european corrugated base papers list - CEPI Containerboard

EUROPEAN 

CORRUGATED 

BASE PAPERS 

LIST 

DEFINITION 

IDENTIFICATION 

TERMS OF GUARANTEE 

FOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

GROUPEMENT

EUROPEAN 

CORRUGATED 

BASE PAPERS 

LIST 

2 

ENGLISH 

FRENCH 

GERMAN 

ITALIAN 

SPANISH 

GROUPEMENT 

Document available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish.

� FOREWORD 

EUROPEAN CORRUGATED BASE PAPERS LIST 

This document represents the outcome of a review of the list of corrugated paper grades, their specification and classification. These paper grades are produced 

and sold by the members of the European corrugated paper industry, and are used in the manufacture of corrugated board. 

This document was first issued in 1992, and since then the knowledge and understanding of how the properties of papers influence properties of the box, and 

the performance of the corrugator, has improved. Recently a group of technical experts from both European Containerboard Organisation (ECO) and 

Groupement Ondulé (GO) were commissioned to review this document and update it using current knowledge of the papers, their properties, and performance 

in the market place. 

The classifications and specifications presented in this document represent the conclusions from this expert review. The document is subdivided into “families” 

of products used currently for the production of corrugated board and the main changes to the previous document are: 

� Kraftliner brown and white 

Modification and clarification of the definition and specification have been introduced. 

� Testliner and light weight recycled liner 

Modification and clarification of the definition and specification have been made, and SCT-CD is now expressed as an index for testliners. 

� White recycled liners 

The general structure of the classification has been changed. 

The brightness test method refers now exclusively to the complete procedure defined by ISO Standard 2470-1. Consequently, UV is included in 

the light source and the brightness specification has been amended to reflect the change in the method. 

Furthermore the roughness specification and burst index have been amended. 

� Semi chemical fluting 

SCT-CD Index values have been introduced. Furthermore CMT Index specifications have been modified. 

� Recycled fluting - medium and light weight recycled medium 

Modification and clarification of the classification have been made. 

� Paper Moisture 

Guidelines have been produced to better describe moisture variability in the paper in the cross direction. 

Further work in all these areas is progressing so that the document can be updated in the future with the most current knowledge available. Areas for future work 

include the influence of machine direction strength on box performance, the evaluation of alternative ways to measure strength, such as TSI (Tensile Stiffness 

Index), alternative ways to measure and better describe brightness, and the influence of paper properties on creep. 

Furthermore, in order to allow the use of the previous grade list within the identification system of reels by bar-coding, as defined by the European corrugated 

paper industry, numbers had been assigned to the different paper grades before their converting. In order to keep alterations to the minimum, the previous identification 

numbers have been left unchanged as far as possible. 

New references have been allocated to kraftliners (from 90 to 99) and to high performance recycled fluting (44). 

This classification combines also, for certain qualities, indications of composition, technical characteristics and technical sales conditions, and these ones are 

complementary to the “Terms of acceptance for technical specifications” adopted by the Groupement Ondulé in 1994 and revised in 2003. For their better implementation, 

these terms of acceptance for technical specifications have been included in this new issue of this reference document. 

Finally, the reference document is the English version and its updated issue can be found on the Groupement Ondule web site. 

3

4

� SUMMARY 

EUROPEAN CORRUGATED BASE PAPERS LIST 

1 � DEFINITION OF THE GRADES 6 

LINERS 

Brown kraftliner 6 

White kraftliner 6 

Testliner 8 

Brown light weight recycled liner 9 

Other brown recycled liners 9 

White recycled liner, uncoated 10 

Mottled recycled liner 11 

White recycled liner, coated 11 

FLUTINGS - MEDIUM 

Semi chemical fluting 12 

Recycled fluting - medium 13 

Light weight recycled fluting 14 

Other flutings 14 

2 � IDENTIFICATION OF THE GRADES 15 

3 � TERMS OF GUARANTEE FOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 16 

5

� LINERS 

BROWN KRAFTLINER 

� MATERIAL 

DEFINITION 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

WHITE KRAFTLINER 

� MATERIAL 

DEFINITION 

� BRIGHTNESS 

MEASUREMENT 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

DEFINITION OF THE GRADES 

� A brown kraftliner is a paper predominantly made from primary kraft pulp. 

