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An industrial paper tube can be a mailing tube, poster tube, or paper core. The tube features paperboard sheet layers wound to form tough, hollow, cylindrical shapes. Paper tubes can also come in triangular and square shapes, depending on the application. The paper or paperboard layers are bonded or laminated using strong adhesives to provide a sturdy structure for various applications and industries.
Top Uses of an Industrial Paper Tube
Paper tubes are the ideal choice for packaging equipment and supplies. You can order cardboard tubes, carry cases, and contract to package. Textile industry paper tubes like yarn carriers and clothing packaging are standard. Food-grade tubes can contain dry ingredients, cereals, beverages, and fast food. Some tubes store rollable transport materials like maps and posters. Others dispense labels, paper towels, and adhesive tapes.
Industrial paperboard tubes can work as spacing products in packaging boxes to protect items from moving during transit. Convoluted paper tubes can also wind large rolls of film in paper mills and movie production plants. Paper tubes have many other uses in labeling machinery, palletizers, plastic bags, sewing contractors, and tape suppliers. Some cores are designed for construction applications like forming concrete columns.
Industries That Use Paper Tubes the Most
Many industries use paper tubes in different ways. The casting and forging industry uses paper cores in die, gray iron, sand, and aluminum casting. Paper tubes are also used in bulk material handling, electrical and electronic components, flow instrumentations, metal forming and cutting, and recycling equipment. Motion control products, pumps, valves, plastic molding tools, and rubber products and services all need unique paper tubes.
Any industries that need strong, hollow, cylindrical structures can use paper tubes. Most enterprises choose paper tubes and cores because they’re affordable and eco-friendly. The paper cores come from recycled products and can be reinforced to fit light and heavy-duty applications. Manufacturers, service companies, and suppliers all rely on paper tubes differently. Some cores are part of the equipment. Other times, the cores may facilitate storage and shipping.
Paper Tube Types and Shapes
An industrial paper tube or core can feature one, two, or more plies of paperboard or kraft paper. The innermost layer (ply), the outermost layer (wrap), and the liner may feature foil, film, or specialized paper. Special paper and other unique materials may offer water resistance, labeling support, and specific colors. Two popular industrial paper cores are spiral and convoluted (parallel wound) paper tubes.
Convoluted tubes offer high bend strength, dynamic strength, and crush resistance. Spiral tubes have the ply wrapped at an angle to the tube’s axis. Convoluted cores have ply edges wrapped parallel to the axis. Industrial tubes are mostly cylindrical with a round cross-section. Paper core manufacturers may also offer square, oval, hexagonal, and triangular tubes.
The Paper Tube Manufacturing Process
Industrial paperboard tube manufacturing involves converting paper into a strong fiber core. The process combines web slitting, web winding, curing, drying, lamination, and adhesive bonding. During production, multiple wraps and revolutions of one or more paper ribbons or webs wrap around a steel mandrel. Layers of paper or paperboard are laminated around the steel mandrel, forming rigid, high-strength tubes. Here are the main steps:
- Making Ribbons: This step involves converting recycled cardboard sheets and lining materials into ribbons.
- Piling Ribbons: Paper ribbons are piled to form a giant ribbon roll. You’ll need more rolls if you want a thicker tube.
- Sticking Ribbons: This step involves sticking the ribbons of paper together using strong adhesive in an overlapping fashion.
- Winding Plies: Paper ribbons pass through a rotating mandrel with an adjustable diameter to form a cylindrical shape.
- Cutting Tubes: The next step involves cutting long wounds of paper tubes into precise sizes based on the order.
- Finishing Touches: Manufacturers can customize paper tubes with decorative graphics, colored ribbons, and other brand preferences.
Trustworthy Industrial Paper Tube Manufacturers
When looking for industrial cores, stick to experienced manufacturers with a clean track record of providing quality products. You need premium cores constructed specifically for your application and customers. Leading manufacturers have decades of experience in the industry.
Industrial paper core manufacturers use different materials and processes to produce their tubes. Work with reputable companies that can deliver your order on time. The best industrial paper tube manufacturers can provide high-quality products for any order volume.
