Glossary

CAPS & CLOSURES

A

Application Torque - - The torque force, measured in inch-pounds, required to screw a closure onto a container.

Applicator Cap - - A closure designed to apply the contents of the container Back-Off - A term used to denote relaxation of forward thrust, i.e. loss of torque following application of the closure. Back-off can be affected by top loading, compressibility and resiliency of the closure liner, consistency of application torque, and mechanical interaction of the closure and bottle.

B

Backing Liner - - A compressible material, usually pulp or foamed polyethylene, to which the facing liner is attached or adhered. This compressible material compensates for any irregularities on the sealing surface.

Band - - That portion of the closure that releases when the closure is removed from a bottle. The band is used for tamper indication.

Bead - - A depressed or raised circle or ring around a container or closure.

Bottoming-Out - - A condition where the bottom skirt of the closure makes contact with the container (usually the shoulder or transfer bead) before the land area of the container and the closure (lined or liner less) create a seal.

C

Cavitations - - The number of molding stations within a mold.

Cavity - - A mold component which forms the exterior or external surface of the closure.

Cellulose Band - - A band made of hydrated cellulose film extruded in continuous tubing form. The cellulose tubing is then processed and printed in this form and cut into individual bands of predetermined lengths. The celon is allowed to air dry when it is applied to the finish of the container. During the air-drying period, the cellulose band shrinks to form a skin-tight film over the finish of the bottle.

Center Gated Mold - - A mold in which the cavity is filled with resin through an orifice interconnecting the nozzle and the center of the cavity area. Child Resistant

Closure - - (Abbreviated "CR") A closure requiring dissimilar motions making removal by a child difficult. Child Resistant closures are subject to current government regulations.

Chucks - - A component of a capping machine which holds the closure for application to the container.

Closure - - Any structure or device designed to close off the opening of a container and prevent loss of its contents.

Closure Height - - The overall height of the closure proper. Closure height is measured from the closure top to the open end of the closure. Closure height can be considered in terms of "inside height" or "outside height." .

Closure Lining Machine - - A high speed, specialized machine using a punch's die or specialized cutters to automatically cut and insert liners into closures

Closure Removal Torque - - The amount of force necessary to loosen, open, or remove a closure from a bottle.

Closure Stripping Torque - - The amount of force required to cause the closure and/or bottle finish to distort and override the matching closure-bottle threads.

Compression Molding - - A molding process whereby thermoset plastic material is dropped into a cavity and formed under pressure by a force. The process is primarily done on a rotary molding machine.

Core - - A mold component which forms the internal surface of the closure. The core also includes the threads.

Curl - - A tubular structure formed at the open end of a metal closure to provide a smooth, strong edge. The curl facilitates automatic handling of the closure.

Cycle - - The sequence of operations in a process to complete one set of parts. The cycle is taken at a point in the operation and ends when this point again starts.

D

Deep Screw Cap - - A cap having a deeper skirt (more "H") and generally a heavier thread than the 400 finish series.

Dispensing Closure - - A snap on or threaded closure which allows for product dispensing, and usually resealing, without removing the closure from the package.

Dome - - A closure which has a rounded top surface.

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F

Finish - - The configuration of a container top shaped to accommodate a closure.

Fitment - - A plastic component that snaps over the land area and functions as an orifice reducer or blocker.

Flash - - Excessive undesirable plastic materials on containers or closures formed along mold seams or parting lines. Flash results from plastic flowing into the clearance between mold components.

Flowed-in - - A method of applying fluid sealing compounds with a nozzle.

Friction cap - - A closure held on by friction upon application to the container, building up resistance to the movement of the closure.

G

G-cap (G-450) - . - A 70 millimeter cap with a deep screw threaded skirt (450).

Glued-In Closure Liners - - Closure liners attached to the inside roof of the closure by a hot melt adhesive.

H

H Dimension - - The height of the bottle finish, measured from the sealing surface, in a line parallel to the axis of the finish and tangent to the threads on the finish, down to a point where the line intersects the body (shoulder) of the container. The "H" dimension is also the inside height of the closure, measured from the bottom of the closure, in a line tangent to the threads of the closure, terminating at the inside, top of the closure. The "H" dimension does not include any liner (if used), or "linerless" seal, ribs, membranes, or any other sealing element dimensions.

I

I Dimension - - The diameter of the opening of the container measured from the inside wall to the inside wall.

Injection Molding - - A process by which a plasticized material is forced into a mold.

Interrupted Threads - - Non-continuous threads on the closure causing gaps. Interrupted threads are normally used in beverage closures thread on (neck) finish of bottles in which the thread has gaps or discontinuities. The gaps are at the parting line of the mold.

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K

L

L Dimension - - The vertical distance from the sealing surface to top part of neck bead, i.e., where the upper most part of bead intersects the container neck.

Land - - The lip of the container to which the closure liner or land seal linerless feature compresses or conforms to tolerance.

Liner - - A disk of paper, cork, foam, plastic, etc., retained in a closure to provide a flexible barrier between the closure and the sealing surface of the container.

Liner Well - - The space provided in a closure for a liner.

Lug Cap - - A closure with raised internal impressions that inter-mesh with identical threads on the finish of container.

M

Matte Finish - - A coating surface that displays no gloss when observed at any angle. Matte finish is also referred to as a "flat finish."

Mechanical Breakaway Bands - - A closure with a portion or section of the skirt perforated or weakened in some manner so when the closure is opened, the section is designed to break apart and either remain on the container or attach to the closure to indicate the package has been opened.

Metallizing - - Applying a thin coating of metal to a non-metallic surface. Metallizing can be done by chemical deposition or by exposing the surface to a vaporized metal in a vacuum chamber.

Modified Buttress Thread - - Commonly referred to as "M" style. The modified buttress thread was developed, with a 10 degree pressure angle, to offer more closure-to-bottle thread contact.

Mold Frame - - The plates and components required to direct plastic to the tools that form closures and remove the closures from the mold.

Molding (injection) - - A process of shaping or forming plastic objects from powder or granule form in a mold by cooling the previously heated plastic.

N

Neck - - The part of a container where the shoulder cross section area decreases to form the finish. An illustrated example of the neck can be found at the cap and neck finish page .

Neck Rings - - That part of the mold equipment which forms the finish of the bottle.

O

O.D. - - The abbreviation for Outside Diameter

Offset Neck - - The vertical axis of the neck finish is off center from the vertical axis of the container.

Overseal - - An additional closure that tamper-proofs the primary closure. The over seal is usually made of foil or aluminum.

P

Phenolic - - A type of thermoset plastic.

Pitch - - The number of turns a thread would circle a neck if the neck were extended one inch. Pitch is commonly referred to as threads per inch. (T.P.I.)

Pour-out Finish - - A bottle finish having uniform undercut lips.

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S

S Dimension - - Locates the position of the bottle thread with respect to the sealing surface. The "S" dimension is the vertical distance from the sealing surface to the intersection of the finish wall and the top part of the first part of bottle thread where full depth contour exists.

Sealing Surface - - The lip portion of the finish which makes contact with the sealing gasket or liner and forms a seal.

Shell - - The hat shaped, preliminary form of a metal closure prior to being threaded and knurled.

Shrink Factor - - The change in dimension which a closure undergoes after being molded. Shrinking is generally caused by cooling and subsequent contraction of the plastic material.

Sifter Fitment - - A plastic component of a package designed to allow the shaking out of dry products, such as a table salt shaker. The sifter fitment snaps over the glass bead with a metal or a plastic cap applied over the fitment.

Skirt - - The vertical wall of a closure.

Spout Cap - - A closure designed to facilitate the pouring of the contents of the container.

Stacker Cap - - A closure designed specifically to nest with the bottom plate of a container to facilitate the stacking of filled containers one on top of each other.

Stress Crack - - An external or internal crack in the plastic caused by tensile stress less than that of its short-time mechanical strength. The development of such cracks is frequently accelerated by the environment to which the plastic is exposed. The stresses which cause cracking may be present internally or externally or may be combinations of these stresses. The appearance of a network of fine cracks is crazing.

T

The pour- - out finish is designed to facilitate pouring without dripping.

T Dimension - - The major diameter of the thread on a Continuous Thread. closure. See the Cap and Neck Finishes page for more information.

Tamper Evident Breakaway Band Closure - - The section of the closure skirt that is weakened or perforated in some manner. When the closure is opened that section is designed to either remain on the container or stay partially attached to the closure. The tamper evident breakaway band closure is designed to reveal removal of the closure was attempted.

Tamper Evident Closure - - A closure or liner system incorporating a feature that visually indicates if the closure has been removed or the product has been exposed. Removal of the closure or liner system activates the indicating feature.

Tamper Evident Tear Band - - A closure with a band, usually with a tab for grasping, designed to be detached by the consumer. The tamper evident tear band is designed to reveal removal of the closure was attempted.

Thermoplastic - - A plastic material that repeatedly softens when heated and hardens when cooled.

Thermoset - - A material that will undergo, or has undergone, a chemical reaction by the action of heat, catalysts, ultraviolet light, etc., leading to a relatively infusible and cross-linked state. Typical of the plastics in the thermosetting family are the epoxies, glytals, melamines, urea formaldehyde resins, and phenolics. Thermosets are typically supplied in powder, granules, or modules, and are normally processed by compression molding. Thermosets cannot be remolded once processed

Thread - - Complimentary, helical protrusions on the closure and the container.

Thread Engagement - - The actual contact made by the closure and bottle finish thread. Thread engagement is usually specified in number of turns.

Thread Profile - - The cross section configuration of a closure thread.

Thread Start - - The position at which the full thread depth toward the open end of the closure first occurs.

Tinplate - - A thin sheet of steel with a layer of tin used in manufacturing metal closures.

Tooling - - The specific components in contact with the plastic that form the closure.

Torque - - The rotational movement used during application or removal of a continuous thread closure from a container.

Torque Meter - - A device used to measure application and removal torque. It is expressed in pound-force inches and commonly referred to as "inch-pounds."