� Burst is considered as one of the most important strength properties of Kraftliner. The compression strength properties of 

Kraftliner is today discussed between customers and suppliers, mostly in terms of SCT-CD. The knowledge is improving 

however, and shows that the contribution to box compression strength is also influenced by e.g. SCT-MD and tensile stiffness 

MD and CD. The specifications of these properties will be included in future revisions of this document. 

BURST INDEX 

SUBSTANCE (g/m 2 ) < 250 ≥ 250 

Long-fibre, brown 

Short-fibre, brown > 3.5 > 3.0 

Wet strength 

� A white kraftliner is a paper predominantly made from primary kraft pulp. 

� Brightness is measured according to conditions defined by the standard ISO 2470-1. 

� Burst is considered as one of the most important strength properties of Kraftliner. The compression strength properties of 

Kraftliner is today discussed between customers and suppliers, mostly in terms of SCT-CD. The knowledge is improving 

however, and shows that the contribution to box compression strength is also influenced by e.g. SCT-MD and tensile stiffness 

MD and CD. The specifications of these properties will be included in future revisions of this document. 

6

� LINERS 

WHITE KRAFTLINER 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 


BURST INDEX ISO BRIGHTNESS 

Fully white > 80% 

White top 

White mottled 

Coloured 

> 3.5 

> 70% 

BURST INDEX ISO BRIGHTNESS 

Coated fully white 

> 80% 

> 3.5 

Coated white top > 75% 

7

� LINERS 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 


TESTLINER (other than white recycled liners and brown light weight recycled liners) 

� MATERIAL 

DEFINITION 

� TECHNICAL 

CHARACTERISTICS 

� A testliner is a predominantly recycled fibre based paper, with guaranteed property requirements. 

� Burst index values: the minimum value of Burst Index of a specified grade is the maximum value of the Burst Index for 

the next lower paper grade. 

� SCT-CD values: the minimum value of SCT-CD Index of a specified grade is the maximum value of the SCT-CD Index for 

the next lower paper grade. 

� If one of the limits either burst or SCT-CD is exceeded by a testliner, this paper is automatically classified in the next 

superior testliner grade. 

� Any corrugated case material which does not reach the qualifying criteria retained to define testliners is a special grade 

which may result from specific negotiations between the producer and the client, and which may be the subject of 

particular commercial conditions. In no case may these grades be called “testliner”. 

BURST INDEX 

3.0 

2.5 

2.0 

13.5 

TESTLINER 3 

SCT-CD & BURST COMBINATION FOR TESTLINER < 200 g/m 2 

TESTLINER 2 

TESTLINER 1 

15.5 17.5 

SCT-CD INDEX 

TESTLINER 1 TESTLINER 2 TESTLINER 3 

SUBSTANCE (g/m 2 ) 125 150 200 125 150 200 125 150 200 

Burst index minimum * 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.0 2.0 1.8 

OR 

SCT-CD index minimum* 17.5 15.5 13.5 

* According to the “Terms of guarantee for technical specifications” adopted by the Groupement Ondulé (see pages 16 to 18), the minimum value of a paper 

characteristic is the mean value of the lowest reel of a shipment. 

8

� LINERS 


BROWN LIGHT WEIGHT RECYCLED LINER – LWL 

� MATERIAL 

DEFINITION 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

OTHERS BROWN RECYCLED LINERS 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

� A light weight recycled liner is a predominantly recycled fibre based paper, with guaranteed property requirements. 

� The substance of this paper is strictly below 125 g/m 2. 

� The abbreviation of this name is LWL (Light Weight Liner). 

SUBSTANCE BURST INDEX OR 

SCT-CD (KN/M) 

minimum* minimum* 

Light 120 g/m 2 2.0 1.60 

Weight 115 g/m 2 2.0 1.50 

Liner 110 g/m 2 2.0 1.40 

100 g/m 2 2.0 1.30 

95 g/m 2 2.0 1.25 

* According to the “Terms of guarantee for technical specifications” adopted by the Groupement Ondulé (see pages 16 to 18), the minimum value of a 

paper characteristic is the mean value of the lowest reel of a shipment. 

