Paper / corrugated cardboard coating designed to increase the static and sliding friction of the packaging.
Barcode
An optical data carrier for the identification of objects. The data can only be decoded by optical readers. Barcodes consist of different widths of parallel bars. These enable goods flows to be controlled, warehousing to be automated, company processes to be optimised, goods and shipments to be tracked and IDs and tickets to be verified.
Blank
The term ‘blank’ refers to the number of copies of a print product that are placed on a print sheet or reel. In order to make the most efficient use of the space available and to reduce production costs, several identical or different blanks or copies of the product to be printed (e.g. posters or packaging) are usually arranged on the paper.
The flexible printing plates used in flexographic printing are called clichés. Nowadays they are often made of photopolymer. More information: „Flexo printing“.
CMYK is a subtractive colour model that provides the technical basis for four-colour printing. All other colours are created from the colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black).
CO2equivalent is a comparative benchmark which states how much a gas contributes to warming the Earth’s atmosphere in a given period of time compared to the same amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). Accordingly, the entire process chain of a product can be included in a CO2e calculation so that the amount of CO2e can be calculated accurately and waste can be detected.
During coating, particles of an amorphous substance are applied to a surface structure, which creates a closed coat. The aim of surface finishing is to improve the processing capability of the material and to combine base materials. This is intended to exploit the respective advantages of the individual materials and compensate for disadvantages. See also the “Coatings” Info Page.
A code of conduct is a set of rules of conduct relating to ethical values, laws and other aspects of corporate responsibility. Such a code represents a type of self-regulation. Audits are used to determine whether Codes of Conduct are being complied with by suppliers and if any deviations are ascertained, corrective measures or even sanctions can be instigated. Well-known Codes of Conduct: BSCI Code of Conduct, UN Global Compact. Christiansen Print operates two Codes of Conduct, namely the CoC for employees and the CoC for suppliers and business partners. More information: “Codes of Conduct”.
The paper of the ComBa Liner is coated with a water-based varnish in a special printing process. It creates a barrier that reduces water permeability and is also steam resistant. Coated paper is also characterised by reduced fat permeability which ensures that no oils penetrate the barrier over a defined period of time. More information: „ComBa Liner“.
Pre-cut sheets are unprocessed sheets made from corrugated cardboard/paper. Pre-cuts are frequently used as intermediate layers for pallet security, as a padding solution, as pallet covers for transportation or storage or as visible protection or dust protection for lattice boxes or returnable containers.
Cutting marks (also known as longitudinal cutters, bow ties or edge elements) are positioned at the edge of the web layout and are used to precisely adjust the longitudinal knives during the converting process. They are detected by cameras on the converting machines. The most common type of cutting mark is called a ‚fly‘ because of its appearance. There should be a pressure-free area before and after the cutting marks, which can be left uncoated. Cutting marks are essential for pre-print, but do not need to be specified.
Eco-labels are symbols or seals affixed to goods which are used to visualise and highlight the sustainability of the packaging. However, packaging must already meet certain criteria in order to be allowed to use special eco-labels such as the FSC logo or the RESY eco-label. More information: „Recycling codes“.
The term Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) describes an initiative in which upstream suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers have joined forces. Its goal is to improve the logistics chain through joint efforts and as a result to offer consumers the best quality, service and product variety at optimum cost.
The European Article Number consists of 13 digits and is used to simplify logistical processes, for automation and to increase safety. It is machine readable and coded (country of manufacture, manufacturer and product).
A finger mark (hair mark, report bar, register mark) is usually located at the edge of the web layout and indicates the repeat or print length. It is used to cut the printed sheet precisely along the mark. Finger marks can have one, two or three bars. There is a print-free area before and after the mark, which may also remain unvarnished. Finger marks are indispensable in preprint and must therefore be clearly defined at the edge of the web layout.
High Quality Post Print (HQPP) is flexo direct printing at the highest quality level with cost-effective production for smaller print runs.
Post print (corrugated cardboard direct printing) is a form of flexo printing which prints directly onto corrugated cardboard. This is suitable for simple printed images where high quality is not a requirement.
