A Coating Change That Invalidates a Food Contact Declaration
A raw material shift in barrier coatings alters chemical migration profiles, instantly invalidating food contact declarations and risking complete job quarantine.
Paperboard Substrates
Fibrous Base
Multilayer fibrous webs provide the structural foundation for folding cartons and transport packaging. These materials are manufactured from virgin or recycled wood fibres, which are formed into a sheet on a paper machine. In the packaging value chain, paperboard substrates must be carefully selected to match the physical demands of the product being enclosed.
Material Properties
Modern paperboard substrates must balance mechanical stiffness with a surface suitable for high-quality printing. Coated grades often feature mineral pigment layers that improve brightness and ink absorption, which is critical for graphic presentation. Recycled grades are thicker to compensate for the shorter length of recycled fibres, ensuring that the package does not collapse when stacked in humid conditions.
Packaging Performance
Selecting the correct board grade ensures that the packaging remains intact during distribution and retailing. The chosen board must withstand the mechanical forces of high-speed converting and filling lines. It also provides the support for functional barriers that protect the contents from oxygen, grease, and water vapor, allowing the finished package to perform reliably under a wide range of storage environments.
Testing of properties like bending stiffness and creasability ensures that the box can be formed and sealed at maximum speed without tearing or jamming the machine.