Terminology relating to paper, cardboard, paperboard

[German version]

Paper:Flat packaging material largely consisting of fibers, generally of vegetable origin; basis weight less than 225 g/m².

Cardboard: Flat packaging material, largely consisting of fibers, generally of vegetable origin, the basis weight of which (150 g/m² to 600 g/m²) overlaps the basis weight range of both paper and paperboard. Cardboard is stiffer than paper and is generally produced from higher quality materials than is paperboard. Cardboard is produced as a continuous web.

Paperboard: Generic term covering both millboard and corrugated board.

Millboard: Solid paperboard (unlike corrugated board) with a basis weight (weight per unit area) of > 225 g/m²; single ply or couched; also laminated, glued, impregnated or coated; produced as continuous paperboard or wet machine board.

Corrugated board: Paperboard made from one or more plies of fluted paper which is glued onto paper or cardboard. A distinction is drawn between single and multi-wall corrugated board:

	Single face corrugated board consists of one ply of fluted paper which is glued onto paper or cardboard.
	Single wall corrugated board consists of one ply of fluted paper which is glued between two plies of paper or cardboard (also known as double face corrugated board).
	Double wall corrugated board consists of two plies of fluted paper which are glued together by one ply of unfluted paper or cardboard and the exposed outer surfaces of which are each covered with one ply of paper or cardboard.
	Tri-wall corrugated board consists of three plies of fluted paper which are glued together by two plies of paper or cardboard and the outer surfaces of which are likewise each covered with one ply of paper or cardboard.

Carton: Single or multipart, usually cuboid, closable packaging container available in various designs, styles and delivery forms as basic (individual), consolidating, outer (shipping), sales or multipurpose packaging. Cartons are classed as follows:

	Self-erecting carton: Pre-glued, one-piece carton with attached tuck-in top or overlapping top (hinged top carton) or pre-glued, two-piece telescope carton consisting of a lower part (bottom) and upper part (top). The side walls or tongues of the carton are provided with oblique scores and are glued together such that the carton may be supplied in flat form and is then made ready for use by being unfolded and erected.
	Folding carton: As delivery form: generic term for sales, storage and shipping packages of various designs which are delivered ready-to-use in flat form and are first squared up or erected by the user.
	As design: foldable carton which consists of a tube (frame) with a (prefabricated) side seam running parallel to the carton height and with attached bottom and top flaps or attached tuck-in bottom and top.
	Die-cut carton blank: Packaging container blank of a specific shape and style, also pre- or edge-glued, which is provided with groove, score, perforation or cutting lines and, possibly, punched out portions. The blank is used to produce a carton or carton component.

Tray: Stackable, stable packaging container for transport and storage, mainly for highly perishable foodstuffs (e.g. fruit, vegetables, fresh fish):

	wooden: made from a bottom, two side parts and two end parts joined together with corner posts. The corner posts generally extend above the walls.
	made from molded plastics or box-shaped foamed plastics
	made from millboard or corrugated board, usually in box shape
	in combinations of materials of various designs

Strength characteristics of paperboard packaging materials:

	Bursting strength: Resistance exerted by a specimen of packaging material against bursting on exposure to pressure.
	Puncture resistance: Force which must be applied for a puncture tool of specified shape and dimensions to pass completely through a test specimen. This force is expended to pierce, tear and bend open the test specimen.
	Edgewise crush resistance: Resistance to crushing of a perpendicularly arranged test specimen of paperboard (usually corrugated board) of a defined size.