The document is a comprehensive guide to corrugated packaging, featuring insights from experienced professionals at Advance Packaging. It covers the types and structural classifications of corrugated paperboard, various packaging styles, and essential strength tests. Additionally, the guide highlights different carton styles, trays, and folders, along with graphics options and encourages readers to reach out for further assistance.

1. Corrugated 101
A User’s guide to the weird world of corrugated
packaging

2. Presented By
Kurt Buche – Design Lab Manager
Kurt has 11 years of packaging experience and several
roles within the Advance Packaging design lab
including: designer, customer liaison engineer, testing
supervisor, and design lab manager.
Kurt is a graduate of Michigan State University with a
BS in Packaging, he is also a certified ISTA CPLP test
technician
Catherine Cole – Sales and
Marketing Analyst
Catherine has been with Advance Packaging for the
past 7 years in a variety of roles throughout the
Customer Service and Sales Departments.
Catherine holds an MBA from Grand Valley State
University

3. With Special Guests
Bryan Rybiski – Customer Service
Manager
Bryan has 12 years of experience at Advance Packaging,
and is a graduate of the School of Packaging at
Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in
Packaging Engineering
Kevin Smeenge – Customer Liaison
Engineer
Kevin has 13 years of experience with Advance
Packaging in several roles including factory ticket
coordinator, designer, and customer liaison engineer.
Kevin is a graduate of Western Michigan University
with a BS in industrial design

4. Part 1: What is corrugated paperboard?
• Containerboard is classified as
• Singlewall (liner, fluted medium,
liner)
• Doublewall (liner, medium, liner,
medium, liner)
• Triplewall (liner, medium, liner,
medium, liner, medium, liner)
• Each flute size and combination
offers varying strength, rigidity,
and printing surface.
• Larger flutes and additional walls
add strength
• Smaller flutes make for a better
printing surface
• Advance Packaging Offers
• Singlewall: B, C, and E flutes
• Doublewall: BC, EC, and EB
Corrugated paperboard, sometimes called containerboard, is created by adhering the fluted
medium to liner to create a rigid board that can be scored, cut, folded, and glued to make cartons,
trays, partitions, displays, inserts, and a host of other packaging products
Standard Corrugated Flute Sizes
Flute
Designation
Flute
thickness (in)
Flute thickness
(mm)
A flute 3⁄16 4.8
B flute 1⁄8 3.2
C flute 5⁄32 4
E flute 1⁄16 1.6
F flute 1⁄32 0.8

5. Strength Tests
• Corrugated is also classified by its
strength
• ECT or Edge Crush Test refers to the stacking
strength. That is, how many pounds per
square inch can be applied before crushing
• Mullen Test refers to the bursting strength or
pounds per square inch applied before
bursting
• Mullen is best suited for protecting
heavier contents while Edge Crush is
lightweight and better suited for
stacking. Edge Crush also boasts a
higher recycled content

6. Circular stamps have the following information from Item
222/Rule 41 table and states the box meets those general
requirements
• Board Grade (Mullen or ECT)
• Size limit, outside dimensions (length + width + depth not to exceed)
• Gross weight limit
• Construction (single-wall, double-wall, triple-wall, etc.)
• Manufacturers name and location
Square stamps simply state the board grade in either an
ECT value or Mullen grade along with the manufacturers
name and location. Does not meet Item 222/Rule 41
requirements
Cert Stamps Continued
Circle vs. Rectangle: what do they mean?

7. Item 222 and Rule 41 Table

8. Part 2: Packaging Styles
• Since this is a 101 webinar, we will just be covering the most
common styles of cartons, trays, and folders.
• Advance Packaging has expert designers, sales agents, and
customer service representatives who are able to answer your
questions on more complicated packaging or display needs

9. Slotted Containers
 RSC - Regular Slotted Container: This box has top
and bottom flaps that are the same length (1/2 the
width of the box). The outer two flaps meet in the
middle when folded
 Benefits of this style: economical to produce and can be
opened and sealed quickly by hand or with automated
equipment
 HSC – Half Slotted Container: This style is the same
as the RSC, but has only one set of flaps
 Benefits of this style: highly economical to produce, easy
to load, and can be used with a tray cover
 FOL – Full Overlap Slotted Container: Top and
bottom flaps are all the same length (the width of
the box) and when closed, the flaps cover the entire
top and bottom
 Benefits of this style: Adds extra protection and
cushioning to ends. It is also best for cartons with
narrow widths
Slotted containers are the simplest and most common types of boxes. They are generally made from
a single blank, and usually do not require any tooling to make

10. Auto-lock and 1-2-3 Bottom Boxes
These two styles are easy to set up by hand and on some specialty case erectors, but they require
tooling.
Auto bottom boxes are easy to open and do not
require any tape to seal the bottom. They
require half the labor of RSCs to set up
1-2-3 bottom boxes are also easy to set up,
and the bottom snaps into place and holds.
The bottom is not fully sealed, however, and
not recommended for heavy loads

11. Trays
 Telebody/Telecover: These trays are shipped flat and require the user to tape, glue, or staple the
flaps before using
 Benefits of this style: It is the most economical to produce and generally requires no tooling
 Roll End Trays: These Trays are also shipped flat, but the ends fold over and lock into place
 Benefits of this style: It is economical to produce (but does require tooling), and it does not require sealing
 In Fold Tray: This is a pre-glued tray that requires less labor to set up than telebodies and covers,
but it requires tooling to produce
 Benefits of this style: When used as a cover, the sides will not “flare out” like the out fold tray
 Out Fold Tray: Another type of pre-glued tray that also requires tooling. It is more economical to
produce and folds flatter than the in fold, but requires product to stay fully open
Trays can be used to hold product, to serve as covers, or to telescope into a bottom and overlapping
top

12. Trays Continued
Telebody/Telecover In Fold Tray Out Fold TrayRoll End Tray

13. Folders
Folders are shipped flat, provide an unbroken bottom, and fold or wrap around product. The most
common styles are:
• OPF – One Panel Folder: Used for long parts
with shallow depths. Flaps for the sides and
ends, and extensions of the side flaps meet in
the middle
FF5PF – Full Flap Five Panel Folder: Used for
long, thin parts, and has a 5th panel to act as
a closing flap. Provides excellent end
protection

14. Part 3: Graphics
Options

18. Questions?
• Talk to your sales or customer
service representative
• Contact us at 616.949.6610
• Visit us online at
www.advancepkg.com