U

Unlined Closure - - A closure without a liner disk inserted, but designed to accept one.

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Value Seal - - A sealing device which seals on the inside of the neck finish of the container in the fashion of a plug. A controlled inside finish diameter is required to accomplish a seal.

Valve Cap - - A closure that includes a valve to regulate the flow of the product from the container.

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CORRUGATED BOX MATERIAL DEFINITIONS

A

Adhesive - The substance used to hold plies of solid fiberboard together, to hold linerboard to the tips of flutes of corrugated medium, or to hold overlapping flaps together to form the joint or to close a box.

B

Basis Weight - An attribute of containerboard, but the values may be determined from the combined corrugated board. When determining the basis weight from combined board, the take-up factor of the corrugated medium, which varies with flute size, and the weight of the adhesive must be considered.

Blank or Box Blank - A flat sheet of corrugated board that has been cut, scored, and slotted, but not yet glued together.

Box Manufacturer's - Certificate (BMC) In the United States, the Box Maker's Certificate is printed in a round or rectangular design on a corrugated box flap that certifies the box conforms to all applicable standards. This stamp identifies the material and certifies the results of the Mullen Bursting Test or the Edge Crush Test. Sometimes referred to as a class stamp or cert stamp.

Boxboard - Types of paperboard used to manufacture folding cartons and set up (rigid) boxes.

Built-Up - Multiple layers of corrugated board glued together to form a pad of desired thickness, normally used for interior packing.

Bundle - Shipping unit of two or more boxes grouped together, usually with plastic banding.

C

Cardboard - Thin, stiff pasteboard used in the creation of playing cards, signs, etc. Term is often misused to refer to Boxboard (folding cartons) and Containerboard (corrugated boxes).

Carton - Folding box made from Boxboard, used for consumer quantities of product. A carton is not recognized as a shipping container.

Chipboard - Paperboard generally made from recycled paper stock. Uses include backing sheets for padded writing paper, partitions within boxes, and the center ply or plies of solid fiberboard.

Combined Board - Fabricated sheet assembled from several components, such as corrugated or solid fiberboard.

Compression Strength - Corrugated box's resistance to uniformly applied external forces. Top-to-bottom compression strength is related to the load a container may encounter when stacked. End-to-end or side-to-side compression may also be of interest for particular applications.

Corrugator - Machine that unwinds two or more continuous sheets of containerboard from rolls, presses flutes into the sheet(s) of corrugating medium, applies adhesive to the tips of the flutes and affixes the sheet(s) of linerboard to form corrugated board. Continuous sheet of board may be slit to desired widths, cut off to desired lengths and scored in one direction.

D

Design Style - Style of fiberboard trays or caps having flaps scored, folded and secured at flange side walls forming the depth, as opposed to a slotted style having a set of major and minor closing flaps.

Double Wall - Corrugated board construction where two layers of medium are glued between three layers of flat linerboard facing.

E

Edge Crush Test (ECT) - The Edge Crush Test is a standard industry measure of the stacking strength, the amount of force in pounds per inch needed to cause compressive failure of an on-edge specimen of corrugated board. This measured force is a primary factor in predicting the compression strength of the completed box. When using certain specifications in the carrier classifications, minimum edge crush values must be certified. Facings Sheets of linerboard used as the flat outer members of combined corrugated board. Sometimes called inside and outside liners.

F

Flute - The wavy layer of corrugated medium that is glued between the flat inner and outer sheets of linerboard to create corrugated board. Fluting generally runs parallel to the height of a shipping box. Flute sizes come in A, B, C, D, E, and F.

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Joint - The opposite edges of the blank glued, stapled, wire stitched, or taped together to form a box.

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Kraft - German word meaning "strength", designating pulp, paper, or paperboard produced from wood fibers.

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Liner - Creased fiberboard sheet inserted as a sleeve in a container and covering all side walls. Used to provide extra stacking strength or cushioning.

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Medium - Paperboard used to make the fluted layer of corrugated board.

Mullen (or Burst) Test - The Mullen Test is a standard industry measure of the bursting strength of corrugated board to withstand external or internal forces, and to contain the contents during handling. This test certifies that the box can withstand the stated pressure (lbs. per sq. in.) as applied by a Mullen Tester.

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P

Pad - Corrugated or solid fiberboard sheet, or sheet of other authorized material, used for extra protection or for separating tiers or layers of articles when packed for shipment.

Palletizing - Securing and loading containers on pallets for shipment as a single unit load, typically for handling by mechanical equipment.

Partition - Set of corrugated, solid fiberboard or chipboard pieces that interlock when assembled to form a number of cells into which articles may be placed for shipment.

Point - Term used to describe the thickness or caliper of paperboard, where one point equals one thousandth of an inch.

Puncture Resistance - Puncture resistance of combined board indicates the ability of the finished container to withstand external and internal point pressure forces and to protect the product during rough handling. This method is used on heavy double wall and triple wall as an alternative to burst.

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R

Regular Slotted Container (RSC) - Box style created from a single sheet of corrugated board. The sheet is scored and slotted to permit folding. Flaps extending from the side and end panels form the top and bottom of the box. The two outer flaps are one-half the container's width in order to meet at the center of the box when folded. Flute direction may be perpendicular to the length of the sheet (usually for top-opening RSCs) or parallel to the length of the sheet (usually for end-opening RSCs). Score or Scoreline Impression or crease in corrugated or solid fiberboard, made to position and facilitate folds.

S

Seam - Junction created by any free edge of a container flap or panel where it abuts or rests on another portion of the container and to which it may be fastened by tape, stitches or adhesive in the process of closing the container.

Sheet - Rectangle of combined board, untrimmed or trimmed, and sometimes scored across the corrugations when that operation is done on the corrugator. Also, a rectangle of any of the component layers of containerboard, or of paper or a web of paperboard as it is being unwound from the roll.

Slit - Cut made in a fiberboard sheet without removal of material.

Slit Score - Cut made in a fiberboard sheet through only a portion of the thickness in a box blank to allow its flaps and sides to be folded into a shipping box.

Slip Sheet - Flat sheet of material used as a base upon which goods and materials may be assembled, stored and transported.

Slot - Wide cut, or pair of closely spaced parallel cuts including removal of a narrow strip of material made in a fiberboard sheet, usually to form flaps and permit folding without bulges caused by the thickness of the material. Common widths are 1/4 in. (6 mm) and 3/8 in. (9 mm).

T

Tensile Strength - Indicates the containerboard's resistance to breaking when it is pulled into or through equipment during the converting and printing processes.

Tube - Sheet of combined boards, scored and folded to a multi-sided form with open ends. May be an element of a box style or a unit of interior packing that provides protection and compression strength.

U

Unit - Large group of bundled or unbundled boxes, banded and/or stretch filmed together for shipment.

Unitized Load - Load of a number of articles or containers, bound together by means of tension strapping, plastic shrink or stretch films.

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Wrap-Around Blank - A scored and slotted sheet of corrugated fiberboard that is formed into a box by folding it around its contents. The user makes both the flap and joint closures.

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CORRUGATED PACKAGING TERMS & DEFINITIONS

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B

Box Style Definitions and Abbreviations - The majority of box styles fall into one of the following general categories: Slotted Boxes, Telescope Boxes, Folders, Rigid (or Bliss) Boxes, Self-Erecting Boxes and Interior Forms. In addition, corrugated boxes can be custom designed to meet the specific needs of the customer.

Box Certificates - The Box Maker's Certificate (BMC) is placed on an outside bottom flap. This symbol identifies the manufacturer and serves as a symbol of compliance with the stated specifics. The stamp identifies the material and certifies the results of the Mullen Bursting Test or the Edge Crush Test.

C

Corrugated v. Cardboard - The term "cardboard box" is commonly misused when referring to a corrugated box. The correct technical term is "corrugated fiberboard carton."

Cardboard boxes - are really chipboard boxes, and used primarily for packaging lightweight products, such as cereal or board games.

Corrugated Composition - Corrugated fiberboard is comprised of linerboard and heavy paper medium. Linerboard is the flat, outer surface that adheres to the medium. The medium is the wavy, fluted paper between the liners. Both are made of a special kind of heavy paper called containerboard. Board strength will vary depending on the various linerboard and medium combinations. Single Face : Medium glued to 1 linerboard; flutes exposed Single Wall : Medium between 2 linerboards Double Wall : Varying mediums layered between 3 linerboards Triple Wall : Varying mediums layered between 4 linerboards

Center Special Slotted Container (CSSC) - Inner and outer flaps are cut to different lengths. Both sets of flaps meet at the center of the box. This style is especially strong because both the top and bottom have double the thickness of corrugated board. The inner flaps, with no gap, provide a level base for products.

Center Special Overlap Slotted Container (CSO) - All flaps have the same length (one-half the length of the box). The length of the box can be no more than twice its width. The inner flaps meet at the center of the box, providing a level base and full top protection.

Center Special Full Overlap Slotted Container (SFF) - Inner and outer flaps are cut to different lengths. When closed, the inner flaps meet at the center of the box, and out flaps fully overlap. With three full layers of combined board over the entire top and bottom, this style provides extra cushioning and stacking strength.

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E

Edge Crush Test - measures the amount of force (lbs. per in.) needed to cause compressive failure of an on-edge specimen of corrugated board. The result is a primary factor in determining the compression strength of a completed box.

F

Flute Facts - Corrugated board can be created with several different flute profiles. The five most common flute profiles are: A-Flute : Original corrugated flute design. Contains about 33 flutes per foot. B-Flute : Developed primarily for packaging canned goods. Contains about 47 flutes per foot and measures 1/8" thick C-Flute : Commonly used for shipping cartons. Contains about 39 flutes per foot and measures 5/32" thick E-Flute : Contains about 90 flutes per foot and measures 1/16" thick F-Flute : Developed for small retail packaging. Contains about 125 flutes per foot and measures 1/32" thick Generally, larger flute profiles deliver greater vertical compression strength and cushioning. Smaller flute profiles provide enhanced structural and graphics capabilities for use in retail packaging. Different flute profiles can be combined in one piece of combined board. For example, a triplewall board may contain one layer of A-flute medium with two layers of C-flute medium. Mixing flute profiles allows designers to adjust compression strength, cushioning strength and total thickness of the combined board.

