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Paper Tubes and Plastic Plugs Go Together Like Peanut Butter and Jelly

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Some things are just meant to be together…

What would peanut butter be without jelly? Who would Batman be without Robin? How lonely would salt feel without pepper?

Paper tubes are no different. Without friction-fit plastic plugs, banners, posters and prints would simply slide right out of our mailing and shipping tubes. An end closure is needed, and there are a few different ways to secure the ends of paper tubes. White plastic plugs are the go-to option.

Friction-fit plastic plugs are made with virgin plastic.

This is important because plastic plugs made with virgin content are stronger and more durable than plugs made with recycled material. It also ensures a clean, white looking plug. White plastic plugs made with highly recycled content are easily noticed because they appear spotted and “dirty.”

Plastic plugs have 2 prominent features:

  • pull tab
  • ribbed-sides

The pull tab allows the plastic plug to be easily removed while the ribbed sides push against the paper tube’s inside walls and help keep it in place. These two features, and economical pricing, make it the most commonly used end closure.

Freight companies are damaging our shipments. What can we do?

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If you ship corrugated boxes on pallets, you’ve probably said this before.

A few years ago, box manufacturers started making cardboard boxes with higher recycled content. This is good for the environment but bad for logistics. What you may have saved by purchasing a more economical box, you’re paying for in freight claims.

What’s the solution?

Protect your LTL and truckload shipments by adding Edge Protectors along the vertical and horizontal corners. Paper Edge Protectors protect vulnerable corners during transit.

When metal or plastic strapping is used, Edge Protectors also help distribute the force of the banding, resulting in a secure and protected shipment.

Combining a few Edge Protectors with those recycled boxes will continue to save you money, and help you avoid future freight claims.

Visit our product page for additional technical specifications.

 

Can You Identify the Edge Protectors?

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Did you select the middle image? Congratulations!

Edge Protectors are also known as Corner Protectors. They’re used to protect edges and provide additional column strength when used vertically. In the picture above, they’re being used to do both.

Edge Protector Facts:

  1. made with recycled paper
  2. usually white on the outside (top) and kraft brown on the inside (bottom)
  3. shaped into a 90 degree angle
  4. can be printed

Why Are Edge Protectors Important?

When paper is initially made from wood, it has long, strong fibers. Each time paper is recycled, the fibers are shortened, reducing its strength. A common egg carton is the end of the road. The paper has been recycled so many times it has no structural strength. It’s barely strong enough to hold a dozen eggs.

It’s more economical for corrugated box makers to use recycled paper to make boxes. The higher the recycled content, the shorter the fibers, the weaker the box.

The majority of business-to-business shipments (boxes) are sent on wooden pallets, which is why Edge Protectors are needed. Low-quality boxes are set on pallets, with an edge protector placed on each of the four corners, then stretch wrapped. Together, the wooden pallet, weak corrugated boxes, and thick Edge Protectors create a sturdy shipment.

It’s more economical for businesses to combine a cheaper, low-quality box with Edge Protectors than it is to purchase corrugated boxes made with less recycled content.

The Future of Packaging 2016

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According to Hannu Alalauri, SVP at The Global Pack Summit, the packaging industry is seeing the following 5 major trends:

  1. Increasing importance of brand building and “shelf standout”
  2. Increasing competitive intensity in the value chain drives cost focus
  3. Sustainability and environmental friendliness is growing in importance
  4. Intelligent packaging will grow stronger in the future
  5. E-tailing volumes will continue to increase

Read more…

Merry Christmas from all of us at Spiral Paper Tube & Core!

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Another wonderful year is coming to a close at Spiral Paper Tube & Core.

As a local manufacturer of paper tubes and edge protectors, our paper products have continued to give us the opportunity to meet great people who either use or distribute our products.

Since 1949, our family owned and operated shop has valued the personal relationship we have with our customers. Read more…

California is a great place to make tubes and edge protectors!

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Back in 1949, George Hibard Sr. founded Spiral Paper Tube & Core in Los Angeles. Today, we’re still in Los Angeles.

With our many freeways, rail yards, and proximity to the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, it makes shipping and receiving pretty easy…a must for any mid-sized packaging manufacturer! Read more…

Expand Your Packaging Knowledge!

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Introducing the first Knowledge Base dedicated entirely to paper tubes and edge protectors!

We’ve been serving the packaging community since 1949 and have learned a few things along the way. Now, we want to share everything we’ve learned with you!

Whether you’re just starting out or are an industry pro, you’ll find these articles helpful and informative!

Our Knowledge Base is an online library of articles, addressing just about everything having to do with cardboard tubes and edge protectors. Articles discuss topics such as raw materials, the manufacturing process, printing options, packaging, and shipping. Read more…

What are “seaming tins” and why do so many want them?

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Seaming tins are circular, punch-pressed metal end closures, used on the tops and bottoms of Fiber Cans and Telescope Tubes.

The process of permanently applying a tin part to a paper tube is defined as “seaming.” Seaming tins are .007″ thick, or the thickness of 2-3 sheets of standard, white printer paper. The majority of seaming tins are plain and used because they are weight-bearing. Pringles potato chip canisters are a classic example.

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While most are plain, some canisters have more specific uses and require the seaming tin to have holes or slots. Donation canisters have a coin slot in the top to allow people to drop coins into the canisters. As the canister gets filled, it becomes heavier, and so a plain seaming tin is often used on the bottom.

Using a coin-slotted seaming tin on the top helps ensure the donations will be kept safe while the plain seaming tin on the bottom keep the coins from falling out. Read more…

Are your retail displays ready for selling season?

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If you’re a merchant, you’re probably getting ready for this year’s selling season.

Selling season, October through December, is when consumers will hand billions of dollars over to merchants. It’s the one season every merchant pays particular attention to.

Merchants focus on three things: 1) products, 2) packaging, and 3) displays.

A merchant may have a great product, but if the packaging or display doesn’t represent the product well, it won’t sell.

The best retail stores, both brick and mortar and  online retailers, aim to impress each customer with fresh display ideas and packaging they feel proud to hold.

Litho display poles are one of our products that help merchants make selling season a success! Litho display poles often go unnoticed, but only if you’re not supposed to see it. Structurally, display poles are made just like paper towel tubes and wrapping paper tubes, only stronger. Read more…

How to ship posters?

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Let’s assume you’re just starting your poster company and that you are the one who will be purchasing the supplies, packing everything, and shipping the posters yourself. And keep in mind that “poster tubes” is just another name for “mailing tubes”, “shipping tubes”, “cardboard tubes”, and “paper tubes.” Referring to a “paper tube” as a “poster tube” is just a more specific way of referring to it.

Read more…