Current Questions & Answers

ASKRalph! RESPONDS:

 Following is and excellent article by Color Resoultions that appeared in the September/October issue of AICC's BoxScore brochure.

 

MEMBER'S QUESTION:

We recently had a customer asking us to provide our processes and certification for traceability of fiber source for our packaging and what certification we have that assures them that we are in compliance.  We responded that both of the suppliers we use are SFI certified and that we are working toward certification by year end. 

That's when I realized that I know nothing about what the Lacey Act actually requires, who it applies to, or anything else.  Can you provide some information regarding this specific Act?

ASKRalph! Responds:

“The Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3371-3378, protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations.  Most notably, the Act prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. Thus, the Act underscores other federal, state, and foreign laws protecting wildlife by making it a separate offense to take, possess, transport, or sell wildlife that has been taken in violation of those laws. The Act prohibits the falsification of documents for most shipments of wildlife (a criminal penalty) and prohibits the failure to mark wildlife shipments (civil penalty). The Lacey Act is administered by the Departments of the Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture through their respective agencies. These include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.”

Source: Michigan State University

MEMBER’S QUESTION:

I am asked quite often for documents and specifications for the glue lap specifications for corrugated boxes. We typically provide a contact or non-contact system that will apply 90-100% coverage depending upon the size of the tab. I have researched and really have not found anything worthwhile. Do you have any specifications or could you lead me in the right direction? I believe the most common questions we are asked is what are the specifications for glue coverage on a typical tab 1.25” width, 1.50” width, 1.75” and 2”.

ASKRALPH RESPONDS:

I just returned from the summer 2008 TAPPI CORBOTEC meeting where my network associates from across the industry were present. Item 222 and Rule 41 as reproduced in the Fibre Box Handbook state that there must be 100 percent adhesive coverage on the glue tab.  Their response seem rather black and white to me.  Many other technical members did say that they use a glue wheel instead of an eight opening extrusion head.

MEMBER'S QUESTION:

Hi Ralph,

Occassionally, the question arises "What is a typical or appropriate warranty period for corrugated products?"  We certainly don't advocate forcing customers to accept sub par quality products, however, there are situations which arise where the discussion comes up. Is it different for die cut vs. flexo work?  What about printing, litho lam. etc?
 
This relates to finished boxes that sits at a customer's site for an extended period of time. When finally unbanded for use, they may experience cracking which may have occurred due to their storage conditions,  or in one case recently, a printed and glued "weekender" style display had a weakening of the board in piece just below the glue tab of the piece above.  This compression caused weakness.  They had sat there for 4 months. We probably had crushed them in our banding process, however, it;'s possible that due to time, they took a prominent set that would not have occurred in a shorter time frame. The question was asked " What is the life expectancy or warranty period for a product such as this"  We resoved it by replacing the product at our expense,  but it brings up a few interesting points.
 
 
ASKRALPH RESPONDS:

Great to hear from you.  Thank you for the question.

Your question somewhat precedes an article in the May/June issue of BoxScore.  Review, distribute and save the chart on the Expected Values of Combined Board.  As long as the corrugated products maintain their flat crush, edge crush, and pin adhesion strength values close to what they were when the products were manufactured, then the aged products are the same as new production.