Full overlap Slotted Container (FOL) - All flaps have the same length (the width of the box). When closed, the outer flaps come within one inch of complete overlap. This style is especially resistant to rough handling and provides extra product cushioning and stacking strength.

Full Telescope Design Style Container (FTD) and Design Style Container with Cover (DSC) - Two-piece boxes made from two scored and slotted blanks (trays).

Full Telescope Half Slotted Container (FTHS) - The two-piece body is made from two half-slotted containers.

Folders - consist of one or more pieces of combined board, with an unbroken bottom surface and scored to fold around the product. Popular styles include: One Piece Folder (OPF) One piece of board is cut so that it provides a flat bottom, with flaps forming the sides and ends, and extensions of the side flaps meeting to form the top.

Five Panel Folder (FPF) - A single cut and scored piece features a fifth panel used as the closing flap, completely covering a side panel.

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How to Measure a Box - Boxes are generally measured from the inside, with the dimensions referring to the opening of an assembled box. Inside dimensions are used for measuring because the corrugated board thickness may vary. A box constructed of B flute will not have the same outer dimensions as a box made from E flute. When measuring the inside of an existing box, make sure to measure from the center of the score (the crushed fold line). Dimensions should always be stated in the sequence of Length, Width and Depth (exceptions include bookfolds, bin boxes and dividers, where the sequence is Width, Length and Depth). The length is always the longer dimension, and the width is always the shortest dimension, measured along the opening of the box. The depth is the distance between the opening and the opposite panel. Outer dimensions may need to be communicated for shipping and pallet configuration purposes. When listing outer dimensions, always include "OD" with the size (e.g., 10"x22"x12" OD).

Half Slotted Container (HSC) - Same as a Regular Slotted Container (RSC), but without one set of flaps.

I

Interior Forms - include a wide variety of build-ups, dividers, partitions and other inner packing pieces. They can be used to separate or cushion products, to strengthen the box or to fill voids. They may be simple rectangle, scored, slotted or die-cut shapes. Common formats include:

Inner Packing Pieces - are scored and/or folded pieces of fiberboard used for cushioning, suspension and separation, and to fill voids.

Inner Pack Forms - are usually die cut fiberboard pieces designed to position and support products away from the walls of the box for added protection.

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M

Mullen Bursting Test - measures a box's ability to withstand external or internal forces, and to contain the contents during handling. The test certifies that the box can withstand the stated pressure (lbs. per sq. in.) as applied by a Mullen Tester.

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O

Overlap Slotted Container (OSC) - All flaps have the same length; the outer flaps overlap by one inch or more. The box is usually closed with staples driven through the overlap area. This style of box is used when the length of the box is considerably greater than the width, resulting in a long gap between the inner flaps. The sealed overlap helps to keep the outter flaps from pulling apart.

One Piece Folder (OPF) - One piece of board is cut so that it provides a flat bottom, with flaps forming the sides and ends, and extensions of the side flaps meeting to form the top.

P

Pads - are plain shapes of corrugated or solid fiberboard, used to fill spaces or separate layers or sections of products.

Partitions (or Dividers) - provide a separate cell for each item in a box. Primarily used for packaging glassware or other fragile items.

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Rigid (Bliss) Boxes - include two identical end panels and a body that folds to form the two side panels, an unbroken bottom and the top. Flaps are used to form the joints. Once the joints are sealed, the box is considered rigid.

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Slotted Boxes - are generally made from a single piece of corrugated fiberboard. The blank is scored and slotted to permit folding. Boxes are shipped and stored flat and assembled as needed by the user. Some of the most common types include:

Self-Erecting Boxes - typically feature regular slotted container or telescope-style tops.

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Telescope Boxes - usually consist of top and bottom pieces that fit over each other. "Telescope Style" generally describes a box where the cover extends over at least two-thirds of the depth of the bottom piece, where a Box with Cover indicates a box where the cover extends less than two-thirds of the depth. Common types include:

Trays - are formed from a single piece of combined board, with the design featuring an unbroken bottom and several layers of corrugated in the end panels. They are frequently used as inner containers for parts, delicate produce or mail pieces.

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FLEXIBLE PACKAGING MATERIAL TERMS

A

Aclar - Trade name for a polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) polymer. The polymer has outstanding moisture and excellent oxygen barrier properties, as well as being clear, rigid, and relatively easy to thermoform. Its main packaging application is for pharmaceutical blister packages.

Anilox Roll - Engraved ink metering roll used in flexo presses to provide a controlled film of ink to the printing plates which print onto the substrate. Aluminum Foil A thin gauge (.285-1.0 mil)

Anchored Coating - A coating applied to a base sheet (usually bonded) so it very strongly resists separation.

Antioxident - A substance that prevents or reduces oxidation of the material by air or oxygen.

Aseptic - Free from septic matter or disease-producing bacteria. In food processing and packaging, this is an adjective that describes the system used to package food in a sterile fashion.

B

Bag, Crimp Bottom - A flat bag with a crimp-seal bottom (no fold-over), usually heat-sealed using serrated dies. Not a particularly strong type of bag.

Bag, Duplex A - bag constructed of two plies of material, generally spot-sealed to each other, especially at the mouth.

Bag, Flat - Simplest form. A web of material folded into a flat tube with side or center seam, then cut off and sealed at one end. Has only two dimensions: length and flat width. Flat bags may have a crimped seal or a fold-over seal, in which a short section is turned back and sealed in place by heat, adhesives or a combination of both.

Bag, Gusset - The fold in the side or bottom of the pouch, allowing it to expand when contents are inserted.

Baggy, Bagginess - (a) In processing flexible packaging materials, slack areas in the web that should be flat. Usually caused by bands of unequal thickness (gauge bands) in the rollstock. (b) A roll in which the tension is not even across the width of the roll. A slack floppy area in the web is caused by the material being stretched and permanently elongated in the tighter areas. Rolls of film or laminate where one side of the material coming off the roll is loose or baggy while the opposite edge is tight is said to have a baggy edge.

Band - In cellophane, a dark-colored circumferential ring in a slit roll, caused by a slightly heavier moisture content, or very slight variations in base-sheet thickness.

Barex - A trade name for acrylonitrile plastic.

Barrier - In packaging, this term is most commonly used to describe the ability of a material to stop or retard the passage of atmospheric gases, water vapor, and volatile flavor and aroma ingredients. A barrier material is one that is designed to prevent, to a specified degree, the penetrations of water, oils, water vapor, or certain gases, as desired. Barrier materials may serve to exclude or retain such elements without or within a package.

Base Film - The original form in which a film exists before coating or laminating.

Beta-Ray Gauge - Consists of two facing elements, one emitting and one detecting beta radiation. The device accurately measures density or thickness when mounted above and below the web.

Biaxial Orientation - Biaxial stretched films are generally well balanced in both directions and much stronger in terms of tear strength. Orientation of plastic films in both machine and cross machine (transverse) directions by stretching.

Bleed - Image or color that extends beyond the trim edge of the finished printed piece.

Blister Packaging - A package type where the item is secured between a pre-formed dome or "bubble" and a paperboard/flexible surface.

Block, Blocking - Undesired adhesion of two or more plies of material in roll or sheet form. May be caused in cellophane by exposure to excessive heat, pressure or humidity; in printed film, occasionally caused by improper or insufficient drying of inks, resulting in printed areas sticking together.

Breathing - Passage of gases into or out of a package. Certain films are designed to permit it.

Burst Strength - A measure of the ability of a sheet to resist rupture when pressure is applied to one of its sides by a specified instrument under specified conditions.

Butt Register - Where two or more colors meet with no significant overlap or space between.

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Cast Film - Plastic film produced from synthetic resins (such as polyethylene) by the cast process. In this process, the molten resin is extruded through a slot die onto an internally cooled chill roll.

Cast Nylon (CAN) - Film used mostly for thermoformable packaging applications.

Cellophane - Transparent film made from regenerated cellulose, a fibrous material occurring in plants.

Cellophane Tape Test - A simple test for determining the permanency of printing on plastic film. A length of pressure sensitive cellophane tape is pressed on a section of printing and then pulled off in one motion to see whether or not the ink lifts with it. The angle and speed of the pulls are important.

Cellulose, Regenerated - Cellulose that has been chemically treated, then regenerated as a transparent film.

Cement - In the adhesive sense, a substance bonding two materials by chemical or solvent action.

Cheek Plates - Discs used at each end of paper or rolls of film to prevent "telescoping" of material.

Chemical Resistance - Ability of a material to retain utility and appearance following contact with chemical agents. Chemical resistance implies that there is no significant chemical activity between the contacting materials.

Chemical Compatibility Testing - Any procedure that exposes a material to chemicals or mixtures of chemicals to determine whether such exposure has a negative effect on the material being evaluated.

Clarity - Freedom from haze; transparency.

Coating, Heat Seal - A coating, applied to a base sheet, which may be activated by heat to permit the fusion or seal of one section of the film to another.

Coefficient of Friction (COF) - A measurement of “slipperiness” of plastic films and laminates. Measurements are usually done film surface to film surface. Measurements can be done to other surfaces as well, but not recommended, because COF values can be distorted by variations in surface finishes and contamination on test surface.

Co-Extrusion (COEX) - Simultaneous extrusion of two or more different thermoplastic resins into a sandwich-like film with clearly distinguishable individual layers.

Cohesion - The tendency of a mass to hold together by primary or secondary valence forces (intermolecular attraction).

Color Off - In cellophane, slit roll edge may display variation in color or shade; off-color film is not usually defective, will almost always perform on machines.

Color Management - The process of translating specific color information from the computer screen image, through prepress, plate-making, printing presses and finally to a substrate in such a manner that color accuracy is maintained at acceptable levels throughout.

