Paperboard Terms Glossary
Mystified by the world of paperboard packaging terms? Check out our handy glossary for your guide to all things paperboard.
A
Sheets with a coating that adds friction to prevent movement and damage during transport and storage. Especially useful in high-volume operations where bagged products like pet food, seeds, or granular goods tend to shift on the pallet. Anti-slip sheets help keep loads stable and reduce product loss between the line and the loading dock.
Sheets designed for use in automated palletizing operations, helping in stacking and stabilizing products. Engineered to feed cleanly through automatic palletizers one sheet at a time, reducing multi-picks and keeping lines running without jams or downtime, which is critical in fast-moving production environments.
B
Badger
Wisconsin’s mascot, our namesake, and the animal we’d choose to be if we could.
Our custom edge protectors manufactured to your specs and can include two-color printing to showcase your branding or logo.
Badger’s proprietary packaging solution; a custom alternative to U-channel, cornerboard, fan-fold corrugate, and double- and triple-wall corrugate cartons.
Bending Chipboard
A flexible type of chipboard that can be easily bent or folded without cracking, used for book covers and packaging.
C
A type of paperboard made from recycled paper, used for making packaging materials and more.
Clay-Coated
Paperboard coated with clay to produce a sleek surface; an outdated solution for automatic palletizers to prevent sheets from sticking together.
Clay-Coated Newsback (CCNB)
Recycled paperboard with a clay-coated surface, made from newsprint and other recycled materials.
E
Angled or corner pieces made of paperboard or plastic, used to protect the edges of products during shipping.
K
Kraft
A strong, durable paper or paperboard made from wood pulp, known for its high tear resistance.
L
Paperboard sheets bonded with layers of glue or other materials to enhance strength, durability, or moisture resistance.
P
Robust, flat paperboard pieces used for cushioning, layering, stabilization, and protection against abrasion and nail protrusions for packaged products. Pads serve as an alternative to corrugated sheets when used as pallet liners. They also act as a clean barrier between product layers, helping prevent pallet debris and contaminants from reaching packaged goods.
Positioned directly on the pallet surface to safeguard against abrasion and nail punctures; a cost-effective and sturdier alternative to corrugated sheets. They distribute weight evenly and shield goods stacked on pallets and create a clean separation between the pallet surface and your product, reducing the risk of debris or contamination reaching packaged goods.
Paper Pulp
Raw material made from wood, recycled paper, or other fibrous materials, used to make paper and paperboard.
Paperboard
A thick, paper-based material used for packaging, heavier than standard paper and can be single or multi-ply. Paperboard can include solid fiber (unrecycled) and chipboard (recycled) materials.
Paperboard Converter
A company or facility that transforms raw paperboard into finished products like boxes and sheets (that’s us!).
Polycoated
Paperboard coated with a layer of polyethylene to make it moisture-resistant, often used for food packaging.
Post-Consumer
Materials recycled after they have been used by consumers, such as used paper and paperboard packaging.
Pre-Consumer
Materials recycled from the manufacturing process before they reach the consumer, such as scraps and trimmings.
Specially designed sheets for use with push-pull material handling equipment, allowing for the handling of goods without pallets. A practical solution for export shipments where returning wooden pallets is not an option, and an efficient choice for high-volume operations looking to reduce pallet costs and maximize trailer space.
S
Flat pieces of paperboard used as a base for creating packaging products and adding stability to pallets during shipping.
Sheets used between tiers or layers of products on a pallet to stabilize and protect the products during transport. Also called layer, tier, or divider sheets. Tier sheets create a clean, stable barrier between layers of bagged product, reducing shifting, crushing, and contamination from pallet debris.
Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS)
A high-quality, smooth, and white paperboard made from bleached virgin wood pulp, used in premium packaging.
A strong, dense paperboard made by compressing layers of paper together, used for heavy-duty packaging. Solid fiber substrates come from virgin (unrecycled) materials.
Small pieces of material placed under straps on packaged goods to prevent damage from the straps.
T
Sheets used between tiers or layers of products on a pallet to stabilize and protect the products during transport. Also called layer, slip, or divider sheets.
W
Wisconsin
The state that’s the real heart of it all (in our humble opinion) – where Badger Paperboard got its start and has its roots.
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