In preprint (corrugated cardboard preprint) the paper outside cover of the corrugated cardboard is printed first and then laminated onto the flute with the internal web. This is referred to as web press.
Flexo printing is a direct high-pressure process which uses flexible photopolymer or rubber printing plates and low-viscosity inks. As a high-pressure process the raised areas are the print form and image-bearing.
FSC® stands for the “Forest Stewardship Council®” certification system. This seal distinguishes wood and paper products which originate from responsibly managed forestry. More information: „Recyclingcodes“.
With the Global Trade Item Number, GTIN, formerly EAN), each item, product or product variant can be identified worldwide without overlap. The GTIN has 13 characters (country code, company number, item number, check digit), which make product information such as designation, weight, container size or product group electronically readable and accessible in a database by means of parallel light and dark lines. The GTIN is used wherever product identification is required (entire product life cycle: warehouse, production, transport, point of sale).
Grammage indicates a surface-related mass [g/m²]. More specifically, it is a measurement unit for paper, cardboard and board that determines the mass per surface unit (m²).
Hazardous goods are goods (materials / substances) which present specific risks to humans, animals and the environment. Packaging for hazardous materials must be an approved design and subject to special quality requirements in production.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an association of standards institutes from over 150 countries. It is an association under Swiss law (Art. 60 Swiss Civil Code). The ISO standards it specifies are a system for quality assurance of goods and services. The EU has adopted the standards of the ISO rules into the European Standards EN 29000-29004. Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) standards on the other hand, are based on similar principles, but apply exclusively in Germany. More information: „Quality Management“.
Liner paper consisting of coniferous wood sulphate pulp with a maximum recycled fibre content of 20 %. Due to its high portion of long fibres kraftliner is the strongest of all corrugated cardboard base papers. Kraftliner is humidity-resistant and is preferred for use in transportation packaging.
DIN 30781 states that a load carrier is a load-bearing means for combining goods into a single loading unit. Load carriers such as pallets, lattice boxes or containers make it easier to store, handle and transport goods.
A ‚multi-job‘ is a print job on a digital press in which several individual jobs are placed one after the other on the reel to make the most efficient use of the reel length. This method promotes resource-efficient production and is particularly suitable for smaller job sizes that can be processed together.
A ‚multi-lane‘ job (also known as a ‚multi-knife‘ job) is a print job on a digital press in which multiple individual jobs are arranged both side by side and one behind the other on the reel. This makes the best use of both the width and length of the reel. Unlike the ‚multi-job‘ process, this variant allows even more efficient use of the paper width in some cases. It also helps to conserve resources, making it particularly suitable for smaller jobs that can be printed in combination.
The term ‚paper shrinkage‘ refers to the reduction in paper size caused by temperature-related effects during the printing and finishing process. At Christiansen Print, the average paper shrinkage is 0.4 % in flexo printing and 0.6 % in digital printing, depending on the substrate used. To compensate for this effect, the width of the print is increased in advance by the corresponding percentage.
Flat material made from plant fibres by dewatering through a sieve. A distinction is made between coated and uncoated paper. Coated papers are coated with a binder, which gives the paper a glossy finish and allows for finer printing screens. Uncoated papers appear rougher at first glance, but absorb ink better.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as 'forever chemicals', have increasingly become the focus of attention due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. PFAS chemicals are often used to make packaging more resistant to liquids and greases. Our ComBa liners are completely PFAS free and still offer excellent barrier properties against water, fats and acids. By not using PFAS in our coatings, we ensure that your packaging is not only functional, but also environmentally and health friendly.
Picking is the process of compiling goods according to specified (smaller) orders from a total product range. There are two main differences when describing picking systems: The goods-to-person system (goods are brought to a person by conveyor technology) or the person-to-goods system (person picks up the goods from the warehouse location).
Finished corrugated cardboard is printed on directly using post print. This can lead to what is known as the “washboard effect”, which is created by the flutes of the cardboard during printing.
In preprint the liner of the corrugated cardboard is printed first and then laminated onto the corrugated cardboard.