Color Value - The lightness or darkness of a color. A color may be classified as equivalent to some member of a series of shades ranging from black to white. The other two fundamental characterizers of color are hue and saturation.

Conformability - The ability of a material to be bent or shaped around a form without being damaged or marred in any way.

Contour Package - Package formed of semi-rigid material, usually by shaping a heated sheet by pressure or vacuum so that it follows the contours of the packaged item very closely.

Converter - Equipment which processes raw packaging stock such as cellophane, foil, etc. into a more advanced state, generally by forming, printing, gluing, laminating, etc.

Cratering - Thin or bare spots in a film that appear as pockmarks.

Crimp Seal - Seal produced in cellophane or other material by means of elements having corrugated surfaces; lends mechanical rigidity to seal areas as well as ensuring maximum area contact of film surfaces.

Cross-Linking - A film conversion technique in which polymer chains are bound into a web or network to increase the web's heat stability and strength.

Curl - The tendency of a paper sheet to curl as humidity conditions change due to the hygro-expansive nature of paper. A paper sheet that is identical in construction on each side will expand and contract as humidity changes with little tendency to curl. However if the sheet is printed, varnished, or laminated to a plastic film or a foil, then the two sides will have different expansion and contraction rates and the paper will curl as the humidity changes from the conditions when the printing, varnishing or laminating were done. The greater the humidity difference, the greater the curl.

Curtain Coating - A method of applying wax or other coating to a material where the material is passed through a free-falling curtain or film of the fluid coating.

Cut Edge - The uncovered edge of a laminated product. For example a high-barrier paper/foil laminate made into a hermetically-sealed carton using lap seals would have an exposed cut edge of paperboard through which oxygen could still permeate into the product. Such edges are often skived and folded back on themselves to seal the cut edge.

Cut Off - ln web-fed processing, the cut or print length corresponding to the circumference of the plate cylinder.

Cycle Test - Test program in which items are exposed alternately to two or more test conditions.

D

Deck - A term used mostly in flexographic printing to describe a single print station with plate, impression cylinders, and inking rolls.

Degradation - A change or break-down in a material's chemical structure.

Delamination - Separation or splitting of laminate layers caused by lack of or inadequate adhesion, or by mechanical disruption such as peeling or shearing forces.

Dimensional Stability - The absence of dimensional change of a material when subjected to changes in temperature, humidity, heat or aging.

Directionality - The tendency for certain materials to have properties imparted by the flow direction through a machine.

Dot Gain - A physical and/or optical measurement and theoretical calculation of the apparent increase in dot area from one medium to another. Normally expressed as the difference between a midtone (nominal 50%) dot area on a film negative and the printed dot area; for example, a 50% film dot area which prints as a 78% dot has 28% dot gain. Dot gain (and loss) are normal and must be controlled throughout the press and printing process.

Down Gauge - Use a thinner film than had been previously used. Draw ln flexible packaging laminates, the distance that a web travels between supporting rolls.

Drawdown - A swatch of color or coating made by spreading a small amount of ink or varnish across a sheet of material. Made for visual comparison to a standard color swatch or chip.

Drop Test - A package durability test. Filled containers are dropped from controlled heights. A special device insures uniformity of drops.

Drum Test - Rough-handling test for filled container, inside a revolving hexagonal drum.

Dyne - A measurement unit of force (centimeter-gram-second) traditionally used to quantify the energy on the surface of a film as an indicator of its ability to accept inks or coatings.

E

Electronic Sealing - Sealing of surfaces in contact with one another by high frequency current, e.g., sealing vinyl sheet. Heat is generated within the film by high-frequency agitation of the sheet’s molecular structure.

Elmendorf Tear Test - A method of testing film for resistance to tearing. The weight required to tear one of several layers of notched film is measured.

Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA) EAA - is a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid. lts ionic nature allows for excellent adhesive bonding to metal foil and other polar surfaces. EAA's adhesive and toughness qualities are taken advantage of in high performance multi-layer laminates.

Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate (EMAC) - The copolymerization of ethylene with methyl acrylate produces an ethylene copolymer, one of the most thermally stable of the olefin copolymers. The polymers are produced with varying percentages of methyl acrylate content, most typically between 1 8 and 24o/o of the structure. Alone or in blends, it has found applications in film, extrusion coating, sheet, laminating, and co-extrusion.

Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) - Can be regarded as a copolymer of polyethylene in which varying amounts of the -OH functional group have been incorporated. A typical packaging EVOH is about 20 to 35% ethylene. EVOH is one of the best polymeric oxygen barriers available to packagers. However, its susceptibility to water requires that for most applications it be laminated or co-extruded into a protective sandwich with materials that will keep the EVOH layer away from water.

Extrusion Coating - A process where a film of molten polymeric material is extruded onto the surface of a substrate material and cooled to form a continuous coating.

Extrusion Lamination - A laminating process in which individual layers of multi-layer packaging materials are laminated to each other by extruding a thin layer of molten synthetic resin (such as polyethylene) between the layers.

F

Film, Calendered - A film manufactured by forcing base material through rolls of a calendering machine, making it smooth and glossy.

Film, Cast - (1) Film made by pouring or metering material onto a highly polished moving drum or endless belt, or (2) film produced by extruding into a solution, as in the case of cellophane.

Film, Density - The ratio of the weight of a body to the weight of an equal volume of water at some specified temperature.

Film, Extruded - Film produced by the extrusion method.

Film, Extrusion - The process of forming a thermoplastic film, container, or profile by forcing the polymer melt through a shaped orifice.

Film, Non-Fogging - Film that does not become cloudy from condensation of moisture caused by temperature drops or humidity changes.

Film, Orientation - The process of mechanically stretching plastic film or parts in order to produce a straightening and alignment of the molecules in the stretch direction. If done in one direction, the material is said to be uniaxial or monoaxially oriented. If done in two directions, the film is biaxially oriented.

Fin Seal - Seal that results when edges of two superimposed sheets are bonded, resulting in a pouch having fin-like protuberances.

Finishing - Any final operation done to packaging before shipping.

Fish Eyes - Particles of undissolved extraneous material in a film or coating.

Flat Seal - A method of heat sealing thermoplastic films with a flat bar surface.

Flex Crack - Cracking in a film produced by repeated flexing.

Flex Strength - The ability of a sheet or film to withstand breakage by folding. Measured by a test to determine the number of folds required to cause failure.

Flexible Packaging - A package or container made of flexible or easily yielding materials that, when filled and closed, can be readily changed in shape. A term normally applied to bags, pouches, or wraps made of materials ranging in thickness from 13 to 75 micrometres (0.0b0á to 0.003 inch) such as paper, plastic film, foil, or combinations of these.

Flexographic Printing - A method of printing using flexible rubber or photopolymer printing plates in which the image to be printed stands out in relief. Fluid ink metered by an engraved roll is applied to the raised portions of the printing plate and then transferred to the substrate.

Four-Color Process - Printing with cyan, yellow, magenta, and black ink (CMYK) using halftone screens to create a full color reproduction.

Four-Side-Seal Pouch - A pouch with seals along all four edges. Four-side-seal pouches can be made from a single stock or the front and back can be different stocks. These pouches are most commonly made on multilane pouch-forming machines where 16 or more pouches can be placed across the width of the web.

Fractional Packaging - Interior packaging of individually wrapped units so that unused portions will be protected after outside package has been opened. Usually used for biscuits, crackers and ready-to-eat cereals.

G

Gas Chromatography - An instrumental method of accurately determining the composition of volatile solvents and oils, and their residual presence in materials such as laminates or plastics.

Gas Transmission Rate (GTR) - The quantity of a given gas passing through a unit area of the parallel surfaces of a film, sheet, or laminate in a given time under the test conditions. Test conditions may vary and must always be stated.

Gauge - Thickness. In North America, film thickness, measured in mils, is usually given in gauges. A 100 gauge shrink film is one mil, or 1/1000 of an inch, thick. In Europe, the film thickness metric is the micron. A quick equivalency equation is: 1 mil = 25.4 microns.

Gauge Band - A thickness irregularity found in rolls of film. A thicker area in the machine direction at some location across the width of a flat film will produce a raised ring in a finished roll. Gauge bands can cause winding problems and when unwound, the material tends not to be perfectly flat.

Gas Transmission - The movement of gas, air, oxygen, etc., through a film material. The gas transmission property (permeability) of a film is measured in terms of the volume of gas (at standard temperature and pressure) transmitted through a given area of film of a given thickness, within a given time.

Gel - A general term used to describe a defect consisting of insoluble polymer causing a visible discontinuity in a film.

Glassine - Smooth, dense-structured super-calendered paper, translucent or opaque, made from heavily beaten fibrillated chemical wood pulp. Grease-resistant, tough, pliable.

Glassine, Coated - The coating types available include hot-melt-applied paraffin waxes and derivatives, as well as solvent-applied types made from cellulose nitrate, vinyl polymers and other synthetic or natural rubber polymers.

Glassine, Laminated - Glassine laminated to itself, or other paper, films and foils, to obtain added strength and made-to-order protective water-vapor properties.

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) - Good manufacturing practice implies that the entire manufacturing procedure has been designed in such a way as to produce a quality product that presents a minimum risk to the consumer. GMP will vary from industry to industry depending on the nature of the product being packaged. Many GMPs have been formalized and are required by law for critical industries such as food and pharmaceutical packaging. Typically these GMPs describe the kind of equipment to be used, its validation, manufacturing procedures, inspection types and frequencies, record keeping, container types and approvals, and registration of company and product.

Gravure Printing - Gravure is abbreviated from the term rotogravure. During gravure printing an image is etched on the surface of a metal cylinder and chrome plated for hardness. The ink fills the cells and is transferred onto the printing substrate.

H

Heat-Seal Coating - An adhesive coating applied to a packaging material that is capable of being activated by heat and pressure to form a bond.

Heat-Seal Layer - A heat sealable innermost layer in plastic packaging films and laminates. Can be either adhesive laminated or extrusion coated onto a non-sealable film (or foil).

