weeks after the package was first opened. Light irradiation is repelled, sleeves and cartons can separately and in an environmentally-friendly manner be disposed of.