BURST INDEX 

Brown Bicolor / Brown Duplex / 

Deckenstoff / Couverture ordinaire / > 1.6 

Couverture forte 

Schrenz without guarantees 

9

� LINERS 


WHITE RECYCLED LINER, UNCOATED 

� MATERIAL 

DEFINITION 

� BRIGHTNESS 

MEASUREMENT 

� TECHNICAL 


� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

� An uncoated white recycled liner is a predominantly recycled fibre based paper, with guaranteed property requirements. 

� Brightness is measured according to conditions defined by the standard ISO 2470-1 meaning with a filter corresponding 

to CIE standard C / standard observer 2 degrees (with a progressive adjustment of the filter with fluorescence reference 

linked to ISO IR3 fluorescent standard). 

� If an uncoated white recycled liner does not fulfil the criteria retained to define one of the grades A or B (brightness, roughness 

and burst), this paper is automatically classified in the next inferior grade. 

ROUGHNESS 

600 

1 000 

GRADE C 

(Burst index < 1.7) 

BRIGHTNESS, ROUGHNESS & BURST COMBINATION 

GRADE B 

(Burst index ≥ 1.7) 

70 76 

BRIGHTNESS 

GRADE A 

(Burst index ≥ 1.9) 

GRADE A GRADE B GRADE C 

ISO Brightness ≥ 76% ≥ 70% < 70% 

AND 

Roughness ml/mn ≤ 600 ≤ 1000 > 1000 

(Bendtsen ISO 8791-2) 

AND 

Burst Index ≥ 1.9 ≥ 1.7 < 1.7 

� Concerning COBB, Uncoated White Recycled Liners classified in categories A and B should be sized, typically this 

will be measured by the 1 minute COBB test with values in the range 25 g/m 2 to 45 g/m 2. 

10

� LINERS 

MOTTLED RECYCLED LINER 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 


WHITE RECYCLED LINER, COATED 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

BURST INDEX 

Mottled ≥ 2.2 

Mottled < 2.2 

COATING 

Coated white recycled liner fully 

Coated white recycled liner semi 

11

� FLUTINGS - MEDIUM 

SEMI CHEMICAL FLUTING 

� MATERIAL 

DEFINITION 

� TECHNICAL 


� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 


� A semi chemical fluting is a paper predominantly made from semi chemical primary fibres pulp. 

CMT 30 INDEX 

1.9 

CMT 30 & SCT-CD COMBINATION 

17.0 

SCT-CD INDEX 


CMT 30 INDEX AND 

SCT-CD INDEX 

Semi Chemical Fluting > 1.9 ≥ 17.0 

12



RECYCLED FLUTING - MEDIUM (other than light weight recycled medium) 

� MATERIAL 

DEFINITION 

� TECHNICAL 


� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

� A recycled fluting is a predominantly recycled fibre based paper, with guaranteed property requirements. 

� The substance of recycled fluting is strictly over 100 g/m 2. 

� If one of the limits either CMT 30 or SCT-CD is exceeded by a medium, this paper is automatically classified in the next 

superior medium grade. 

CMT 30 INDEX 

1.8 

1.6 

1.3 

13.5 

MEDIUM 2 

MEDIUM 

CMT 30 & SCT-CD COMBINATION 

MEDIUM HIGH PERFORMANCE 

16.0 18.0 

SCT-CD INDEX 

CMT 30 INDEX OR 

SCT-CD INDEX 

Medium High Performance ≥ 1.8 ≥ 18.0 

Medium ≥ 1.6 ≥ 16.0 

Medium 2 ≥ 1.3 ≥ 13.5 

13



LIGHT WEIGHT RECYCLED MEDIUM – LWM (other than recycled fluting - medium) 

� MATERIAL 

DEFINITION 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

OTHER FLUTINGS - MEDIUM 

� PROPERTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

� A Light Weight Medium is a predominantly recycled fibre based paper, with guaranteed property requirements. 

� The substance of this paper is equal or below 100 g/m 2. 

� The abbreviation of this name is LWM (Light Weight Medium). 

