What types of cardboard materials are suitable for use in cardboard box making machines?

As a kind of automatic packaging equipment, the paperboard physical properties, processing characteristics and costs need to be taken into consideration in its applicability. The following are common cardboard materials and selection criteria for different types of carton machines for reference:

1.Choose the material according to the type of carton machine.
Folding paper box machine
Applicable materials:
White card paper: Smooth surface, printing adaptability, suitable for high-end color boxes (such as cosmetics, medicine packaging), requires brushing or UV treatment to enhance abrasion resistance.
Grey-bottomed whiteboard: Cheap, hardcore and often used in low-end packaging for food and household itemssuch as biscuit boxes and toothpaste boxes.
Cowhide card paper: Eco-friendly, recyclable, with a rough surface and easy to tear. Suitable for express boxes and industrial product packaging (pre-treated before printing).
Main parameters: Grit is generally between 250 g/ m2 and 400 g/m2, and stiffness needs to be selected according to the depth of the box type (e.g., the depth of the box is high for gravel).
Corrugated paper box machine
Applicable materials:
Single-sided corrugated cardboard: adhesive tissue paper (such as brown paper, hanging paper) and corrugated corrugated core paper, low cost, suitable for cushion packaging (such as egg boxes, fruit trays).
Three/five layers of corrugated cardboard: tissue paper + corrugated core + inner paper structure, high compressive strength, widely used in logistics boxes, home appliance packaging (such as refrigerator, washing machine outer box).
Key parameters:
Corrugated type: Type A (good buffer performance), Type B (high stiffness), Type C (comprehensive performance), Type E (ultra-thin, suitable for printing).
Edge Compression Strength (ECT ≥ 10 kN/ m if weight is required): Select based on cargo weight.
Hard Box Maker
Applicable materials:
Rigid cardboard: such as gray cardboard (2-4mm thick), MDF (veneer required), often used in wine boxes, gift boxes and other high-end packaging.
Layered material: Layer special paper (such as touch paper, laser paper) or fabric on cardboard to enhance texture.
Key parameters: The water content of cardboard (usually 8%-12%) needs to be controlled to avoid cracking or deformation during forming.

II. Material selection based on Processing Techniques
Printing Process Compatibility
Offset printing: high surface smoothness (such as white card paper, coated paper, etc.), good color reproduction when printing.
Flexographic Printing: can withstand high surface roughness of cardboard (such as kraft card paper, corrugated paper), suitable for large-scale low-cost printing.
Digital printing: No set-pieces, suitable for short-run, personalized packaging (such as e-commerce customization boxes), but photoresistant materials (such as coated white card paper).
Post-processing Requirements
Die-cutting: cardboard is required to have high paperboard tensile strength and reasonable fiber orientation (to avoid tearing when die-cutting), such as grey-bottomed whiteboard than kraft card paper has a higher die-cutting accuracy.
Laminating/Hot Stamping: surface needs to be smooth without bulge, such as white paper laminate, good gloss, suitable for high-end color boxes.
Hole/ window: cardboard is required to have strong interlayer bonding (e.g. corrugated paperboard requires strong glue) to avoid layering when opening windows.

III. Environmental protection and Cost Considerations
Recyclability
Avoid composite materials,such as aluminum-plastic composite paper, as they make recycling more difficult.
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council certified Cardboard can meet the environmental protection requirements of export enterprises. Cost control
Internal materials: can increase the Recycled paper pulp content, use high content of recycled cardboard (such as recycled grayboard paper) to reduce costs.
Structural optimization: reduce the use of cardboard by design (e.g., using specially shaped cardboard boxes instead of standard cardboard boxes), or use local strengthened structures instead of whole, high-weight cardboard.

IV. INTRODUCTION Recommended Materials in Special Scenarios
Moisture-proof requirements
Food packaging should use moisture-resistant coated cardboard (such as PE coated corrugated paper) or be enhanced by coating processes.
Freezer food packaging should be made with cold resistant cardboard (e.g. kraft paper with antifreeze) (-18°C and below).
Heat resistance requirements
Baking food packaging should be made of high temperature resistant cardboard (≥180°C) (such as silicone coated paper) or enhanced by aluminum foil laminating.
Anti-static requirements
Electronic components should be packaged with anti-static coated cardboard (surface resistance ≤ 109 omega) to avoid damage due to static electricity.