The effects of flatbed creasing tool on printed paperboard

Abstract

Flatbed cutters are in increased demand and usage due to their developments in tool speed and size of the cutting area. The creasing tool on flatbed cutters are mostly creasing wheels as opposed to flat knives in die cutters. The wheel creases the paperboard in a way that can damage the top layer causing breaking in the printed surface visible after folding and sometimes even before. The end result can decrease the attractiveness of packaging and other creased paperboard products. This paper investigates the results of flatbed creasing of different types of printed paperboard and suggests possible solutions to the problem. Examined paperboards differed in grammage, grade, and thickness, and they were creased with different depth levels. The results indicated that some types of paperboard are not suitable for packaging even if they are adequate grammage. Furthermore, controlling the creasing depths can reduce ruptures of the top layer and improve final folding quality.