Overview of Cardboard and Packaging Papers (2)

Paper machine technology

Thanks to advances in recycling waste paper processing technology and advances in the design of paper and board machines, it is now possible to produce quantitatively reduced paper grades with the same or better strength characteristics and higher recycled waste paper content. In fact, all packaging paper machines for the production of corrugated cardboard and high-strength shatter-resistant cardboard made in Europe in the past few years have been designed to produce a low basis for production in the range of 70-110 g/m2, some of which Even multi-functional, it can also produce white noodle paper.

The advancement of paper machine technology is a response to the ever-increasing demands of more advanced corrugated paperboards - there are already E, F and G or double corrugated combinations on the market. In today's rapidly increasing discount market, corrugated cardboard with micro-corrugated sheets is now used as an on-demand packaging material.
This clearly shows how the requirements at the other end of the value creation chain affect paper machine manufacturers and system suppliers. Now that they must take into account the needs of customers (paper manufacturers), paper manufacturers must also consider their customers. The demand (processors, printers, transporters, daily necessities manufacturers...). As we have seen, these demands are met through innovations in slurry preparation, new forming and dehydration concepts, higher yields, energy savings, etc., in order to improve quality or reduce costs or improve quality. cut costs.

By using the right process on the right equipment, paper and cardboard can be combined with other materials - such as plastics, foils, aluminum, sizing, printing inks and functional coatings - for almost any application. There are many possibilities for paper manufacturers and processors to provide paper-based packaging materials with various properties - these characteristics are the technical characteristics, physical properties or optical characteristics required by the customer depending on the application. Just as coated advanced folding cardboard packaging materials (with a smooth, high-grade surface) are used for premium brand cosmetics and the highest definition and quality are used for offset printing, the latest generation of high quality post-printing flexographic printing systems is now available for the corrugated cardboard market And the existing offset printing system.

The high-quality corrugated cardboard packaging used for point-of-sale sales today uses flexographic printing, which can have up to six glossy colors and a maximum width comparable to the simple transportation packaging materials of the past (barcode only, but two colors). Up to 2.8 meters. This is the clearest indication of the impact of the rapidly spreading retail and logistics concept of cheap stores - these stores have immediately passed their requests to packaging material producers. Soon we may even see cardboard packaging containing RFID printing chips (or RFID integrated chips).

market trend

Demand for packaging paper, cardboard and cardboard has been growing – whether in Germany, Europe or the world – and this upward trend will continue for the foreseeable future. However, the reasons for growth and growth in various regions of the world will be quite different.

In Asia and Eastern Europe, the strong upward momentum will continue. This is mainly due to the rapid increase in the per capita consumption of packaged products in supermarkets in the cities and the increase in consumer orientation of brands and registered trademark products. This in particular means a strong increase in the consumption of folding cardboard, although its quality is less than in Europe and North America.

On the one hand, this growth will be regional – consistent with the population growth (Asia, Latin America); on the other hand, the annual growth of up to 3% of European production and consumption so far is still likely to remain . In Europe, the share of high-quality, low-quantity cardboard and corrugated board will increase – due to the recent large investment in new equipment by paper and board manufacturers. After considering the mechanism of the value creation chain of the packaging paper market, many other influences can also be determined. These impacts include “megatrends,” such as the rapidly increasing global e-commerce and the concomitant rapid increase in mail-order sales – which has also been driven by the Internet platform (like eBay) at the level of the domestic consumer.

In the foreseeable future, the Asia-Pacific region’s rapid catch-up with Western consumer habits and the shift from bulk to packaging will drive producers and processors to produce at full capacity.

Functional packaging materials, display, high-quality sales packaging materials with “noble” charm, practical packaging materials that can be broken off by the dotted line for discount market, joint packaging, low-quantity packaging materials, high-quality high-grade and top-grade corrugated cardboard Packing materials, new composite packaging materials, service concepts with logistics advantages and location advantages (acquired through production plants close to consumers (cardboard mills)) - in the traditional western market, all of these importance will be obtained Raise and determine trends accordingly.

According to the development of the local market, the competition of paper-based packaging materials and flexible plastic packaging materials in the world (and in various regions, of course) will exist to varying degrees. But the pendulum will still swing in favor of paper and cardboard packaging materials (because they have many advantages), and new combinations are also possible here.

Development of packaging materials and printing equipment

Thus, the growing market conditions are good. But what impact will this have on processors in the value-creation chain, producers of corrugated paperboard, producers of paper and board, manufacturers of folding cartons, and printers? They are closest to their own customers—commodity manufacturers. , branded goods producers, cheap stores, and their public relations strategists - they know best about the various requirements. They have the fastest response and have the greatest flexibility in finding the right solution.

The focus here is on the developers of packaging materials—those creative developers must go to achieve what the market demands.

The market share of cheap stores is increasing, and their quality is increasing at the same time. This means that the functions of point-of-sale packaging materials must be continuously increased to enable color printing suitable for sales and ready-to-sell applications.

Today, transport packaging materials and repackaging materials must be much more versatile than they were a decade ago. They are of higher quality, more versatile, often printed in several colors, are more attractive and more complex in design, and are mostly lighter and more robust - because they are used on shelves or for sale. Point of display.

In almost all cases, this is only possible because of the better quality of the original material (that is, the use of new, advanced surface finishing technology, higher-strength packaging paper or cardboard) - this It is obtained when the pulp grade is generally reduced (due to increasing recycled fiber content).