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Plastic End Plugs…Hidden in Plain Sight

The ongoing joke for many in the paper tube industry, is that the average American uses 8 paper tubes a day…all without realizing it.

Because who really pays attention to how the Pringles can is made? Or that the salt and paper shaker at the dinner table is like a mini Pringles can with a shaker top. Or that mascara is packaged in a cute paper canister.

The same applies to plastic end plugs.

For those who have ever ordered a poster of your favorite band or classic movie, it probably arrived in a spiral paper tube, with white plastic end plugs at each end. But you, like most, probably removed the end plug, carefully removed the prized poster, and simply tossed the poster tube and end plugs without ever giving the packaging a second thought.

Poster tubes and plastic end plugs are the #1 method to ship poster tubes, but since the average person doesn’t really knows that, we’ll just continue to be grateful to play a small role in getting a beloved poster to an appreciative fan.

When choosing a paper tube, be sure to consider the End Closure

Getting a product to market, or planning how best to ship it, is quite a feat. There’s a million details that need to be considered.

A brown cardboard box is simple and economical. Think about all of your amazon.com orders. How do they arrive? In a brown cardboard box with an Amazon logo. It gets the job done. But does it leave a lasting impression? No.

When you order a rare print or poster, and it arrives in a poster tube (not a box), but default, it’s exciting. But why?

It’s different. It’s not a box. It’s round.

Round packaging is less common, so it feels exciting.

A “paper tube” becomes a “poster tube” when two things happen: first, when you insert a poster. And second, when you insert end closures.

Friction-fit plastic end plugs are used with poster tubes for a variety of reasons. Plastic end plugs are light and help keep shipping costs low.

The ribbed, friction fit helps the packer and end user easily remove and replace them. And lastly, they’re available in different colors.

For more information on our end closures, visit our product page.

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.

Every Good Mailing Tube Must Come To An End

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End Closures are the crux components at the ends of mailing tubes, paper canisters, paper cores, shipping tubes, and donation cans.

Depending on how End Closures are used, they are often called different names and made of different materials – plastic, paper, and metal are the three most common materials.

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