Comparing the performance of cardboard and micro cardboard

The correct choice of packaging plays an important role in the rapid development of marketing. Packaging designers must be able to keep up with new developments in packaging materials and packaging methods.

At present, there is controversy over whether to choose cardboard or micro cardboard for retail packaging. Is it the direct use of micro-tank cartons for cartonless packaging, or is it used as a primary packaging, and then a large corrugated carton is used for transport? Which way is better? Is it really necessary to use large corrugated boxes to transport goods?

Every manager wants to spend the least money to buy the best quality packaging. However, it is not easy to put this idea into practice. This article uses ice cream packaging boxes that are directly transported by pallets. By focusing on three key parts of the supply chain (manufacturing and logistics, product protection and packaging integrity, marketing/sales, and consumer expectations) Contrast analysis with micro cardboard to illustrate the close relationship between material selection and each key component.

Comparison between manufacturing and logistics

The choice of material has a great influence on the efficiency of the packaging line.

Because the production line speed of micro cardboard is lower than the production speed of cardboard. Most low- and medium-speed lines can use either cardboard or micro cardboard. However, production lines with production speeds higher than 80 boxes/minute require cardboard.

Waste regulations and cost-saving programs are the main drivers for the development of cartonless packaging (ie, micro-tank packaging). In addition, the removal of corrugated carton packaging will increase the utilization of pallets (about 25% or more). Because the micro cassette has a small size, it allows a more efficient stacking method. In most cases, you can add another layer of stacking code to reduce the number of pallets and increase the capacity of the warehouse. At the same time, transportation costs also decrease as loading capacity increases.

From the use of corrugated boxes to the use of cartons for cartonized pallets, the impact of increased tray usage benefits. The volume of the G-type micro cassette is about twice that of the high density Kraft cassette, so the storage space required for the empty cassette is greatly increased. In addition, the order quantity is less, and the reduction of storage capacity will increase the cost of the carton. On the packaging line, an increase in the volume of the carton will result in a relatively reduced capacity of the silo, which leads to an increase in the workload to ensure continuous feeding.

Comparison of product protection and packaging integrity

For ice cream and frozen foods, an important factor in selecting micro cardboards is thermal insulation. However, experience has shown that it is necessary to treat flat materials and finished cartons differently because they have already been demonstrated in the laboratory. Improper sealing and box corners will reduce the advantages of micro cardboards in terms of thermal insulation. In fact, cardboard also has enough thermal insulation.

The lack of an outer corrugated carton transport package, coupled with the non-supportive content contained, means that the carton must absorb all of the stacking load alone. This is a real challenge for cardboard.

Under dynamic load conditions for road transport, such as vibration, shock and lateral movement, additional protection is required to provide adequate safety. In addition, ice cream or frozen food packaging cartons are susceptible to hygroscopicity under severe weather conditions, which can adversely affect the cardboard's ability to withstand pressure. The effect of absorbed moisture on the paperboard, especially under dynamic loading conditions, depends primarily on the fiber furnish and on the density and sizing of the board. Unbleached Kraft board is the best cardboard in all cardboards.

The structure of the micro cardboard is to obtain high stiffness and high compressive strength values. Under the standard laboratory conditions, the most prominent BCR (carton resistance to compressive strength) values ​​were obtained by the micro-tank carton test.

In the performance comparison diagram, the left column chart shows that the angular compressive strength of the F-type microtwist (yellow bars) is better than that of the conventional Kraft paperboard (red bars, labeled 100). The graph on the right of Figure 1 shows that when the relative humidity is 90%, the micro cardboard is seriously damaged under the action of the compressive load, and the performance difference between the two types of cardboard is greatly reduced.

The main reason for the decrease in the performance of micro cardboards is that the quality of fiber ingredients is lower than 100% pure chemical pulp. The corrugated cardboard and the base paper contain a high proportion of secondary fiber raw materials. In addition, the micro cardboard itself can transport moist air, making the fibers more vulnerable to damage.

For the above reasons, cardboard is more suitable for cartonized packaging of ice cream or frozen foods. The restrictions of other factors have also hindered the development of micro cassettes.

For example, the predetermined corrugation loading direction greatly reduces the opportunity to optimize pallet utilization. It is worth noting that (as opposed to what people expected), the F-type and G-type micro cassettes have higher compressive strength in the vertical direction. More surprisingly, the comparison of the stiffness of the micro cardboard parallel to the corrugation direction and the stiffness perpendicular to the corrugation direction is: micro cardboards below a certain thickness will exhibit properties similar to those of cardboard. Stiffness is higher.

Especially for cartonless stacking, the poor elasticity and impact energy absorption capacity of the carton means that it is not a good choice to flip the carton to the side shown in Fig. 2, part 9. In such a position, even normal handling can lead to irreversible damage, which in turn adversely affects the appearance and marketability of the package.

Finally, the easy-opening structure on the carton significantly reduces the load-bearing capacity of the carton and ultimately causes problems with the carton in transit. Special attention should be paid to the configuration and position of such a convenience device.

Differences in marketing/sales and consumer expectations

Design restrictions on easy-opening structures, bends, openings, and reclosing devices are related to the micro cardboard material. It is also possible to carry out special finishing operations on micro cardboards, for example in combination with foils and films, embossing, and localized glazing for obtaining a high-gloss surface.

The larger size of the paper tray will also cause some problems for retailers. For example, an E-type micro cassette with an inner size of 145 x 45 x 195mm has an external volume that is 15% larger than a cardboard box. The decrease in sales unit capacity has led to a significant drop in sales.

Point of sale appeal is a basic element in retail marketing

The high-gloss surface of conventional coated kraft paperboard guarantees print quality and the natural brown on the back has a unique design effect. At the same time, the cardboard is suitable for precise die-cutting, folding and opening, the edges of which are neat, the creases are accurate, and the memory for bending is long-lasting.

Despite the so-called “washboard” effect of printing on cardboard, the use of F-type cardboard and G-type cardboard printing can significantly reduce this negative effect. The use of offset printing on this micro cardboard can achieve high quality printing results. However, the bent edge of the micro cassette has poor wear resistance, which reduces the sales appeal of the package.

In today's highly competitive market environment, new and attractive packaging is needed more than ever. Providing packaging users with a wider selection of packaging materials can help them obtain more impact packaging on the shelves.

Source: Global corrugated box industry