Previously we have discussed a lot about the benefits of corrugated cardboard. We have discussed how they are made and why the shipping industry depends on them for heavy-duty shipping.
Discussing in further detail, we are going to understand the factors that affect the strength of corrugated cardboard storage boxes. Manufacturers use a lot of different techniques and combinations to get the strength. And you might be surprised to learn that calculating the hardness of corrugated fibreboard is a complicated job.
Some of the factors that contribute to the strength of corrugated fibreboard are:
- The walls
- The fluting styles
- Quality of the liners
- Medium
- Glue
- The technique of construction of the box
The wall variations
Most of you already have an idea that corrugated boxes come in single wall corrugated cardboard, double wall cardboard boxes / rolls, and triple wall. Basically, the more the layers, the stronger the box. The rest of the robustness is derived from the medium, liners and fluting styles.
Usually, single wall and double wall boxes are used. Triple wall corrugated fibreboard is only used for very heavy-duty delivery.
The fluting
So, why do we call it “corrugated cardboard?”
This is because corrugated means “to draw or bend into folds or alternate between furrows and ridges”. That’s the literal definition.
If you cut a piece of corrugated fibreboard, you will see that the packaging material has a wavy texture in between two sheets. This wavy texture, known as fluting, prevents the cardboard box from bending or collapsing due to weight. It is the same as bending a slice of pizza can help it from collapsing.
Now, the width of the fluted material also plays to the strength. Good quality corrugated fibreboards have a minimum of 1mm thickness. Add that with the glueing and thickness of the liners, it makes for unbeatable packaging material.
The quality of the liners
The liners or the flat sheets that sandwich the corrugated layer plays a crucial role in the strength of the boxes. The quality of the liners will decide how well the fluted layer will hold the weight of the items.
It provides rigidity and structure to the fibreboards. That’s why reputed packaging companies like Packaging Midlands focus on higher quality liners for corrugated fibreboards. They manage the transfer of weight and deflects moisture.
An aspect that influences the strength of the liners is how much recycled material the companies use. Liners made of 70% to 80% recycled material cannot be that strong. They have shorter fibres, thus lower tensile strength. Shorter fibres also impact moisture retention.
The adhesive
The glue, obviously, has an impact on how well your cardboard tenacity is. Some more water-resistant adhesives make corrugated fibreboard less susceptible to moisture damage.
The variation in medium
Corrugated medium is the part that makes up the wall of the cardboard boxes. Usually, companies have different weights of corrugated medium. This reinforces the construction of the fibreboards. Heavier mediums will need a better quality of glue to hold the boxes in place.
The technique of construction
There are two types of techniques used to construct a corrugated cardboard roll. A box is cut either to be glued or stitched to make it secured.
Glueing is a cheaper option that is normally used for single wall cardboard boxes. Stitching refers to stapling the flaps to create the shape of the box. Stitching makes the boxes more secure; safe to carry heavy materials like electronics, furniture, glassware, etc.
You must understand that glueing, while it is a quicker solution, only attaches liners. A stitch, on the other hand, goes to bond all the layers of the fibreboard. This makes the structure stronger, making the boxes more durable.
The kind of corrugated cardboard storage boxes you will use depends on what products you are shipping. For fragile, breakable products, you need the most protection, where double or triple wall corrugated cardboard is the safest choice.
But whatever you do, make sure to check on the quality of the fibreboards before making a deal with a packaging company.