Heat Sealing - A method of bonding two or more surfaces by fusing thermoplastic or thermosetting coatings of films under controlled conditions of temperature, pressure and time (dwell).

Hermetic Seal - Airtight or impervious to gases or fluids under normal conditions of handling and storage.

HFFS - Abbreviation for horizontal form-fill-seal.

High Barrier - Describes a material or package that has very low gas permeability characteristics; that is, it offers a great deal of resistance to the passage of a gas through its volume.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE): - Polyethylene with a density of 0.95 to 0.965. Has much higher stiffness, higher temperature resistance and much better water vapor barrier properties than LDPE, but it is considerably hazier.

Hot Stamping - Machine: Marking machine that applies a code mark or date on a package or a wrapper with a heated stamp.

Hygrometer: - An instrument for measuring the moisture of relative humidity in the atmosphere.

Hygroscopic: - Having the property of absorbing moisture readily from the atmosphere. ID: Inside Diameter.

I

Impact Strength: - Resistance of a material or product to shock, such as from dropping and hard blows.

Impregnation: - Saturation of a material with another substance.

Ink, Gravure: - Pigment dissolved or dispersed in a vehicle made from resins and solvents; very fast drying.

J

K

L

Label, Heat Seal: A - label coated on one side with a heat-seal coating; usually a thermoplastic resin.

Laminated Film: - An adhered combination of two or more films or sheets made to improve overall characteristics. Also multilayer film.

Laser Scoring: - Use of high-energy narrow light beam to partially cut through a material in a straight line or shaped patterns. This process is used to provide an easy-opening feature to various types of flexible packaging materials.

Lidding, Lidstock: - Material or stock used to form a lid. For example, material that can be heat-sealed over the open ends of pharmaceutical tablet blister cards.

Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE): - Tougher than LDPE and has better heat-seal strength, but has higher haze.

Lithography, Offset: - Printing process using etched metal plates. Ink adheres to etched area, is transferred to rubber printing blanket, from there to paper to be printed.

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE): - Polyethylene with a density of 0.92 to 0.934. Used mainly for heat-seal ability and bulk in packaging.

M

Moisture Set: - Ink formulated to be stable under normal humidity conditions, but to set up or harden when exposed to very high humidity.

Machinability: - The ability of a film to run on packaging equipment.

Machine Direction (MD): - The direction that film moves through the packaging equipment.

Make Ready: - In printing, preparation of press for a run; especially, making all printing surfaces uniform in height.

Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE): - Polyethylene with a density of 0.934 to 0.95. Has higher stiffness, higher melting point and better water vapor barrier properties. Metallize: Applying a thin coating of metal to a nonmetallic surface by chemical deposition or by exposing the surface to vaporized metal in a vacuum chamber.

Metallize: - Applying a thin coating of metal to a nonmetallic surface by chemical deposition or by exposing the surface to vaporized metal in a vacuum chamber.

Metalized Oriented Polypropylene (MET-OPP): - Film that has all the good properties of OPP film, plus much improved oxygen and water vapor barrier properties, though not as good as MET-PET. Not transparent.

Metalized Polyethylene Terephthalate (MET-PET): - Metalized PET film. It has all the good properties of PET film, plus much improved oxygen and water vapor barrier properties. Not transparent.

Modulus: - In packaging, used to denote the degree to which a film or sheet resists stretching before it reaches its elastic limit when an external force or stress is applied.

Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR): - A depreciated term, usually measured at 100% relative humidity, expressed in grams/100 square inches/24 hours, (or grams/square meter/24 Hrs.) See WVTR.

Mullen Test: - Widely used on film packaging materials to determine the relative bursting strength.

Mylar: - Mylar is a registered trademark of the DuPont-Teijin Corporation. It is the industrial brand name for that corporation's polyester (PET) film. Polyester film is a staple of multilayer flexible packaging for a wide variety of applications.

N

Nicked Edges: - Edges of film split or torn.

Nitrocellulose: - Any ester of nitric acid and cellulose.

Non-Flammable / Non-Inflammable: - Will not support combustion.

Nylon: - Polyamide resins, with very high melting points, excellent clarity and stiffness. Two types are used for films - nylon-6 and nylon-66. The latter has much higher melt temperature, thus better temperature resistance, but the former is easier to process, and it is cheaper. Both have good oxygen and aroma barrier properties, but they are poor barriers to water vapor.

O

Off-Cut: - Trim that is not utilized. In flexible packaging, a narrow roll of material left over when a material order does not call for the full roll width. Sometimes called a butt roll.

Optical Distortion: - Change in appearance of object when viewed through a transparent material having certain defects, such as waviness of surface, etc.

Optics: - The visual properties of a film, such as clarity, gloss, haze, opacity, etc.

Oriented Polypropylene (OPP): - film. A stiff, high clarity film, but not heat sealable. Usually combined with other films, (such as LDPE) for heatsealability. Can be coated with PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride), or metalized for much improved barrier properties.

Oxidation: - Reaction of any substance with oxygen.

Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR): - Varies considerably with humidity, therefore it needs to be specified. Standard conditions of testing are 0, 60 or 100% relative humidity. Units are cc/100 square inches/24 hours (or cc/square meter/24 Hrs). (cc = cubic centimeters)

P

Paper, Sulfite: - Any type of paper made from pulp produced by the sulfite chemical process. Used in packaging applications where appearance and printability are of primary importance.

Paper, Wax or Waxed: - All papers that have been impregnated, coated or otherwise treated with waxes or waxlike materials.

Paperboard: - A heavyweight thick sheet of paper, usually a thickness of 0.06" or over. Parchment,

Peel Seal: - A package seal made using an adhesive that can readily be peeled open.

Peeling Bond: - A type of bond that occurs when two adhered surfaces may be pulled apart without tearing the fibers.

Permeability: - Ability to be permeated by gases or liquids; a measure of the freedom with which gases or liquids can diffuse through a material.

Pick-Up Roll: - A spreading device where the revolving roll for picking up the adhesive runs in a reservoir of liquid adhesive.

Pillow Pouch: - A bag or pouch in the form of a tube that is sealed at both ends. Pillow type pouches are most commonly produced on vertical-form-fill-seal (VFFS) machines and are characterized by seals across the top and bottom, and a longitudinal seal going down the center of one of the faces.

Plasticizer: - An agent or compound that is added to plastic materials to impart softness or flexibility.

Plate: - Curved or cylindrical shape carrying printing impression, for use on a printing press.

PMS Number: - The Pantone Matching System is the universally accepted color definition system. Colors can be blended or individually specified to match a specified Pantone reference color exactly.

Polymer: - A compound formed by the linking of simple and identical molecules having functional groups that permit their combination to proceed to higher molecular weights under suitable conditions.

Polyethylene (PE): - Polyethylene film is by far the largest volume packaging film family, and is available in high density, low density, linear low density, and metallocene variations.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): - Tough, temperature resistant polymer film. Biaxial oriented PET film is used in laminates for packaging, where it provides strength, stiffness and temperature resistance. It is usually combined with other films for heat sealability and improved barrier properties.

Polyolefin: - Family name for the polymers (plastics) derived by ethylene and propylene, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene (PP): - Unoriented film is soft and clear but brittle at low temperatures. This property as well as stiffness, strength and clarity is improved by orientation.

Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC): - A very good oxygen and water vapor barrier, but not extricable. Therefore it is found primarily as a coating to improve barrier properties of other plastic films, such as OPP and PET, for packaging. PVDC coated and saran coated are the same.

Porosity: - Of sufficiently loose texture to permit passage of liquid or gases through pores.

Press Polish: - A finish for plastic sheet stock, produced by contact under heat and pressure with a very smooth metal, which gives the plastic very high sheen.

Primer Coat: - A coating applied over a substrate for the purpose of improving an ink or adhesive bond.

Psychrometer: - A hygrometer for measuring water vapor in the atmosphere.

Process Color: - Color printing created by separating the copy into the primary colors to produce individual halftones of each color, that are recombined at the press to produce the complete range of colors of the original. Process printed photographic reproduction would normally be done with cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) inks.

Q

R

Regenerated Cellulose: - A cellulose hydrate. The term is used to designate films made from a cellulose base.

Register: - Exact alignment of one part or operation with another part or operation.

Release Coating: - A coating applied to the non-sealing side of cold-sealable packaging films and laminates supplied in a roll form that will allow the packer to unwind these films or laminates on packaging machines.

Retort: - The thermal processing or cooking packaged food or other products in a pressurized vessel for purposes of sterilizing the contents to maintain freshness for extended storage times. Retort pouches are manufactured with materials suitable for the higher temperatures of the retort process, generally around 121° C.

Rewind: T - o wind again; especially the winding of a roll of film after printing, slitting, etc.

Roll Formation: - A general term denoting qualitatively how evenly, smoothly, and regularly film is wound on a roll.

Roll Stock: - Any flexible packaging material that is in roll form.

S

Slip: - A measure of coefficient of friction (COF). High slip means low COF. Ability of film to move easily over hard plastic, metal, or ceramic platforms or against another piece of film.

Slitting: - The conversion of a given width of a film or sheet material into narrower widths. Web stock is unrolled past a series of knives set to the correct widths, and the slit web is rewound back into roll form.

Slitter: - A machine to cut a roll of stock in the long direction.

Solvent Sealing: - A method of adhering packaging materials which uses small amounts of volatile liquids to soften the coating of the material so it will bond. Examples: cellosolve ethyl lactate, etc.

Specific Gravitiy: - The ratio of the weight of a body to the weight of an equal volume of water at some specified temperature. Same as Film Density.

Splice: - Joining two pieces of web material to form a continuous web.

Spot Color: - Solid colors not created by using screens. Usually a Pantone Matching System (PMS) color.

Static Electricity: - Charges of electricity sometimes generated during handling or in machine operations; may cause undesired attraction of film to roller, flat surfaces, etc. .

