Corrugated cardboard
Why you should purchase your corrugated cardboard from THIMM: The company started its own corrugated cardboard production back in 1959. Today we produce the optimum corrugated cardboard for your requirements at many of our different locations.
Corrugated cardboard is a very natural and sustainable product
Raw paper and glue are used in the production of corrugated board. Corrugated board is completely recyclable. The papers we use consist mainly of 100 % recycled material. For special requirements, we also use papers with up to 100 % fresh fibre, which are produced from broken and thinned wood from sustainably managed forests. Corrugated cardboard consists exclusively of renewable raw materials and can be easily recycled. This means that corrugated cardboard is a valuable ecological recyclable product and packaging made from corrugated cardboard is environmentally-friendly and sustainable.
There are also no long transportation routes for distribution and recycling, as the German corrugated cardboard industry is based on regional, medium-sized structures.
We are independent when it comes to purchasing our raw materials for producing corrugated cardboard. As a result, we have continuously expanded our range of materials over the last few years, creating a number of completely new corrugated cardboard boxes and displays for you.
What are the advantages of corrugated board?
The German Association of Corrugated Board Makers (VDW) summarises the ten ecological benefits of corrugated cardboard:
- Corrugated cardboard is mainly made from renewable recycling materials. Fresh components are obtained from naturally renewable raw materials.
- Trees convert CO2 into oxygen and carbon, which makes them an environmentally-friendly basis for corrugated cardboard.
- The CO2e-emissions of corrugated cardboard improved by 11 % between 2015 and 2018.
- In Germany corrugated cardboard is almost fully recycled. The return ratio for corrugated cardboard is over 90 %.
- The corrugated cardboard materials cycle is exemplary in its functionality.
- Corrugated cardboard consists primarily of recycled papers.
- Even after about 20 recycling cycles corrugated cardboard is still a valuable substance.
- Corrugated cardboard introduces extremely good fibres into the paper cycle.
- Corrugated cardboard is well received by consumers.
- Corrugated cardboard can replace plastic packaging in many cases.
From the raw material to corrugated cardboard
The basic raw material used in the production of corrugated cardboard is corrugated cardboard raw paper. In Germany, this paper is made primarily of recycled paper, with a certain percentage of fresh fibres and starch glue. The paper is heated and moistened with steam. It is then passed through two gear-like, interlocking grooved rollers while pressurised and heated. In a manner of speaking, the corrugation is “ironed” into the paper. After that, the rills are coated in starch glue. Finally, press rollers are used to glue smooth paper to either side of the corrugated layer.
The finished corrugated cardboard is dried and cut into sheets. The corrugated cardboard die-cuts are then processed in the machinery to produce the packaging. Then the corrugated cardboard die-cuts can be printed using direct printing technology.
Overview of the different types of corrugated cardboard
The corrugated cardboard industry uses a range of different types of corrugated cardboard:
- Single-faced corrugated cardboard consists of one liner and one flute
- Single-fluted corrugated cardboard, for example B-flute, consists of three paper webs
- Double-walled corrugated cardboard or double flute: for example BC-flute
- Multi-fluted corrugated cardboard
There are also special features such as in corrugated cardboard for food contact. This corrugated cardboard is made with 100 percent fresh fibres.
The different types of corrugated cardboard are combined from paper types, grammages and flute heights. Corrugated cardboard is differentiated according to the flute heights:
- F-flute with a flute height of 0.6 to 0.9 mm
- E-flute with a flute height of 1.0 to 1.8 mm
- T-flute with a flute height of 1.7 mm
- B-flute with a flute height of 2.2 to 3.0 mm
- C-flute with a flute height of 3.1 to 3.9 mm
- A-flute with a flute height of 4.0 to 5.0 mm
- FE-flute with a flute height of 1.6 to 2.7 mm
- EE-flute with a flute height of 2.7 to 3.2 mm
- BE-flute/EB-flute with a flute height of 3.2 to 4.8 mm
- BC-flute with a flute height of 5.3 to 6.9 mm
- CAA-flute with a flute height of 11.1 to 13.9 mm
Use of F-flute
The F-flute is fine and delicate and has many advantages. In contrast to the E-flute, the F-flute saves transport and logistics costs. In the food packaging sector, F-flute with a proper coating can replace aluminium and plastic packaging. In contrast to solid board, it has a higher torsional rigidity with the same specific area weight. In combination with FE-flute, it can also be used as efficient transportation and shelf-ready packaging.
You can find more information about the F-flute here.
Corrugated cardboard raw paper: what are the differences?
Paper is the most important raw material for THIMM Group. We procure raw paper and print these paper rolls for further industrial processing. We also produce corrugated cardboard sheets and corrugated cardboard packaging.
What’s the difference between kraftliner and testliner?
Kraftliner is paper manufactured from coniferous woods, and is made up of at least 80 percent fresh fibres. Kraftliner paper makes very stable and firm corrugated cardboard raw paper.
Testliner is recycled paper. Unlike kraftliner it is made of 100 percent of waste paper. Testliner paper is generally of lower quality than kraftliner paper.
We almost exclusively procure the corrugated cardboard raw paper we use from suppliers who as a minimum are certified according to the Controlled Wood or the FSC® standard. The FSC® label (FSC® = Forest Stewardship Council®) is a worldwide recognised certification. For our customers, this means transparency along all processing phases of the paper supply chain.
About three quarters of our corrugated cardboard raw paper originates in Germany. We purchase the remainder from Scandinavia and Southern and Eastern Europe. Due to our high supply needs we can aggregate these into shiploads and achieve a more environmentally- friendly delivery than by HGV. The substitution of fresh fibre papers with products based on waste paper and the reduction of paper grammages are the most important developments in the market at the moment.
Since 2015 we have been offering our customers the “Starliner white” paper type which is a fresh fibre substitute which can also enable high-grade printing. We also have two modified paper types based on recycled paper which are alternatives with lower grammages.
Which is the best corrugated cardboard for your packaging needs?
The right type of corrugated cardboard depends on packaging requirements. For example, a specific packaging unit for engines for industry must be able to withstand different requirements to FMCG packaging. Therefore, packaging developers combine all the relevant information about the product and intended use when selecting the corrugated cardboard the packaging development. As well as a simple corrugated cardboard box, we will be pleased to give you more information about intelligent shelf-ready packaging solutions or transportation boxes. You can also obtain displays and special designs made from cardboard direct from the manufacturer.
Please contact us - we will be pleased to advise you about cardboard and our experts will know what the right solution is to meet your needs.
