Lead Time Each Added Pass Buys between Approval and Pallet
Each added pass adds 24 to 48 hours of lead time through mandatory inter-pass drying, thermal stabilization, tooling lead times, and offline queue staging.
Cross-Hatch Tape Adhesion
Mechanical Testing
Quality control protocols verify the bond between a printed ink layer and the underlying substrate. Technicians performing cross-hatch tape adhesion use a multi-blade tool to cut a lattice pattern into the coating down to the surface of the paper or board. Pressure-sensitive tape is then applied and removed at a specific angle and speed to see if any ink pulls away.
Procedural Step
Cutting the grid requires steady pressure to ensure the blades penetrate through the ink without damaging the structural integrity of the fibers below. Once the tape is stripped away, the grid is inspected under magnification to classify the level of detachment according to a standardized scale from zero to five. A score of zero indicates perfectly smooth edges with no loss of material.
Higher numbers represent increasing degrees of flaking or complete removal of the squares.
Adhesion Limit
Results identify the compatibility of a specific ink set with the surface tension of a coated board. If the ink is too brittle or the board coating is too loose, the tape will remove large portions of the grid. This test is essential when evaluating new varnishes or when switching to a different grade of recycled board.