Sterile Seal: - A closure for bacteria-free medical supplies that must maintain sterility

Sterilizable: - The ability to withstand contact with steam (moist heat) at 30 lb. pressure for 30 minutes, or contact with dry heat (circulating hot air) at 200°C for 15 minutes.

Stick Pack: - A narrow flexible packaging pouch commonly used to package single-serve powder beverage mixes such as fruit drinks, instant coffee and tea and sugar and creamer products.

Sticky Back: - Double-faced adhesive-coated material used for mounting elastomeric printing plates to the plate cylinder.

Strip-Packaging: - Small articles packaged individually or in multiples in continuous strips, divided in segments or pockets that permit easy tearing off or cutting off. Substrate: A film to which subsequent layers or coatings are added.

Surface Print: - The process whereby the ink is deposited directly onto the outermost surface of the packaging film or material. The process is most commonly used in short run printing. A UV (ultraviolet) coating may be added to provide a hard exterior finish that prevents the ink from flaking or chipping.

Surface Winding: - A method of winding film on rolls in which the winding force is provided by the driven roll in contact with the surface of the winding roll.

Surlyn: - Dupont's trademark for its line of ionomer resins. Films produced with this resin have excellent seal characteristics such as lower sealing temperatures and excellent hot tack.

See MVTR. Web: - A continuous length of paper film, foil, or other flexible material as it is unwound from a roll and passed through a machine.

T

Tape, Cellulose Acetate: - A translucent, pressure-sensitive adhesive tape of cellulose acetate laminated to strong tissue.

TD: - Abbreviation for transverse direction, the direction perpendicular to the machine direction.

Tear Resistance / Tear Strength: - The ability of a film to resist the propagation of a tear.

Tear Strip: - A narrow ribbon of film, usually incorporated in the wrapper or overwrap during the wrapping operation, to facilitate opening of the package.

Telescoping: - Side-slipping of layers of a coiled material so that the edges no longer form a plane surface.

Tensile Strength: - The amount of pull a film can withstand without tearing apart or stretching.

Thermocouple: - A bimetallic device to measure temperature electrically.

Thermoforming: - A method of forming plastics where a plastic sheet is heated to a point where it is soft and formable.

Thermoplastic: - Capable of being repeatedly softened by heat and hardened by cooling.

Thermostat: - An automatic device for regulating temperature; uses bimetallic strip to make and break contacts of electrical circuit.

Thermoweld: - To weld together two or more surfaces of a thermoplastic film material by means of heat.

Threading: - The placing of a web material through the various rolls and stations of any web-fed press such as a printer or laminator in preparation for production.

Three-Side-Seal Pouch: - A pouch that is formed by folding the web material into a U-shape and then sealing the three open sides. The pouch may be made with a gusseted bottom. Three-side-seal pouches are typically made on horizontal form-fill-seal machines.

Tie Layer: - A material that bonds two incompatible layers in a coextrusion.

Tracking: - A film that follows a desired path on a packaging machine without constant adjustment is said to "track" well.

Translucent: - Permitting passage of light, but diffusing it to such a degree that objects cannot be seen clearly; something short of transparent.

Transparent: - Transmitting rays of light so that objects can be clearly seen through the material.

Transverse Direction (TD): - The direction perpendicular to the machine direction.

U

Underfold: To fold wrapping material in such a manner that the end folds are turned under the bottom of the package, then sealed to the underside. - To fold wrapping material in such a manner that the end folds are turned under the bottom of the package, then sealed to the underside.

Unit-Dose Package (UDP): - A pharmaceutical package that holds individual items of use. A complete unit-dose package may hold a number of discrete items, but each unit of use must be released individually from the package, generally in a non-resealable manner.

V

VFFS: - Abbreviation for vertical form-fill-seal.

Viscose: - A viscous orange-colored liquid obtained by treating cellulose with caustic alkali solution, then with carbon disulfide.

Volatile: - Passing from a liquid into a gaseous state.

Volatility: - The rate of evaporation of a solvent.

W

Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR): - A measure of the rate of water vapor transmission through a material. Usually measured at 100% relative humidity, expressed in grams/100 square inches/24 hours, (or grams/square meter/24 Hrs.)

X

Y

Yield: - Area per unit of weight, usually expressed as square inches per pound.

Z

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

A

Aclar - Primarily used for pharmaceutical blister packaging, Aclar is the trade name for PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene polymer). This polymer is rigid, clear and easily thermoformable with good oxygen and moisture barrier properties.

B

Blister Packaging - Blister packaging contains the product between a formed dome and a flexible surface or paperboard.

C

Cast Nylon Film (CAN) - This film is primarily used for thermoformable flexible packaging products.

D

E

Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA) - EAA is a copolymer of acrylic acid and ethylene with strong adhesive properties. The strength and adhesion is commonly used in multi-layer laminates or other packaging.

Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) - EVOH is essentially a copolymer of polyethylene, which is a common material used as an oxygen barrier in flexible packaging. EVOH is not very moisture-proof, however, so it is not recommended in all flexible packaging applications.

F

Fitment - A fitment is a device that attaches to a container to provide a specific function to the product, such as dispensing a liquid or foam. For example, a fitment might be attached to a liquid cleaner container.

Four Side Seal Pouch - Pouches with seals along all four edges. The flat sheets of the pouch can come from a single stock or different stocks for the front and back.

G

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) - GMP is a process by which the product is manufactured in such a way that any risk to the consumer has been minimized. Some GMP processes are guided by federal and state regulations, while others are considered best practice principles.

Gusset - A gusset is a fold on the bottom or side of a pouch, which expands the pouch when contents are inserted.

H

Hermetic Seal - A hermetic seal is a flexible packaging term that refers to material that is impervious to fluids or gases and/or is airtight under normal circumstances.

I

J

K

L

Lap Seal - Created with two layers of film that overlap each other, a lap seal uses less material than other seals, which makes a lap seal a better eco-friendly alternative in flexible packaging.

Light Resistance - When a material can withstand exposure to light without changing the chemical properties, physical properties or color, it is considered light resistant.

M

Metalized OPP Film (MET-OPP) - This film has good water vapor and oxygen barrier properties, much like polyester (PET) film, commonly used in multi-layer packaging.

N

Nylon - Nylon is made from polyamide resins and offers stiffness, clarity and good temperature resistance. Nylon also has strong aroma and oxygen barrier properties but is not a water vapor.

O

P

Pillow Pouch - A pillow pouch is a pouch or bag that looks like a tube with a seal at both ends.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Film (PET) - PET is a temperature resistant and strong polymer, which makes it an ideal material for flexible packaging. When combined with other film types, it has several barrier properties and good sealability.

Pouch - Pouches are defined as a small bag consisting of two flat sheets that seal along the edges.

Q

R

Retort - When products process in a pressurized vessel, thereby sterilizing the contents to allow for a longer shelf life or storage period, this is called retort/

S

Stand Up Pouch - A stand up pouch with a wide base to allow the pouch to stand up without tipping over.

T

Thermoforming - The process of thermoforming heats a plastic product until the plastic becomes soft and pliable.

Three Side Seal Pouch - A three-side pouch has three sealed sides with an open side, often with a seal.

U

Unit Dose Package (UDP) - Commonly used in pharmaceutical products, a UDP holds individual items separate from each other.

V

W

X

Y

Z

Zipper Pouch - A zipper pouch is a flexible plastic pouch with a zipper seal to allow for repeated closing and opening of the seal.

LABEL TERMS

A

ABRASION RESISTANCE - The degree to which a label surface, including printing and protective coatings, is able to resist rubbing or wearing from friction. Also referred to as “rub” or “scuff” resistance.

ABSORBENCY - That property of a porous material which causes it to consume liquids or vapors.

ABSORPTION - When one substance penetrates into the mass of another.

ACCELERATED AGING - The test procedures for subjecting label materials to special environmental conditions in order to predict the course of natural aging, but in a far shorter period of time.

ACCELERATOR - A material added to a liquid compound to convert the whole mass into a solid, or speed up its cure. Accelerators differ from catalysts in that they participate in the reaction and lose their chemical identity as a result.

ACETATE - A plastic synthesized from cellulose dissolved in acetic acid which exhibits rigidity, dimensional stability and ink receptivity. Transparent or matte films, sometimes used for label stocks.

ACRYLIC - A general chemical term of a particular family of thermoplastic resins based on acrylic acid and its derivatives.

ADHERE - The sticking together of two surfaces by adhesion.

ADHEREND - The substance or surfaces to which the adhesive is applied; the surfaces which are bonded together.

ADHESION BUILD-UP - An increase in the peel adhesion value of a self-adhesive material after it has been allowed to dwell on the applied surface.

ADHESION PROMOTER - See primer.

ADHESION, MECHANICAL - Adhesion cause by the physical interlocking of the adhesive with base surface irregularities of the adherend.

ADHESION, PEEL - The measure of the force required to remove a material from another surface at a specified angle and speed, after the material has been applied under specific conditions.

ADHESION, SHEAR - A measure of the time required to slide a specific sized area of a pressure sensitive label material from a standard flat surface in a direction parallel to the surface. Weight and heat are sometimes used to speed up the test.

ADHESION, SPECIFIC - The adhesion to a specific surface.

ADHESIVE - A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.

ADHESIVE BLEED - Adhesive ooze or flow from pressure sensitive label stock or labels as a result of cold flow. Also referred to as edge ooze or halo.

ADHESIVE DEPOSIT - See adhesive residue.

ADHESIVE RESIDUE - The pressure sensitive adhesive remaining behind on a surface due to cohesive or priming failure when a pressure sensitive label is removed from that surface. Also referred to as adhesive deposit or adhesive transfer.

ADHESIVE SKIP - The absence of adhesive in some areas of film or paper label stock.

ADHESIVE SPLITTING - Failure within the adhesive mass when labels are under stress or removed. If splitting occurs, part of the adhesive will remain on the labeled surface and part on the face material.

ADHESIVE STRIKE-THROUGH - When adhesive penetrates through the face material of a pressure sensitive lamination.

