Corrugated cardboard in boxes
Corrugated cardboard is a great material for boxes and e-commerce. Learn more about the material step by step.
What is corrugated cardboard?
Corrugated cardboard is a general name for a lightweight box material consisting of at least three layers. The term corrugated refers to the middle layer, where the paper is formed in a wave-like curve, a so-called flute, and then glued together with two flat layers, called liners. The board will then contain air within the flutes, between the layers.
What is flute in corrugated box?
Flute is what the long, narrow hollow form that contains air in the middle layer – or layers – of corrugated cardboard is called. The fluted forms are constructed by corrugating the middle paper, forming it like a wave, and gluing it together with a top and bottom layer, called the liner. When the middle paper has become corrugated, it is called the fluting.
![](https://holmen.imagevault.media/publishedmedia/qzh3a6f0om1mvfm0371b/Flutes_pexels-aleksandar-pasaric-1555199.jpg)
Why is corrugated cardboard so strong?
Corrugated cardboard can be lightweight and strong at the same time thanks to the fluting layer. The stability in the corrugated waveform is an example of the same physics mechanism that enables an arch to withstand the pressure from above by distributing tensional force along the natural curve.
Is corrugated cardboard stronger than regular cardboard?
It depends on how it's constructed, but corrugated cardboard can be stronger than regular cardboard, especially in relation to its weight. The fluting layer adds stability and makes it able to withstand more pressure even though the material contains more air. The regular cardboard is normally easier to bend or break because it does not have the corrugated layer as part of its construction.
Does Holmen make corrugated cardboard?
At Holmen Paper, we produce a lightweight and strong paper component that is used for making the corrugated layer in corrugated cardboard.
This containerboard fluting medium is called Holmen INNR, and is made from fresh woodfibres, a by-product from forest and wood product industries, in a thermomechanical pulping process (TMP). The production process enables the paper to hold more volume than traditional packaging papers, which makes it a great alternative for lowering the transportation weight of all kinds of boxes. The paper can also be used as interliner, which is a layer in between the flutings in a multilayer board. Read more about Holmen INNR.