Part One
“Cardboard” boxes are actually made of corrugated fiberboard, or corrugated board. It’s made by combining two sheets of paper (called liners) that are glued to a corrugated inner medium called fluting. Once assembled, these three layers of paper give the overall structure a durable strength.
The corrugated medium and linerboard are made of paperboard, a paper-like material usually over ten mils (0.010 inch, or 0.25 mm) thick. Although paperboard and corrugated fiberboard are sometimes called “cardboard,” cardboard might be any heavy paper-pulp based board.
Corrugated board is formed by a corrugator. Slots are die-cut into the board to provide flaps; scores or perfs are die-cut to allow folding. The box joint is usually secured with adhesive. Tape or stitches may also be used.
The advanced “Flexo Folder Gluer” prints, cuts, folds, and glues flat sheets of board in one single pass at speeds up to 26,000 boxes per hour; about 433 per minute.
The box is shipped flat (knocked down) to the packager who sets up the box, fills it, and closes it for shipment. Box closure may be by tape, adhesive, staples, strapping, etc. Some boxes are specifically designed to be self-sealing.
Box styles
Boxes are identified one of three ways: Name, acronym or 4-digit number. Industry professionals prefer to use the acronym rather than the style number.
The most common box style is given the name Regular Slotted Container. It’s acronym is RSC. It’s number is 0201.
Boxes are grouped by style into categories. The first two digits of a box’s number identify its category.
The six most common categories are:
• 02 series: Slotted boxes (most common)
• 03 series: Telescope boxes
• 04 series: Folders
• 06 series: Rigid boxes (or bliss boxes)
• 07 series: Self-erecting boxes
• 09 series: Interior forms
The categories were developed for universal communication. This numerical code system is called the “International Fiberboard Case Code.” It was developed by the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO) in cooperation with the European Solid Board Organisation (ESBO).
The first two digits, “02,” identify the RSC in the “slotted container” category. The last two digits, “01,” identify the RSC’s specific box style.
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