ADHESIVE TRANSFER - The transfer of adhesive from its normal position on the label to the surface to which the label was attached.

ADHESIVE, COLD TEMPERATURE - An adhesive that will induce a bond to cold surfaces in a cold environment.

ADHESIVE, HIGH TEMPERATURE - An adhesive that will enable a label to withstand sustained elevated temperatures, usually 200 degrees F or higher.

ADHESIVE, PERMANENT - An adhesive characterized by relatively high ultimate adhesion. Sometimes it can be removed when the degree of force used overcomes its bonding ability but generally it is not removable.

ADHESIVE, PRESSURE SENSITIVE - A type of adhesive which in dry form is aggressively tacky at room temperature. It has the capability of promoting a bond to dissimilar surfaces on contact, with pressure.

ADHESIVE, REMOVABLE - An adhesive characterized by relatively high cohesive strength and low ultimate adhesion, so it can be removed easily from most surfaces. Some adhesive transfer could take place depending on the affinity of the adhesive to the surface.

AFFINITY - An attraction or polar similarity between adhesive and adherend.

AGED RELEASE - The force required to remove a release liner from an adhesive after a measured period of time, often at elevated temperatures.

AIR DRIED - Forced (usually heated) air drying of coatings or inks.

ALLIGATORING - Term describing the appearance of an adhesive, coating or sealer film that is cracked into large segments.

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE - A term used to denote the temperature of the surrounding air.

ANALYSIS - The separation of a substance or mixture of substances into the component parts, so that a knowledge of the percent composition can be obtained.

ANCHOR COAT - A coating applied to the surface of a substrate to affect the adhesion of subsequent coatings. Also called primer, tie coat or pre-coat.

ANILOX INKING - In flexography, a two roll inking system consisting of a smooth roll which dips in an ink trough and transfers the ink to an etched metal or ceramic roll with wells of fixed volume that transfer the ink controllably to the printing plate.

ANILOX ROLL - Engraved metal or ceramic metering roll used in flexo presses to meter a controlled film of ink from the contacting rubber covered doctor roller to the printing plates which print the web. Volume of ink is affected by the cell count per linear inch and dimension of the cell and cell wall of the engraving.

ANSI - The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private organization responsible for the development of voluntary industry standards. ANSI also sets standard for barcode printing and verification

ANTISTATIC AGENTS - Ingredients in coatings that make the coating antistatic.

ANTISTATIC COATINGS - Coatings applied to one or both surfaces of a substrate to reduce the electrostatic build up so that the material can be further processed, I.e. sheeted and stacked.

ANVIL CUT LABELS - A pressure sensitive label which has been die-cut through all components of the label stock, including liner material; steel-to-steel cut; metal-to-metal cut.

ANVIL ROLL - Hardened steel roll upon which the bearers of a rotary die cutter ride which also provides the hardened surface for die cutting.

APPLICATION TEMPERATURE - The temperature of a substrate or label material at the time the label will be applied. All adhesives have a minimum application temperature rating. Temperature can be a factor in the design of labels that will be used in hot or cold environments.

APPLICATOR - A device or machine that automatically feeds and applies pressure sensitive labels to a product.

AQUEOUS INKS - Inks produced utilizing a water base.

AQUEOUS - Refers to adhesive or inking systems which use water as the carrier or vehicle.

ARTWORK - Traditionally, the original design including drawings and text produced by the artist. All elements of the design from which the black and white art and printing plates are made. Also refers to all elements of the black and white production art. Today, the artwork is almost always a computer file.

ASCII - The character set and code described in the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, ANSI X3.4-19777. Each character is encoded with 7 bits (8 bits including parity check) and is used for information interchange between data processing systems, communications systems, and associated equipment. The ASCII set consists of both control and printing characters used in printing bar codes.

ASPECT RATIO - The ratio of the height of a bar code symbol to its width.

ASTM ASTM - International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a globally company that develops and delivers voluntary consensus standards. Today, some 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the world, and many are used directly or indirectly in the label converting industry.

B

BACK SPLIT - The slit in the release liner that facilitates its removal by hand.

BACKGROUND - The area surrounding a printed symbol.

BACKING - The carrier sheet of material, as opposed to the face material, in a pressure sensitive lamination. It always has a release coating applied so that the adhesive will not stick permanently to the backing. Also known as the release liner.

BAR CODE DENSITY - The number of data characters which can be represented in a linear unit of measure. Bar code density is often expressed in characters per inch.

BAR CODE READER - A device used to identify and read bar code symbols.

BAR CODE VERIFICATION - A bar code only becomes effective if it can be read or scanned the first time and every time. To ensure that bar codes will scan first time and meet the acceptance requirements. Coast Label uses a quality control device called a verifier to insure that the bar code matches the ANSI grading standards within the permitted tolerance levels, as well as the human readable information is present as specified.

BAR LENGTH - A measure of the length of the vertical bar in a bar code.

BAR - The dark element of a printed bar code symbol.

BAR WIDTH REDUCTION - Reduction of the nominal bar width dimension on film masters or printing plates to compensate for printing gain.

BARRIER COAT - A coating applied to the face material on the side opposite to the printing surface to provide increased opacity to the face material and/or to prevent migration between adhesive and the face material and improve anchorage of adhesive to face material. Sealer coat.

BASIS WEIGHT - The weight in pounds of a ream of paper cut to a given size. Most backing papers used in pressure sensitive laminations are based on a ream size of 500 sheets 24″ x 36″. Face papers are more typically 500 sheets 25″ x 38″.

BEARER - Type-high supports designed into each end of a printing plate to help carry part of the impression load and to help prevent bounce. Also the load bearing surfaces(s) of a rotary die, usually positioned at each end of the die.

BIAX - Biaxially oriented material, that is, oriented in the machine and transverse directions.

BI-DIRECTIONAL READ - The ability to read data successfully whether the scanning of the bar code is done left to right or right to left.

BINDER - The component of an ink that supplies the cohesiveness.

BIT - An abbreviation for ‘binary digit’. A single character in a binary number.

BLACK LIGHT - Black light inks are invisible to the eye in a normally lit environment, but can be seen when exposed to a black light, which emits long wave UV radiation. Therefore the inks must be checked during the manufacturing process by the use of black light / UV light.

BLACK LIGHT VARNISH - A clear varnish applied on top of the label that glows brightly when exposed to black UV light, while giving the appearance of a normal clear varnish under most lighting conditions. This is a security feature offered by Coast Label.

BLEED - When the printed image extends beyond the trim edge of the label.

BLEEDING - The diffusion or migration of an ink component or dye into an area where it is not wanted. The spreading or running of a pigment color by action of a solvent. Also the diffusion of migration of an adhesive component into the face material.

BLEED-THROUGH - See penetration-migration.

BLOCKING TEST - A test used in measuring the tendency of surface-to-surface sticking.

BLOCKING - Undesired adhesion between the plies in rolls of pressure sensitive stock usually due to adhesive ooze, improper drying of inks, or improper curing of coatings, often to the extent that damage to at least one surface is visible upon their separation if they can in fact be separated.

BODY STOCK - See face material.

BOLD-FACE TYPE - Name given to type that is heavier than text type with which it is used.

BOND - To attach materials together by adhesives.

BONDING STRENGTH - In paper, the force with which the fibers adhere to each other. In surface coatings, such as inks and adhesives, the strength with which the dried coating adheres to the surface of the substrate. Also refers to the degree of adhesion of a pressure sensitive face material to any surface.

BURN - Common term used for printing plate exposure.

BURSTING STRENGTH - The pressure required to rupture a material specimen when it is tested in a specified instrument under specified conditions. It is largely determined by the tensile strength and extensibility of the material.

C

C1S - Abbreviation for coated one side paper.

CAD/CAM - Computer Assisted Design/Computer Assisted Makeup or Manufacturing.

CALENDER FINISHED - A term applied to any paper with a surface glazed by means of a calender stack.

CALIPER - The thickness of labels, usually measured in mils (one thousandth of an inch). A mil is sometimes called a “point.” A 10 mil tag might also be called a 10 point tag stock.

CAST COATED - A high-gloss enamel finish used on a face stock. This term is applied to a high gloss finish on a label.

CAST FILM - Plastic sheeting manufactured by the casting process, as opposed to the extruding process.

CAST VINYL - Vinyl sheeting manufactured by coating a liquid vinyl acetate or similar ester onto a casting paper and curing in a heated oven.

CATALYST - A substance which has the capability of initiating or accelerating the speed of a reaction between two or more substances when introduced into their presence.

CE MARKING - A mandatory conformance marking requirement for many products sold on the European Economic Area (EEA). With the CE marking on a product the manufacturer ensures that the product is in conformity with the essential requirements of the applicable EC directives. The letters “CE” stand for “Conformit Europenne” (“European Conformity”).

CELLULOSE - Fibrous substance of wood, cotton and other vegetable matter.

CENTIGRADE - A scale of temperature which features 0 and 100 degrees as the freezing and boiling points of water. Also called Celsius.

CHALKING - A form of coating deterioration characterized by the formation of a loose, chalk-like powder on the film surface.

CHARACTER - In bar coding, a single group of bars and spaces which represent an individual number, letter or punctuation mark.

CHARGE - Usually refers to the degree or type of electrical property carried by a substrate.

CHECK DIGIT - A digit included within a bar code whose value is based mathematically on other characters included in the symbol. It is used to perform a mathematical check to ensure the accuracy of the read.

CHEMICAL CURING - The setting or curing of an adhesive, coating or sealer brought about by the addition of a catalyst or accelerator.

CHOKE - An image whose edges have been pulled in slightly from those of the original. The image area remains essentially the same except for a narrow strip of reduction around its perimeter.

CHOKES AND SPREADS - Overlaps of overprinting images to prevent color fringes or white borders around image detail caused by press registration variation during printing.

CHROMATIC SCALE - The colors of the spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.

CIRCUMFERENTIAL REGISTER - See running register.

CLEAR COAT - A coating that protects the printing and the surface of a pressure sensitive label from abrasion, sunlight, chemicals, moisture, or a combination of these.

