Bubble Wrap 101

bubble wrap from PackagingSupplies.com

When ordering bubble wrap, customers are always asking me how the air stays inside each bubble. The truth is bubble wrap is made with very specific types of film to ensure the air stays inside the bubble packing material.  The film used in bubble wrap is actually three layers glued together.  A layer of nylon is sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene.  It is the nylon that acts as the air retention layer whose prime purpose is to hold the air inside each bubble.  Without it, the air would seep right through the polyethylene.

Also note when measuring bubble wrap, the industry standard way to do so is by measuring the thickness or height of the bubble.  It is NOT measured by the bubble’s diameter.  For instance, 3/16″ bubble wrap means that the bubble height for each bubble is 3/16″.

Our bubble wrap has environmental benefits as well.  Since it uses air as its cushion, it provides better protection and uses less packaging materials than kraft paper or packing peanuts.  It is reusable as long as the air stays inside each bubble.  It is recyclable and is made from recycled content.

The Advantages of Using Gummed Packaging Tape

Gummed tape is a type of packaging tape that’s also known as water activated packaging tape. It’s a type of tape that, like its name suggests, requires moistening in order to be applied. It’s most commonly used in packaging things like corrugated fiberboard boxes. Gummed packaging tape is an excellent cost-effective way to sturdily secure your packaging supplies.

 

This water activated sealant is capable of bonding to dusty surfaces and it’s even able to make your packages safer by offering extra reinforcement to corrugated shipping boxes. Because it bonds instantly, gummed packaging tape creates a tamper-evident seal, which adds to package security.

 

With using gummed packaging tape, you’ll typically be able to use less tape than you would if you were using normal packing tape. For a normal package, a single strip of gummed packaging tape will secure what several strips of regular packing tape would do. Tests show that the superior strength and sturdiness of gummed packaging tape means you’ll be able to seal up to 40% more boxes than with other tape. This makes gummed packaging tape great for saving time and money.

 

The water-sealing capabilities of gummed packaging tape also means that it’s great in extreme temperature conditions. Either in hot or cold areas, gummed packaging tape will not peel or loosen.

 

PackagingSupplies.com offers several types of gummed packaging tape. We offer light duty gummed packaging tape, which is reinforced three ways, all the way up to extra heavy duty gummed packaging tape, which is reinforced five ways. PackagingSupplies has the reinforced gummed packaging tape for whatever size packages you need to ship.

 

Why There are Different Sizes of Corrugated Flutes

Corrugated Boxes

Over 90% of all products shipped throughout the world are shipped in corrugated boxes (also referred to as cardboard boxes).  By changing the box’s design, a corrugated box can be made to efficiently ship and store almost any product.  In order to provide a wide variety of box styles, there are generally four style of flutes to choose from during the manufacturing process.

What are “flutes” you ask?  If you look closely at the edge of a corrugated box, the flutes are the arches of corrugated board in a zigzag pattern sandwiched between two pieces of fiberboard.  Once again there are four styles of flutes to choose from – A, B, C, and E.  (Yeah that’s right. There is no “D” flute.)  Each has a different dimension:

A Flute = 3/16″ height with 36 flutes per lineal foot

B Flute = 1/8″ height with 50 flutes per lineal foot

C Flute = 5/32″ height with 42 flutes per lineal foot

E Flute = 1/16″ height with 94 flutes per lineal foot

A flute is ideal for single faced corrugated rolls due to its thickness and cushioning ability.  B flute is used widely with die cut corrugated mailers since it allows for easier folding and creasing than C flute.  C flute the choice for normal RSC (regular slotted cartons) corrugated shipping boxes while E flute is used in retail corrugated packaging where vibrant graphics are used since it provides the best printing surface at 94 flutes per lineal foot.

Two flutes (B and C) can be employed in different combinations to form double-wall boxes with the B flute on the outside on the outside and the C flute on the inside. In this double wall construction, the flutes always run parallel to each other.

Flute type is closely related to cushioning ability and the resistance of the board to crushing compression forces.  For instance, when weight is applied direct down on a sheet of flat corrugated,  B flute, having a greater number of flutes per foot, can support a greater weight than A or C flute.  If you take a corrugated sheet and stand it upright and then apply weight directly down on the side of the sheet of corrugated with the corrugated flute pattern showing on the top and bottom, A flute, having the largest columns, can support a greater weight than B or C flute.   If you stand up a sheet of corrugated and have the flutes show to the left and right and apply weight directly down on the side of the sheet, B flute is capable of supporting the greatest amount of weight.

A flute has the best cushioning qualities because of its greater height or thickness. Conversely, A flute does not fold or crease as readily as B flute because of its greater thickness. Puncture and tearing resistance are influenced by flute height, with A flute having greater puncture resistance than B while B actually has better having somewhat better tearing resistance than A.  In all of these properties, C flute is about midway between A and B.

With the constant demands of customers to reduce costs at any expense,  many box styles are available in stock utiliizing the four flutes discussed in this blog.

Tyvek Shipping Envelopes — the Safest Way to Send Papers

When you’re sending important papers and you just can’t afford to let them get damaged, then you need to use the Tyvek shipping envelopes we have available at PackagingSupplies.com. These are some of the most secure and safest shipping envelopes available. As Dupont likes to say, “It isn’t paper…it’s Tyvek.”

 

Tyvek shipping envelopes are extremely durable. They won’t puncture. They won’t fray. They repel water damage. Tyvek shipping envelopes offer you all of these heavy-duty protections without sacrificing the compactness and lightness of common shipping envelopes. Actually, while significantly stronger than paper, Tyvek shipping envelopes are lighter than paper too. And the envelopes are 100% recyclable.

 

And Tyvek shipping envelopes can stand some of the roughest handling and still look as elegant as simple paper shipping envelopes. With a bright white tint and silky smooth feel, the shipping envelopes stand out as sharp and professional-looking. The clear white shipping envelopes are great for printing company logos

 

PackagingSupplioes.com sells the original Tyvek shipping envelopes, along with the expandable shipping envelopes and the new economy ship-lite brand, which are the lightest yet. When you really need to protect what’s inside from the rigors and potential dangers of shipping, Tyvek shipping envelopes are the way to go.