Colourless coating applied in the printing press. It improves surface properties such as rub resistance and gloss.
The PCF identifies, analyses and quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions of a product (e.g. packaging) and includes all climate-relevant effects arising from raw material extraction to recycling or disposal. All climate-relevant gases (methane, nitrous oxide, fluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride), which are expressed in CO2equivalents, are measured.
A proof is a sample which is as close as possible to the respective print process. The proof is used as a control method for fine-tuning the colours mainly in a 1:1 ratio.
A QR code is a unique two-dimensional code consisting of white and black pixels. QR stands for “quick response” which refers to the functionality of the code. This can be scanned with a QR scanner and should guide the user directly to the desired URL. QR codes are often used for marketing purposes and printed on products. They can, for example, be linked to web addresses, telephone numbers, SMS or free text.
Tolerances in the order quantity that are significantly influenced by production-related factors. Unless otherwise agreed, overdelivery and underdelivery of an order quantity are within defined tolerance limits.
Recycling is the reuse of production and consumer waste. It is therefore crucial that these waste products are re-integrated into the economic cycle and then used to manufacture new products. One of the objectives of recycling is to reduce the use of fresh raw materials and generate less waste.
Rejects refer to the amount of paper that has been damaged during further processing due to machine set-up, incorrect printing or cutting and can therefore no longer be used.
The reproduction (or processing) process describes the process of converting artwork, sketches and ideas into printable files or materials. The source data is captured digitally or analogously and then the colours and images are corrected or retouched and adapted to the printing process. The aim is to achieve the best possible quality. Reproduction avoids colour variations or blurred printing results.
A screen is the regular arrangement of points in a lattice structure. The fineness of a screen (size of the raster dots and distance between the dots) is referred to as the screen density (an 80 screen therefore has 80 screen dots per cm).
Special colours are specially manufactured printing inks that are not made from the four standard colours (CMYK) and therefore depict their own additional colours in the printing process. They are primarily used for marketing purposes. HKS and Pantone are the best-known manufacturers of special colours in the packaging sector.
Speciality papers are paper types with special properties such as high tear resistance, grease resistance, moisture barrier, heat resistance. Examples of speciality papers are: THIMM Starliner®, THIMM Multiflute®, foodWave, Impress, GlossGD2 and PE papers.
Partial varnishing, also known as spot varnish or 3D varnishing, is a paper finishing process where only partial varnish is applied to the print material. This enables selective highlights and various effects such as relief, structures and gloss/matt effects to be generated.
Standard climate refers to a defined range with controlled temperature and relative humidity which is specified for the testing of materials in order to make these tests comparable. DIN EN ISO 20187 specifies a standard climate of 23°C (± 1°C) and 50% (± 2%) relative humidity for testing paper and corrugated cardboard.
In SMI the supplier assumes responsibility for the inventory levels of the customer. To enable this the supplier obtains access to the inventory and demand data of the customer.
All activities which are necessary in order to satisfy the demand of a product or a service, starting from the demand for raw materials or data through to the delivery of the finished product to the end user.
Liner paper made from 100 % recycled fibres with defined strengths. It is generally available as multi-layer, glued and unglued. In comparison to kraftliner, it is overall more moisture-sensitive and has a lower burst pressure. In Germany there are three different TL groups: T1, T2 and T3.
The time period between the start of the first work step and the completion of the last work step in the production of a good. Accordingly, the throughput time for an order can be calculated by adding up the processing, waiting and dispatch times of all production stages.
The supplier takes responsibility for the customer‘s stock levels. To enable this, the supplier is given access to the customer‘s stock and demand data.
The web layout is similar to a technical drawing for a print job. It shows the product to be printed (e.g. packaging) and all the marks required for printing and finishing. In addition, a web layout can contain several screens to organise print production efficiently.
In web-press printing, the substrate (e.g. foil / paper) is rolled continuously off the roll and printed. Web-press printing is usually more efficient for high print runs than sheet-fed printing (e.g. newspaper printing). The print substrate is therefore only cut to its final format after printing.