MEMBER'S QUESTION:

We have the opportunity to secure a substantial piece of business.  The customer's specifications reference box dimensions, ECT, and basis weight combinations.  I will submitt selected box samples to a third party lab for evaluation so that you will be able to offer suggestions as to alternative containerboard combinations that will give us both an environmental and economic sustainability advantage.

ASKRalph! Responds:

Below is an assessment of the five different samples you submitted for testing verses what the ECT potentials that could have been developed given the basis weights of the board combinations discovered during the evaluation.

Basis Weight Combinations all C Flute	Converted ECTs Actual Results by Testing	Potential ECT Ranges Before Converting
55/40/69	61	67-82
36/26/36	38	37-41
56/33/56	63	56-73
56/40/69	68	67-82
42/33/56	45	46-64

Other than the second sample, you should be able to deliver the same finished ECTs strength (after converting) to your prospect with less fibre if you have less deterioration losses during your converting operation.  Working with your sheet supplier and knowing that they are achieving the maximum ECT strength from their containerboards is the first step.  Do they test their finished sheets which is you incoming raw material?  Would you like to join in the on-going Degradation Study so that we can benchmark your processes?

How else may we be of assistance on this project?