MEMBER'S QUESTION:

What do you know about ECT 24 replacing ECT 32 ? How would that be possible and what liners? Maybe replacing 150 mullen? What liner weights are used? Were the liner weights 35#. Doesn't 35# liners gets us to 32# now ??

ASKRALPH! RESPONDS:

In the Degradation Study started during the summer of 2008, and has continued to remain open, we  found several converters that have actually shipped boxes with ECTs below the 32# . These were  post press samples that were sent  that may or may not have been above a 32# ECT as incoming sheets. Since these "boxes" did not fail in the field (that we know of) one could assume that  these combined boards in the low twenties have actually substituted for what was described as 32# ECT. It all goes back to knowing your customers' needs.

Using 35# liners does not quaratee combined board performance.  Basis weights are not a good indicator of box performance! If one doesn't bond the components properlyt on the corrugator, flute the medium properly and crush the combined sheet in the converting operation ECT and box performance suffer.  There is a big difference between the potential in the roll stock and the finished product.