FOLDING CARTONS + PAPERBOARD CARTONS 101

Paperboard is a general term encompassing many different substrates of paper used in carded packaging. Card stock is also used in a similar manner, referring to paperboard in general or the backing sheets for stiffening paperboard packaging. Some of the specific types of board include:

• Blister Cards 

• Chipboard: Typically made of recycled paper, chipboard is a low-grade paperboard option that is good for padding or as a divider, but does not offer good printing quality or strength.

• Clay-Coated Board: This paperboard is coated with a fine clay to provide a smooth, bright surface for improved printing quality. In reality, even though a board may be referred to as “clay coated,” it may not actually be clay, and other minerals or binding materials may be used.

• CCNB: An abbreviation for clay-coated news back, this term helps describe the paperboard’s make-up. Consumers may be most familiar with this product because it is used for many cereal boxes. There are grades of this material we use in the blister industry, but it’s no longer as prevalent as it used to be for two reasons. The price of the recycled material has increased over time, and the clay coated surface on CCNB is thinner and grainier than SBS preventing quality printing and blister sealing.

• Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS): This high-quality paperboard material is bleached throughout, providing a clean white appearance throughout the entire substrate.

  • C1S or C2S: This is Rohrer’s shorthand for clay-coated on one side or two sides. Clay coated two-sides is used when the package is a two-piece card or a folded card that seals to itself.

  • SBS-I or SBS-II: These are two blister stock solid bleached sulfate materials

  • SBS-C: The “C” indicates carton-grade SBS materials. Carton-grade SBS cannot be used for blister card applications. The difference in the surface prevents blister coatings. Conversely, SBS-I or –II can be used for cartons. Years ago, when the carton industry was slow, many carton producers tried to bridge over to blister card production. They tried and they failed because they used the same stock as they used for everyday cartons. The difference in composition made the venture unsuccessful.