SUBSTANCE CMT 30 minimum* OR 

SCT-CD minimum* 

(N) (KN/m) 

Light 100 g/m 2 145 1.50 

Weight 95 g/m 2 135 1.40 

Medium 90 g/m 2 125 1.30 

80 g/m 2 95 1.10 

* According to the “Terms of acceptance for technical specifications” adopted by the Groupement Ondulé (see pages 16 to 18), the minimum value of a 

paper characteristic is the mean value of the lowest reel of a shipment. 

CMT 30 INDEX 

Straw fluting > 1.4 

Schrenz without guarantees 

14

� GRADE NUMBERS 

KRAFTLINER 

IDENTIFICATION OF THE GRADES 

00 Long-fibre, brown 

01 Short-fibre, brown 

02 Fully white 

03 Coated fully white 

04 White top 

05 Coated white top 

06 White mottled 

07 vacant number 

08 Coloured 

09 Wet strength 

90 to 99 vacant numbers 

TESTLINER 1 

10 Brown testliner 1 

11-12 vacant numbers 

13 Coloured testliner 1 


TESTLINER 2 





TESTLINER 3 





FLUTINGS - MEDIUM 

40 Semi chemical 

41 Medium 

42 Straw fluting 

43 Medium 2 

44 Medium High Performance 


15 

OTHER CORRUGATING MATERIALS 

50 Brown Bicolor / Brown Duplex / Deckenstoff / 

Couverture ordinaire 

51 Couverture forte 


53 Schrenz 


LIGHT WEIGHT RECYCLED FIBRE BASED GRADES 

60 Light Weight Medium (LWM) 


64 Brown Light Weight Liner (LWL) 


WHITE RECYCLED LINERS 

70 White recycled liner, uncoated - Grade A 

71 White recycled liner, uncoated - Grade B 

72 White recycled liner, uncoated - Grade C 


74 Mottled recycled liner (Burst index ≥ 2.2) 

75 Mottled recycled liner (Burst index < 2.2) 


77 White recycled liner fully coated 

78 White recycled liner semi coated 


Note : the system of allocation of numbers, concerns only grades 

of machine-finished papers, prior to conversion.

TERMS OF GUARANTEE FOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Generally speaking, the corrugated base paper producer guarantees the following technical specifications of their products under the conditions defined below, 

and for all the grades mentioned in the preceding pages. 

A/ LIST OF PROPERTIES THAT CAN BE GUARANTED BY THE PAPER PRODUCER 

� KRAFTLINERS 

� RECYCLED LINERS 


The usual specifications guaranteed by the corrugated base paper producers, are the following for the different grades of 

corrugated base papers 

Substance, moisture content, burst, water absorption and, for white grades brightness and roughness. 

Substance, moisture content, burst, compression resistance, water absorption and, for white grades brightness and 

roughness. 

Substance, moisture content, compression resistances. 

B/ TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE GUARANTEE 

� SAMPLING METHOD 

� CHARACTERISTICS VALUE 

VARIATIONS 

� SHIPMENT 

� MEAN VALUE 

� MINIMUM VALUE 

� SUBSTANCE GUARANTEE 

CONDITIONS 

� BASIS WEIGHT VARIATIONS 

In case of a dispute between the customer and supplier, the only authentic measures are those made with both parties present, 

under the conditions laid down by the standard ISO 186 for sampling methods and ISO 187 for the climate conditions. 

These measures are made by the customer’s and supplier’s laboratories, and a third party laboratory may be called upon 

which is accepted by both parties. 

Characteristics are respected if 97.5% of the characteristics values are not less than a minimum value. 

Shipment is defined as at least 20 metric tons or more of an homogeneous quality. 

Mean value is the arithmetic average value of a shipment. 

Minimum value is the lowest reel mean value of a shipment. 

The corrugated base paper producers will guarantee the substance of their papers in standardised measuring conditions. The 

check of this item will only be considered as valid by the producer, if it has been made according the standard ISO 536, with 

a sampling procedure complying with the standard ISO 186. 

Basis weight of the paper has to be determined at the ordered paper moisture. The mean value of the basis weight of the 

shipment has to be within ± 3% of the agreed basis weight for paper with a substance ≤ 200 g/m 2, and ± 4% of the agreed 

basis weight for paper with a substance > 200 g/m 2. The check of this item will only be considered as valid by the producer, 

if it has been made with a sampling procedure complying with the standard ISO 186. 

