Because corrugated packaging is totally our jam, and it is such a highly versatile tool for you and your company, we wanted to share with you some useful information you need to know about all things corrugated. Today we are focusing specifically on the flute.
It’s a great idea to know your corrugated boxes, style/ design, and fluting (that wavy stuff between the liners) profiles.
Corrugated Box Styles
Corrugated boxes are paper-based and display a fluted corrugated sheet between linerboard. Different types of corrugated sheets and flutes affect the durability and strength of the box.
Single-Wall Corrugated
Single-wall corrugated box styles vary in material strength and durability. This can be tested with “Edge Crush Test” (ECT). Typically, however, single-wall corrugated boxes can carry weights from 23 ECT to up to 56 ECT. In other words, very light and “weaker” single-wall corrugated boxes can hold up to 20 lbs, in the minimum.
Double-Wall and Triple Wall Corrugated
Because there is at least two walls of corrugated sheets in this style of corrugated box, double-wall, and triple-wall boxes are of course more durable. The downside to this, if applicable, is that the box is less flexible (which may be necessary for certain products). These two strengths of corrugated boxes are ideal for shipping and storage, as they are quite durable and can withstand regular wear and tear. Double-wall ECT is between 40 and 85.
Triple-wall boxes have three stacked corrugated sheets and four liner board facings. Because of this, the ply-count of the triple-wall box is 7. Triple-wall boxing is very, very strong, and can typically hold up to 300 lbs. Their ECT score is typically in the range between 70 and 115. This is the strongest form of corrugated boxing.
Fluting
What is fluting? Fluting refers to the part of a corrugated sheet or box that helps to strengthen it for stacking and durability. Fluting comes in various types and each type is unique in its own way.
B-Flute
This type of flute appears much thinner than others, but do not let its’ appearance fool you. B-Flute is quite strong, and it typically used for counter displays, canned food items, and die-cut boxes. It also provides a much better surface for direct printing.
C-Flute
This type is flexible and bendable. This is the most often used type of flute in cardboard boxes. You have likely seen this type used for shipping packages.
E-Flute
This type is very thin and not typically used for shipping. Because of it’s thinnest it is best used for small cartons or displays and is also an excellent surface for printing. E-Flute is often used for cosmetics and personal items.
We hope you have found this basic primer to be helpful and instructive. As this is just a jumping off point, you can reach out to us to keep the learning going. We are here to help!
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