4 Popular Types of Paperboard Grades for Box Printing

Packaging holds a religious value in the business world. It has to be done no matter what.

No questions!

No complaints!

Do it, or you will not be cleansed from the condemnation of low quality, less worth, and not up to the standard of what customers expect. A unique and cleverly designed packaging can resurrect the product with the whole lot spark.

The packaging industry has developed exceptionally in the past few years, and it has created a sensation around the world. Companies are more conscious about how their packaging looks like, what impression it leaves on people, will it be able to attract the broader target audience or how does it relate to the brand name and value. It is also essential to match the standards of the market. Increasing competition has made it very obvious to keep going. There is no way your product will survive without the right packaging.

With all this development, we are not left alone in the middle of anywhere to deal with it alone. There is an ample number of companies that offer full customization options to its customers, not only in printing and designing, but there is a freedom of choosing the material of your choice for cardboard boxes.

“It must have crossed your mind that why is it so important to choose the right material for box printing when it will not be visible after printing.”

Paperboard is the most widely used as packaging material as;

•    It can easily be cut and formed in any shape.

•    Paperboard is lightweight, which makes it easy to handle.

•    It is durable and can endure the weight.

•    What makes it accessible is that high-quality graphics printing can be done on it.

Not to get confused, paperboard is referred to cardboard because this term is used for any board that is made up of heavy paper pulp.

We are not finished here yet.

Yes!

Paperboard is available in many different grades that determine the quality and strength of a board suitable for different needs or uses and how smoothly it can go through the printing process. Four most popular and widely used boards are;

1.    Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS).

2.    Coated Unbleached Kraft (CUK).

3.    Coated Recycled Board (CRB).

4.    Met-Pet Board

Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS)

It is the highest grade of paperboard available in the market. This cardboard is made up of to the most 80 percent of virgin wood pulp through the bleaching process. Paperboard made from virgin wood is brown in color and bleached to cut the color. Bleached paper is mostly layered with Kaolin clay, which is also called China clay to enhance the surface for printing. This most excellent grade of cardboard is coated with polyethylene resin to make it moisture proof wholesale cardboard boxes available in the market.

Usage:

It is the most expensive than other grades of the board due to its most exceptional finish and high quality. It is used for luxury packaging and fancy representation as;

•    Cosmetic industry

•    Sweets & desserts

•    High-end products

•    Perfume boxes

Coated Unbleached Kraft (CUK).

CUK boards are the most substantial paperboards grade as it is made up of the softwood like pine, which results in the strength of the material. It is manufactured by producing wood pulp from virgin wood and layered three to four times. Paper made from softwood is always stronger due to the long fibers present in the wood.

Its name tells the rest of the story that it is also coated with Kaolin clay for more finished printing surface and, which makes it tear proof.

Usage:

Due to its stronger and tear proof nature this grade is mostly used for:

•    Beverage industry

•    Medicinal use

•    Frozen items

•    Heavy duty box packaging

•    Water-resistant packaging

Met-Pet Board

Manufacturing of this grade is done by the same process as SBS, but it is further coated with a metalized polyester film that is made up of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The purpose of polyester film is to give strength, transparency, and reflectivity. This is available in different colors like gold, silver, and patterns.

Usage:

Met-pet cardboard packaging is used for products like:

•    Food items boxes

•    Display boxes

•    Signboards

•    Medical device boxes

•    Media packaging

Coated Recycled Paperboard (CRB)

This grade of paperboards is the lowest quality as compared to others and is cheap because of its manufacturing, properties, and production cost. It is a product of recycling by using old containers, boxes, newspapers, and papers. Its quality is lower due to the raw material used in manufacturing, so a thin layer of Kaolin clay is coated to enhance the quality and printing surface.

Usage:

Usage of the material varies according to the quality of the packaging. CRB is widely used in:

•    Cereal boxes

•    Electricity items like bulb boxes switch box etc.

•    Toiletries packaging

•    Laundry items

•    Paper goods

Grade of the paperboard decides the quality of the overall packaging. It must be chosen to keep in view the need of the brand and worth.