Primary color cardboard food packaging printing skills

For home products such as baked goods or comfort foods, the natural brown appearance of corrugated paper reflects a healthy appearance and retro touch.

In the food manufacturing industry in the past, "corrugated paper" had only one meaning: American cheese biscuits. However, today whether it is bread making or hamburger, it is agreed that corrugated paper is a multi-purpose primary color paperboard used to make eye-catching packaging that can enhance brand image and increase sales.

Food manufacturers have long believed that the appearance of smooth, white SBS board is the only material that can simultaneously give the brand a noble image and maintain consistent performance during high-speed molding and filling. The primary coloured cardboard is used only when there is a bland or bulky packaging.

However, today's primary color paperboard is widely used in the packaging of retail foods or foodservices such as cup and Bottle packaging, fast food cartons, pancake boxes, and bread boxes. There are a number of different reasons why virgin cardboard is picked up: The original cardboard provides maximum strength due to its fiber composition: its smooth, uniform surface excels in a high-speed manufacturing environment; it has a striking natural brown color. Appearance, pattern reproduction effect is good. It also allows food manufacturers to respond to new market challenges and new demands with a unique, alternative image.

For example: The complexity of the food sector's quality compels manufacturers to reassess the way new products are launched. Customers demand higher standards in terms of taste, appearance and packaging. However, clam-shelled corrugated cardboard or corrugated cardboard represents a higher quality image. If instant food restaurants only wrap hamburger with wax paper, they will not be accepted by customers.

Food packaging also bears more responsibility for delivering market information than in the past. Ranges range from basic company logos to complex cross-activity details. Today, it is not uncommon for a film company or amusement park to attract fast-food consumers with discounts or other market messages. Anyway, the empty space for advertising billboards is also empty, why not use it repeatedly to promote sales or guide consumer power to partner companies?

Beverage makers also use packaging as a promotional tool. Many manufacturers print promotional messages on clapboards used to prevent collisions in 12- or 24-bottled cartons.

These and other innumerable examples show that the packaging has been used differently from before. It is no longer just to prevent collisions during transportation.

Corrugated paper selection

In order to meet the manufacturers' new demands for packaging, corrugated board offers some features that are different from bleached paperboard. For home products such as bakery products or comfort foods, the natural brown look of corrugated paper represents a healthy, vintage look. The rustic wood-built steakhouse maintains its image through the corrugated packaging. Regardless of the other, the unique appearance of corrugated paper is a striking contrast in a large number of white packaging, and thus makes the product more prominent.

Because many food packages are designed to enhance their convenience or portability, the strength of corrugated paper is another advantage. The strength of the outer packaging should be sufficient to support the customer's meal. In the same way, the beverage cup must also be able to be maintained in a wet environment so that the coffee does not flow to the customer's thighs.

Strength is also a major consideration for frozen foods because the package of frozen foods cannot deform, tear, distort or absorb too much moisture in the freeze/thaw cycle. In these respects, corrugated paper is more practical than SBS.

Optimized effect

Corrugated cardboard can be flexo, gravure, or lithographic. Although large integrated processing plants are familiar with all kinds of cardboard, smaller or first-time printed shops on corrugated cardboard may have questions about how to achieve the best results. Here are some tips for newbies:

â—† color reproduction

To achieve correct color reproduction on corrugated board is more alert than SBS, because the darkness of the board itself will make the ink look different from the bleached board on the corrugated board, and the more striking color effect is the best. Soft colors make it difficult to achieve the required ink strength, opacity, or abrasion resistance

Adding a little white, if necessary, will make it easier to make soft or light colors that are close to what you need. The printing technology is increasingly refined, and some people even use UV inks to make the color effect better.

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

â—†Ink requirements and coating

Because corrugated board is not coated, it is also looser than SBS. Special consideration must be given to ink application and coating. For example, primary paperboard requires more ink. The upper layer of cheap varnish can make the ink more eye-catching, while the high-solid and water-based coatings are more effective than the real solvent varnish. Applying a layer of clay-based high-solids and acrylic acid can also inhibit the separation of the ink pigment from the resin and prevent the free pigment from remaining on the cardboard surface.

In addition, the surface coating increases the wear resistance of the ink, especially the object completely covered by the ink. When flexographic printing, the ink roller with large ink hole has better effect of uploading ink and coating on sketch board. In addition, in order to enhance surface contact when printing on corrugated paper, consider using a softer flexible sheet and liner.

â—†Process performance

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

Improve smoothness. The smoothness of corrugated board cannot be compared with SBS board because of the way of making corrugated board. However, many food manufacturers prefer the rough look and feel of corrugated cardboard and the image it represents.

The smoothness of the primary color paperboard depends on the manufacturer. The printer needs to evaluate the surface characteristics of the board to determine the appropriate board. If you need a smoother surface, paper, glue, or foil can also help. In addition, paper mills are gradually strengthening the smoothness of corrugated paper.

â—†Die cutting performance

Due to its strength and predictable fiber properties, corrugated board has excellent impression, die-cut and die-cast performance. However, for high-strength and "high-memory" primary fibers, the nicks must be deep enough to avoid rebound. The knife must be sharp. Because of the high fiber strength of corrugated paper, the number of nicks required on a perforated line is less and smaller.

â—†Adhesion

High-viscosity and high-viscosity resin adhesives are suitable for low-temperature bonding because they do not “seep” the cardboard in large quantities. Traditional hot melt adhesives also work quickly on corrugated paper and multi-layer coated corrugated paper. Corrugated paper runs better under high-speed paste-box machines because of their light weight.

â—†Supplier relationship

Customers must choose a corrugated paper mill that can provide continuous supply and a suitable work schedule. In order to educate those who are first exposed to corrugated paper, suppliers will also provide technical service experts to solve the problem on site.

Due to the new challenges of helping food manufacturers respond to the market, the original color corrugated cardboard has become popular among many retail food and food service industries. As long as these small secrets are kept in mind, printers and processors must be able to respond to customer needs and achieve ideal performance and maximum efficiency.

--- Graphic Arts