The demands of the shipping and packing industry are growing every day, and supplying corrugated for those industries is a never-ending challenge. To do this, a good corrugating machine is needed, but sometimes a merely good machine is not good enough. The modern corrugated-making process needs to be environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient to make end-users happy. Fortunately, there are machines that can meet the requirements.
The Basics of Corrugation
There is no real mystery to the corrugation process —it is mainly a combination of heat and pressure. A thick paper is made from a mixture of pulped wood chips that are compressed together and pushed through steam rollers, removing the moisture. Three rolls of the paper are fed through a machine with more heavy duty heated rollers. The two outer sheets of paper are kept straight, while the inner one is run through gear-like teeth called flutes to create a corrugated layer. This layer is glued between the two straight layers with high heat and pressure to create corrugated cardboard.
Environmentally Sound Corrugation
The end product of corrugation is reusable, recyclable, and generally environmentally friendly. Ideally, the process should be environmentally friendly as well. Some of the ways to make the process less stressful on the environment would include using gels that can be stored at lower temperatures, as well as using machines that are highly efficient and able to use less starch to make the finished product. A sustainable mixing system that incorporates corrugated wastewater into the starch preparation process would also be beneficial for the environment.
The Mark of a Good Machine
As with many pieces of equipment, not every corrugating machine is created equal. The traits of a good machine in any industry include reliability, ease of operation, efficiency, and speed. For corrugating machines, automatic viscosity control, improved bonding, and hybrid mixing technology are all helpful.
Machines that allow for custom application and finishing are ideal. Machines must, of course, be OSHA compliant, and the best ones should feature stainless steel parts, a fully automatic mixing system, and high-shear mixing blades. Environmental responsibility is also a concern, so the best machines will provide the aforementioned environmental benefits and attributes.
One of the best corrugating systems around is FlexaMix, which you can find at RapidBond. Visit www.rapidbond.net to view the capabilities of this amazing system, and to see other services and products available for the corrugating industry.
