Decryption: primary color cardboard food packaging printing

For household products such as baked goods or comfort food, the natural brown appearance of corrugated paper reflects a healthy appearance and has a retro meaning.

In the past in the food manufacturing industry, "corrugated paper" only meant one thing: American cheese biscuits. However, today, whether it is bread or hamburgers, it is agreed that corrugated paper is a multi-purpose primary color cardboard used to make compelling packaging, enough to strengthen the brand image and increase sales.

Food manufacturers have always believed that the smooth and white SBS cardboard is the only material that can give the brand a noble image and maintain consistent performance during the high-speed molding and filling process. Primary color cardboards are only used in plain or bulky packaging.

Today, however, primary color cardboard is widely used in retail food or food service packaging such as cup and bottle packaging, fast food cartons, pancake boxes, and bread boxes. There are many different factors for the rise of primary color cardboard: due to its fiber composition, primary color cardboard provides maximum strength: its smooth and consistent surface performs well in high-speed manufacturing environments; it has a striking natural brown color Appearance, good pattern reproduction effect. It also allows food manufacturers to respond to new market challenges and demands with a unique and alternative image.

For example, the complex quality of the food sector has forced manufacturers to reassess the way new products are launched. Customers demand higher standards in taste, appearance and packaging. However, the clamshell corrugated cardboard or corrugated cardboard represents a higher quality image. If the fast food restaurant only uses wax paper to wrap the burger, it will not be accepted by the guests.

Compared to the past, food packaging has also taken on more responsibility for transmitting market messages. It ranges from basic company logos to complex cross-activity details. Today, it is not uncommon for film companies or amusement parks to attract fast food consumers with discounts or other market messages. Anyway, the space of the advertising kanban is empty, so why not use it to repeatedly promote or guide the consumption power to the partner companies?

Drink vendors also use packaging as a promotional tool. Many manufacturers print propaganda messages on the partitions used to prevent collisions in carton boxes of twelve or twenty-four bottles.

These and other countless examples show that the use of packaging is very different from before. No longer just to prevent collisions during transportation. The choice of corrugated paper In order to meet the new demands of manufacturers for packaging, corrugated paperboard provides some characteristics that are very different from bleached paperboard. For household products such as baked goods or comfort food, the natural brown appearance of corrugated paper represents health and retro. The steakhouse with rustic log decoration can maintain the consistent image through the corrugated packaging. Not to mention others, the unique appearance of corrugated paper is a striking contrast in a large number of white packaging, which makes the product more prominent.

Because many food packaging is designed to enhance its convenience or portability, the strength of corrugated paper is another advantage. The outer packaging must be strong enough to support the customer's meal. Similarly, the beverage cup must be able to be maintained in a humid environment so that coffee does not flow onto the customer's thigh.

Strength is also a major consideration for frozen food because the packaging of frozen food cannot be deformed, torn, twisted, or absorb too much water during the freeze / thaw cycle. In these respects, corrugated paper is more practical than SBS. The effect is optimized. Corrugated cardboard can be printed in flexo, gravure or lithography. Although large integrated processing plants are very familiar with various types of cardboard, stores that are smaller or print for the first time on corrugated cardboard may have some questions about how to achieve the best results. Here are some suggestions for novices:

1. Color reproduction

To achieve the correct color reproduction on corrugated cardboard, you need to be more alert than SBS, because the darkness of the cardboard itself will make the ink look different from bleached cardboard on corrugated cardboard. The more striking color effect is the best. Soft colors are the most difficult to achieve the required ink strength, opacity or wear resistance. If necessary, add a little white first, it will be easier to make a soft or light color close to the need. Printing technology is becoming more and more sophisticated, and some people even use ultraviolet ink to make the color effect better.

Almost all ink manufacturers have developed inks that can be used on primary color paperboards, so they should consult with them to determine the best formula before starting any work. Many of them have sample books. Some even have samples of ink on different cardboard.

2. Ink demand and coating

Because corrugated cardboard is not coated and is looser than SBS, special consideration should be given when inking and coating. For example, primary color cardboard requires more ink. The cheap varnish on the upper layer can make the ink more eye-catching, while the high-solid and water-based paint is more effective than the real solvent-based varnish. Applying a layer of clay high solids agent and acrylic acid first can also inhibit the separation of ink pigments and resins, and prevent free pigments from remaining on the cardboard surface.

In addition, the surface coating will increase the wear resistance of the ink, especially the objects completely covered by the ink. In flexographic printing, the ink roller with large ink holes has better effect on ink and coating on the sketch board. In addition, in order to strengthen the surface contact when printing on corrugated paper, it is considered to use a softer flexible board and liner paper.

3. Processing performance

Because some uncoated corrugated board materials are quite loose and bulky, dust may be generated during processing. There are several steps to reduce dust. Before working, make sure that the vacuum suction cup is in good condition, and make some necessary adjustments to achieve the best state of operation. Bellows vacuum suction cups are most effective for corrugated paper.

Improve smoothness. The smoothness of corrugated cardboard cannot be compared with SBS board, this is because of the way corrugated cardboard is made. However, many food manufacturers like the rough look and feel of corrugated cardboard, and the image it represents. The smoothness of the primary color cardboard depends on the manufacturer. Printers need to evaluate the surface characteristics of the cardboard to determine the appropriate cardboard. If a smoother surface is required, mounting paper, glue or foil is also helpful. In addition, the paper mill is gradually strengthening the smoothness of corrugated paper.

4. Die cutting performance

Corrugated cardboard has excellent embossing, die cutting and die engraving performance due to its strength and predictable fiber properties. However, high-strength and "high-memory" primary color fibers must be scored deep enough to avoid rebound. The cutter must be sharp. Because of the high fiber strength of corrugated paper, the number of notches required on the perforated line is less and smaller.

5. Adhesion

High-solidity and high-viscosity resin adhesives are suitable for low-temperature bonding because it does not "penetrate" the cardboard in large amounts. Traditional hot melt adhesives also act quickly on corrugated paper and multi-layer coated corrugated paper. Corrugated cardboard is better under high-speed folder folding machine because of their light weight.

6. Supplier relations

The customer must choose a corrugated paper mill that can supply continuously and has a suitable work schedule. In order to educate the first contact with corrugated paper, the supplier will also provide technical service experts to resolve questions on site.

To help food manufacturers respond to new market challenges, primary color corrugated board has become popular in many retail food and food service industries. As long as these tips are kept in mind, printers and processors must be able to respond to customer needs and achieve ideal performance and maximum efficiency.

About the author: Louis R. Hancock is the director of the product development group of the Kraft paper division of MeadWestvaco, Stanford, a city in southwestern Connecticut. JimC.Hare is the strategic account planning manager of Meadwestvaco.

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