MEMBER'S QUESTION:

I am ready to quote on a substantial new piece of business.  The potential customer's specs include both basis weights combinations and minimum top-to-bottom compression.  I will send you my competitors boxes so that they can be evaluated.  Please get back to me with your recommendations.

ASKRALPH! RESPONDS:

As promised here the range in ECT values based on the AF&PA Continuous Containerboard Data Report.  I have taken the CD ring crush values for the grades listed in the spec sheet and calculated the ECTs based on the high and low ring crushes for each grade.  These have not been reviewed by another set of eyes, so tell me if these values do not seem correct to you.  I was also very impressed by the packer’s specification for minimum compression values and not just board combinations with a reference to basis weights.

 

Basis Weight Combinations	ECTs: Range in Values
56-33C-56	57-70 pli
35-26C-35	37-41
35-33C-56	47-58
56-40C-69	68-80
56MW-47-69	72-90

 

It will be interesting to compare the ECT values with the third party evaluation of the actual competitor’s boxes.  We can talk later about converting ECT to actual top-to-bottom compression when we have the calipers of the combined board and the actual dimensions supplier by the end user.