Packaging 101 - a Glossary of Terms

Corrugated is the ultimate in flexible packaging material. Ninety (90) percent of all goods shipped to market are packaged in corrugated. There are many standard styles (some listed below) and there is also an unending array of custom designed packaging products.

In order to better inform our customers about their packaging needs, we have included this glossary of corrugated terms.

Choose a term from the drop-down list »

	Box Structure Architects have known for thousands of years that an arch with the proper curve is the strongest way to span a given space. The inventors of corrugated fiberboard applied this same principle to paper when they put arches in the corrugated medium. These arches are known as flutes and when anchored to the linerboard with a starch-based adhesive, they resist bending and pressure from all directions.
	Custom Packaging Solution A container system that includes both the outside container and frequently inner packaging of different materials to protect the product. If well designed, it is both highly functional and economical.
	Corrugated, or Combined, Fiberboard has two main components: the linerboard and the medium. Both are made of a special kind of heavy paper called containerboard. Linerboard is the flat facing that adheres to the medium. The medium is the wavy, fluted paper in between the liners. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Single Face One medium is glued to one flat sheet of linerboard. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Single Wall or Double-Faced The medium is between two sheets of linerboard. Also known as Double Face. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Double Wall Threesheets of linerboard with two mediums in between. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Triple Wall Four sheets of linerboard with three mediums in between. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Flutes The wavy paper, or medium, adhered with a starch composition and heat to the liner(s). \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Flute Sizes Flutes come in several standard shapes or flute profiles (A, B, C, E, F, etc.). A-flute was the first to be developed and is the largest common flute profile. B-flute was next and is much smaller. C-flute followed and is between A and B in size. E-flute is smaller than B and F-flute is smaller yet. Generally the larger flute profiles give greater vertical strength and cushioning. The smaller flutes help enhance graphic capabilities while providing greater structural integrity. Different flute profiles can be combined in one piece of combined board. For instance, a doublewall board can use a B-C flute combination. By experimenting with flute profiles, our designers can vary compression strength, cushioning strength and thickness. We currently convert all these flutes in our facility! \|TOP of PAGE\|
	SCORING a machine-made depression in the box blank to aid in folding the box into its shape. SCORING ALLOWANCES The thickness of the corrugated sheet must be taken into account when figuring out where to place scores. A score made on the surface of corrugated sheet will penetrate to the middle of the sheet when the sheet is folded. This means half the thickness of the corrugated sheet hangs to the inside of the box, effectively reducing the inside dimensions by that amount. Scoring Allowances are critical to proper box measuring. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	PARTITION made from a variety of media, slotted strips are fitted together to form cells, into which product can be placed and kept apart from product in other cells. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	BUILD-UPS Laminated layers of corrugated pads for special thick cushioning or filler purposes. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	HONEYCOMB BOARD Continuous hexagonal cells faced with kraft paper. Strong and economical core material used for inner packing. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	CORNERBOARD Made of heavy kraft paper glued in layers. Are used to stabilize strapped or stretch wrapped loads, provides additional support when double stacking, eliminates shifting loads, protects products in storage and during shipping.\|TOP of PAGE\|
	DIE CUT Involves creating a die to stamp items from plain or printed sheet stock. Unique designs; angular, circular, or other unusual cuts, slots, scores, perforations and embossing can be made many times from stock with a die-board. The most common uses of die cutting are to create displays, mailers or interior packaging pieces that hold item in place during shipping. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	CHIPBOARD Plain Chipboard - A low-cost, non-bending chipboard made of recycled materials. Not suitable for printing, often used for divider pads and setup boxes. WVLC - White Vat Lined Chip, or "white vat"- Plain chip made with a layer of white paper on one side. Used for setup boxes where a white interior is desired. Generally not suitable for printing. DKL - Double Kraft Lined Bending Chip, or "double kraft", has a layer of recycled kraft fibers on both surfaces for additional strength and resistance to cracking when creased. Double kraft is generally used for folding cartons in commercial/industrial applications. It has a printable surface but is not well-suited for multi-color print jobs. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	STOCK BOX (CARTON) Some box sizes are used so frequently, we manufacture enough to keep in stock at our warehouse. Typically RSC style boxes, they are ready when you need them! \|TOP of PAGE\|
	ULTRASONIC WELDING Ultrasonic plastic welding is the joining or reforming of thermoplastics through the use of heat generated from high-frequency electrical energy into high-frequency mechanical motion. That mechanical motion, along with applied force, creates frictional heat at the plastic component's mating surfaces (joint area) so the plastic material will melt and form a molecular bond between the parts. Once the melted plastic has solidified, the two plastic parts are now joined as if molded together. Ultrasonic welding of plastic is fast, clean, efficient, and a repeatable process that consumes very little energy. No solvents, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, or other consumables are required and the finished assemblies are strong and clean.