16


� PAPER MOISTURE The corrugated base paper producers will guarantee the moisture of their papers in standardised measuring conditions. The 

check of this item will only be considered as valid by the producer, if it has been made according the standard ISO 287, with 

a sampling procedure complying with the standard ISO 186. 

For every grade, the maximum difference of the average moisture between customers reels within a shipment, may not differ 

by more than 2%. 

CONTAINERBOARD REQUIREMENTS FOR MOISTURE CONTENT AND VARIATION 

Kraftliner Testliner Semi chemical Recycled 

& other fluting fluting 

recycled liners medium 

Average moisture content of a customer reel in % 6.5 - 9.5 6.0 - 9.0 7.5 - 10.5 6.5 - 9.5 

Without reference, in % 8.0 7.5 9.0 8.0 

Maximum difference of average moisture content 

in % absolute between customer reels 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 

within a shipment 

Maximum CD moisture peak to peak difference 

over the width of customer reel with measuring box 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 

of 15 cm (6 inches) width in % 

Maximum CD moisture peak to peak difference 

at two adjacent measuring boxes of 15 cm (6 inches) 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 

width in a customer reel in % 


The agreed moisture of the shipment is proposed to be between 7.5 and 10.5% moisture content. If there is no reference to 

the moisture of the shipment, the moisture content will be understood to be 9%. 

The individual moisture content values over the width of the customer reel may not differ by more than 4% (calculated on a 

sampling width/measuring box of 15 cm) of the customer reel moisture content mean value. Between two adjacent measuring 

boxes of 15 cm the maximum peak to peak difference is 2.8%. 

RECYCLED FLUTING - MEDIUM 

The agreed moisture of the shipment should be specified to be between 6.5 and 9.5% moisture content. If there is no 

reference to the moisture of the shipment, the moisture content is understood to be 8%. The individual moisture content 

values over the width of the customer reel may not differ by more than 4% (calculated on a sampling width/measuring box 

of 15 cm) of the customer reel moisture content mean value. Between two adjacent measuring boxes of 15 cm the maximum 

peak to peak difference is 2.8%. 

17


� TEST METHODS AND 

UNITS OF MEASUREMENT 

KRAFTLINER 

The agreed moisture of the shipment should be specified to be between 6.5 and 9.5% moisture content. If there is no 

reference to the moisture of the shipment, the moisture content is understood to be 8.0%. 




TESTLINER ET AUTRES COUVERTURES RECYCLÉES 

The agreed moisture of the shipment should be specified to be between 6 and 9% moisture content. If there is no reference 

to the moisture of the shipment, the moisture content is understood to be 7.5%. 




STANDARDS UNITS 

Sampling method ISO 186 - 

Climate ISO 187 °C and RH in % 

Paper moisture ISO 287 % 

Substance ISO 536 g/m2 Burst ISO 2759 kPa 

CMT 30 ISO 7263 N 

SCT ISO 9895 kN/m 

Cobb ISO 535 g/m2 Brightness ISO 2470 - 1 % 

Roughness - Bendtsen ISO 8791 - 2 ml/mn 

� STATISTICAL REPORT If a statistical report on the properties of the delivered papers is requested by the customer, the corrugated base paper 

producers would normally send a report on a monthly basis. 

C/ REEL IDENTIFICATION AND FINISHING 

Concerning the identification and the finishing of the delivered reels, the reference document is the “Guidelines” established in 

2003 and published in common with FEFCO, GO and ECO (this document is available on the FEFCO website: www.fefco.org). 

18

EUROPEAN CONTAINERBOARD 

ORGANISATION 

AVENUE LOUISE 250 • B-1050 BRUSSELS 

TEL. +32 (0)2 627 49 07 

FAX +32 (0)2 640 49 59 

E-mail : md@ecbo.be 

10/2005 

GROUPEMENT 

THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF MAKERS 

OF CORRUGATED BASE PAPERS 

154 BOULEVARD HAUSSMANN • F-75008 PARIS 

TÉL. +33 (0)1 53 89 24 91 

FAX +33 (0)1 45 62 45 27 

E-mail : groupement-ondule@wanadoo.fr

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