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Associate Membership
to the CCCA is open to any company actively involved in the corrugated box industry by way of manufacture or supply but does not operate a corrugator.

To request an
information package, contact us by e-mail:

or write to:
CCCA
45 Sheppard Ave. E.
Suite 900
North York, ON, M2N5W9
or call us at:
Tel: (416) 590-9471

The evolving role of corrugated box manufacturers.
The humble corrugated container has remained the packaging medium of choice for decades because of its versatility and price. And now, corrugated is evolving into a material capable of becoming a key component in solving today’s and tomorrow’s packaging challenges. Sophisticated computer design systems help design - ers and engineers create custom packaging with
superior structural integrity.
The evolution of corrugated packaging will continue to be driven by:

• A consumer need for strong and versatile packaging
• Manufacturer and customer marketing and environmental specifications
• A growing need for high-impact graphics on the packaging.

More than meets the eye
Corrugated is one of the most “designable” packaging materials available. In fact, it’s the only “rigid shipping container” that can be cut and folded into a multiple choice of shapes
and sizes. What may come as a surprise to those familiar with the “corrugated box” is that corrugated is actually high-tech. Ongoing R&D programs continuously improve characteristics such as strength-to-weight ratios, printability, moisture barriers and recyclability. Customized corrugated shipping
containers, point-of-purchase displays and other end products are manufactured on sophisticated
equipment that reduces costs and ensures consistent performance. Corrugated packaging designers use computeraided design (CAD) systems and computer-automated cutting tables to create solutions for a wide variety of products ranging from produce to computers and blood platelets. Whether the issue is fragility of the enclosed product, temperature control, minimal packaging weight, optimal stacking strength or greater shipping density, today’s corrugated packaging designers are equipped with stateof- the-art design tools to address these concerns. Corrugated offers protection and integrity for shipping a wide variety of products ranging from perishables, to sensitive pharmaceuticals to large,
bulky merchandise. Innovations in flute design increase the number of structural designs available to packaging designers. Jumbo-flute, micro-flute, diagonal-flute, wave-flute (waves that go in multiple directions) and double-fluted corrugated are just some of the recent advances in flute design that offer structural and strength-to-weight ratio advantages over other packaging materials. And because the fluting is denser there is less ripple effect on the linerboard, making the packaging more receptive to highquality, direct printing. Corrugated remains a shipping material of choice for exporters. Besides the obvious advantages of providing economical, lightweight one-way packaging (corrugated requires no washing, renting, leasing or tracking of containers), it allows the product manufacturer to print advertising messages on the shipping container in any language of choice.
Environmental attributes
Corrugated’s environmental attributes are greatly underrated. Made from a renewable resource, a high
percentage of corrugated boxes are sourced from old corrugated containers already in the system,
while the rest comes from leftover chips and shavings from sawmilling operations. Research continues to improve corrugated’s recyclability. For example, experiments with water-resistant fibres and repulpable waxes are being conducted in an effort to replace conventional, non-recyclable, waxed corrugated boxes. Recycling corrugated is one of the many steps corrugated producers are taking to
reconcile environmental concerns with the need for strong and versatile, yet lightweight, packaging.

Pleasing graphics
Graphic design is perhaps one of the fastest growing areas within the corrugated packaging industry.
Brand owners and retailers who rely on graphically enhanced corrugated packaging to sell products
drive the demand for eye-catching, full-colour graphics. Used effectively, graphics showcase the product packaged inside by highlighting its important benefits and features. Corrugated is a very flexible medium that accommodates a wide range of printing options to support end-use requirements. Many manufacturers who need high volumes of packaging use preprinted linerboard to produce their corrugated packaging. High-quality, direct printing on corrugated is available for companies needing shorter runs. Set-up charges are minimal in comparison to many other alternatives and there is a quicker turnaround since manufacturing steps—like applying a litho label— are eliminated. Silk screening directly on packag-ing is often used to print displays and to customize packaging for regional promotions. Corrugated manufacturers work closely with their customers to map out packaging solutions that best fit usage requirements during every stage of the product cycle—from manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and merchandising, to end-use and recovery for recycling. They also need to become more involved at the retail level to ensure packaging
will increase sales and take up less floor and shelf space.
The “ordinary” corrugated box deserves a closer look—it’s actually an extraordinary versatile packaging material, offering enhanced strength, high-end graphics, materials reduction and recyclability. Corrugated is well positioned to meet the packaging needs of today and that of the next
century.