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	Box Structure Architects have known for thousands of years that an arch with the proper curve is the strongest way to span a given space. The inventors of corrugated fiberboard applied this same principle to paper when they put arches in the corrugated medium. These arches are known as flutes and when anchored to the linerboard with a starch-based adhesive, they resist bending and pressure from all directions.
	Custom Packaging Solution A container system that includes both the outside container and frequently inner packaging of different materials to protect the product. If well designed, it is both highly functional and economical.
	Corrugated, or Combined, Fiberboard has two main components: the linerboard and the medium. Both are made of a special kind of heavy paper called containerboard. Linerboard is the flat facing that adheres to the medium. The medium is the wavy, fluted paper in between the liners. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Single Face One medium is glued to one flat sheet of linerboard. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Single Wall or Double-Faced The medium is between two sheets of linerboard. Also known as Double Face. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Double Wall Threesheets of linerboard with two mediums in between. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Triple Wall Four sheets of linerboard with three mediums in between. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Flutes The wavy paper, or medium, adhered with a starch composition and heat to the liner(s). \|TOP of PAGE\|
	Flute Sizes Flutes come in several standard shapes or flute profiles (A, B, C, E, F, etc.). A-flute was the first to be developed and is the largest common flute profile. B-flute was next and is much smaller. C-flute followed and is between A and B in size. E-flute is smaller than B and F-flute is smaller yet. Generally the larger flute profiles give greater vertical strength and cushioning. The smaller flutes help enhance graphic capabilities while providing greater structural integrity. Different flute profiles can be combined in one piece of combined board. For instance, a doublewall board can use a B-C flute combination. By experimenting with flute profiles, our designers can vary compression strength, cushioning strength and thickness. We currently convert all these flutes in our facility! \|TOP of PAGE\|
	SCORING a machine-made depression in the box blank to aid in folding the box into its shape. SCORING ALLOWANCES The thickness of the corrugated sheet must be taken into account when figuring out where to place scores. A score made on the surface of corrugated sheet will penetrate to the middle of the sheet when the sheet is folded. This means half the thickness of the corrugated sheet hangs to the inside of the box, effectively reducing the inside dimensions by that amount. Scoring Allowances are critical to proper box measuring. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	PARTITION made from a variety of media, slotted strips are fitted together to form cells, into which product can be placed and kept apart from product in other cells. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	BUILD-UPS Laminated layers of corrugated pads for special thick cushioning or filler purposes. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	HONEYCOMB BOARD Continuous hexagonal cells faced with kraft paper. Strong and economical core material used for inner packing. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	CORNERBOARD Made of heavy kraft paper glued in layers. Are used to stabilize strapped or stretch wrapped loads, provides additional support when double stacking, eliminates shifting loads, protects products in storage and during shipping.\|TOP of PAGE\|
	DIE CUT Involves creating a die to stamp items from plain or printed sheet stock. Unique designs; angular, circular, or other unusual cuts, slots, scores, perforations and embossing can be made many times from stock with a die-board. The most common uses of die cutting are to create displays, mailers or interior packaging pieces that hold item in place during shipping. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	CHIPBOARD Plain Chipboard - A low-cost, non-bending chipboard made of recycled materials. Not suitable for printing, often used for divider pads and setup boxes. WVLC - White Vat Lined Chip, or "white vat"- Plain chip made with a layer of white paper on one side. Used for setup boxes where a white interior is desired. Generally not suitable for printing. DKL - Double Kraft Lined Bending Chip, or "double kraft", has a layer of recycled kraft fibers on both surfaces for additional strength and resistance to cracking when creased. Double kraft is generally used for folding cartons in commercial/industrial applications. It has a printable surface but is not well-suited for multi-color print jobs. \|TOP of PAGE\|
	STOCK BOX (CARTON) Some box sizes are used so frequently, we manufacture enough to keep in stock at our warehouse. Typically RSC style boxes, they are ready when you need them! \|TOP of PAGE\|
	ULTRASONIC WELDING Ultrasonic plastic welding is the joining or reforming of thermoplastics through the use of heat generated from high-frequency electrical energy into high-frequency mechanical motion. That mechanical motion, along with applied force, creates frictional heat at the plastic component's mating surfaces (joint area) so the plastic material will melt and form a molecular bond between the parts. Once the melted plastic has solidified, the two plastic parts are now joined as if molded together. Ultrasonic welding of plastic is fast, clean, efficient, and a repeatable process that consumes very little energy. No solvents, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, or other consumables are required and the finished assemblies are strong and clean.