CLINICAL LABORATORY LABELS - Labels that are used to insure identity and integrity of vialed laboratory specimens through a variety of means. The labels can be used to identify date, collector, shipping container seal, and specimen ID, and may also provide double duty as a sealing document for the specimen. The labels can also be die cut in a sophisticated manner or be made from specialty face stocks which provide evidence of tampering.

COATED PAPER - General term applying to all papers which have been surface coated with pigments.

COATING - The emulsion, varnish, or lacquer applied to a label, often over a printed surface, to give it added protection from moisture or abrasion, or to give the finished surface receptivity to subsequent printing.

COATING WEIGHT - The weight of a coating per unit area, such as lb/1,000 square feet, lb/ream or grams/sq meter.

CODE 39 - A full alphanumeric bar code consisting of nine black and white bars for each character symbol.

CO-EXTRUSIONS - Film produced by more than one extruder through a common die. Films are often made of many layers.

COHESION - The internal strength of an adhesive mass; resistance to flow, and resistance to failure in the adhesive when labels are removed or are under stress. See cohesive strength. Also referred to as cohesive strength, internal bond, and shear.

COHESIVE STRENGTH - A measure of the property of an adhesive which resists forces parallel to the surface, such as adhesive splitting.

COLD TEMPERATURE LABELS - Cold temperature labels are used for labeling items that need to be stored in cold storage. They use permanent freezer adhesives, which are typically designed to be applied at room temperature and then placed in a freezer. However there are adhesives specifically made to be placed on already frozen products.

COLLATING - Assembling in proper order.

COLOR CHANGE INKS - These inks are widely used in security printing applications. Some change color when in contact with certain chemicals. These are used for authentication of security print and other types of secure documents. Others bleed a different color when wet or when heated.

COLOR CORRECTION - Any method such as masking, dot-etching, re-etching, and/or electronic scanning used to correct for color errors in process inks.

COLOR PROCESS - A reproduction of any subject where the colors are separated by any method utilizing at least the three primary process colors – yellow, magenta and cyan. Using halftone plates to produce intermediate colors and shades. Linework and screenwork can be utilized.

COLOR PROOF - A printed or simulated printed image of each process color (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) using inks, toners or dyes to give a simulated impression of the final printed reproduction. Color proofs are now most often generated by computer.

COLOR RETENTION - The property of a color to resist fading or other deterioration on exposure to light.

COLOR SEPARATION - The process of separating original artwork into individual spot colors or the process colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black for the purpose of making printing plates.

COLOR SHIFT INKS - An ink that when applied to a label appears as two or more distinct colors when viewed from different angles.

COLOR STATIONS - Each printing section of the press or set of rollers used to print each individual color.

COLORANT - The color portion of an ink; may be a pigment, dye, or a combination of the two.

COMPATIBILITY - The ability of ink, film, substrate and/or solvents to function together in an acceptable manner.

CONDENSED TYPE - Proportionally narrow or slender type faces.

CONTINUOUS CODE - A bar code or symbol where the space between characters (intercharacter gap) is part of the code.

CONTINUOUS LABEL - Pinfeed, and usually fan-folded labels manufactured from a continuous web of label stock, which is not cut into units prior to execution. Continuous labels are mostly used for data processing applications.

CONVERTER - The type of manufacturer who produces things such as plain or printed rolls, sheets, bags or pouches from rolls of film, foil or paper, including pressure sensitive labels and tags.

COPY - Any furnished material (manuscript, pictures, artwork, etc.) to be used in the production of printing.

COPY PREPARATION - Directions for desired size and other details for illustrations, and the arrangement into proper position of various parts of the label being prepared for reproduction.

CORE - A paper, plastic or metal tube on which paper, film, or foil labels are wound for shipment.

CORE HOLDER - Device for affixing core to shaft; also called core chuck.

CORE PLUGS - Metal, wood or compressed paper plugs which are driven into the paper core of the finished roll to prevent crushing or other damage to the core.

CORNER RADIUS - The arc or curvature of the corners of a die-cut label. The die blades are shaped so that they can impart a rounded corner.

CORONA TREATING - An electrical discharge which is used to raise the critical surface tension of low or inert substrates thereby enhancing printability.

COVERAGE - Ink or coating mileage; the surface area covered by a given quantity of ink or coating material. In flexography, the extent or degree to which a base material is covered, colored, or hidden by an ink or coating.

COVERT IMAGE - A hidden image printed on a label not visible to the naked eye. They are usually printed with invisible fluorescent inks that are detected when exposed to UV light.

CRAZING - The appearance of a network of small cracks in a varnish coat or a plastic facestock.

CREEP - The lateral movement of a pressure sensitive label on a surface due to low cohesive strength.

CROP MARKS - The marks made on the outer edges of artwork to designate the area to be trimmed, sheeted, or die cut. Crop marks indicate the relative positioning of the printing to the finished sheet or die cut shape.

CROP - To eliminate portions of the copy (indicated by cropmarks).

CRUSH CUT - A cut made by a rotary blade in contact with an anvil or base roll.

CRUSH SCORE - See score.

CRUSHED CORE - Core that gives way and becomes out-of-round either from too much tension or a bump.

CRYOGENIC LABELS - Labels which are used in maximum harsh environment situations involving cryogenic freezing. Specialty adhesives and substrates are required to adhere in low temperatures.

CSA - Canadian Standards Association. Canadian association similar to Underwriters Laboratories.

CURL - The tendency of material by itself or in a laminate to bend or partly wrap around the axis of one of its directions. Curl is often caused by humidity or improper tension.

D

DATA MATRIX CODE - A proprietary dynamically variable 2D matrix code, which provides a visual representation of a machine executable electronic binary code.

DEBOSSED - An indent or cut in design or lettering of a surface.

DENSITOMETER - Instrument that measures reflected or transmitted light. A reflection densitometer is used as a control instrument to check the uniformity and consistency of print color.

DESTATICIZATION - Treating plastic materials to minimize their accumulation of static electricity.

DESTRUCTIBLE LABEL - A type of pressure sensitive label that, once removed from the release liner and bonded to the intended surface, cannot be removed from the surface intact. Any attempt to remove the label is readily evident, and the label cannot be removed and replaced successfully. These labels are typically used when users want to discourage and show evidence of tampering.

DETACKIFICATION - The destroying of the tack or stickiness of a pressure sensitive adhesive.

DIE ADAPTER - A device used to modify a die station of one type of press so that it will accommodate dies originally designed to be used on different presses.

DIE CUT - To cut labels with a die.

DIE - Hardened steel or tungsten carbide tools or devices used for imparting or cutting a desired shape, form, or finish to or from a material. A device used in converting machinery for cutting only the face material of a pressure sensitive laminate or for punching out shapes from the entire laminate or any other label material.

DIE HOLD-DOWN ASSEMBLY - A steel block incorporating bearings which apply pressure to the bearer surface of a rotary die cutter through pressure screws.

DIE LIFE - Mileage expected from a new die and that expected following a resharpening of a die, usually expressed in revolutions.

DIE STAIN TEST - Used to check die cutting accuracy. Usually done with diluted ink applied to the die cut surface of the backing or liner material. The ink wicks into any fractures of the silicone coated surface thereby exhibiting the problem areas.

DIE-CUTTING - The process of using dies or sharp steel rules to cut any shape for labels.

DIFFERENTIAL RELEASE - A release liner with release coatings on both sides. One side has easy release while the opposite side is tighter such that the adhesive stays with the tighter side during winding and other subsequent converting.

DIGITAL PRINTING - The process involving the creation, storage, transfer and reproduction of printed images in a digital format so as to allow fixed or completely variable information to be printed on a label without printing plates.

DILUENT - A liquid used to thin ink.

DIRECT THERMAL - Printing method utilizing heat impinged upon a specially coated substrate so that the heat turns the surface black.

DISCOLORATION - Any change from the original color, or an unintended inconsistency of color.

DISCRETE CODE - A bar code or symbol where the spaces between characters (intercharacter gap) are not part of the code.

DISPENSING EDGE - A relatively sharp edge around which a backing material is pulled in order to dispense a pressure sensitive label from the backing.

DISTORTED - Intentionally compensating for shrinkage, stretch, etc. of the flexographic printing plates so that the printed image size is as intended by the artist.

DISTORTION COPY - Copy which is intentionally distorted in preparation, in order to compensate for the effects of dimensional changes due to subsequent processing. Flexographic printing plates require such allowances to compensate for dimensional changes that occur when the plate is wrapped around the print cylinder for mounting on the press.

DOCTOR BLADE - A thin flexible blade mounted parallel to and adjustable against the surface an engraved anilox roll for the purpose of scraping off excess ink or coatings.

DOCTOR ROLL - The fountain or metering roll in a flexographic press which doctors off excess ink from the engraved anilox roll.

DOT GAIN OR SPREAD - A printing characteristic in which dots print larger on the paper or other substrate than they are on the printing plate, causing darker tones or colors. See dot growth.

DOT MATRIX - A printing technology that produces its printed image by firing pins or hammers against a ribbon and then onto paper.

DPI - Dots per inch. Resolution is expressed as the number of lines or halftone dots per inch, also called screen ruling. This is also used to express the print resolution of digital printing machines including laser printers, thermal printers and ink jet printers.

DRY EDGE - The edge of paper or film where there is no adhesive. This makes for easy removal of release line

DRYER - See drier.

DWELL - Refers to the length of time pressure is applied to a pressure sensitive label during application. The time that a pressure sensitive material remains on a surface before testing the adhesion or removability. Also the time that a hot stamp, embossing head, or thermal die remains in contact with the surface of a pressure sensitive material.

DYNE LEVEL - Dyne is a measurement of surface tension or energy. The level is the actual reading of the critical surface tension. Low dyne levels indicates a low surface energy which can contribute to poor ink adhesion.

E

EAN - European Article Numbering system, the international standard bar code for retail food packages.

EDGE CURL - See curl.

EDGE DEFINITION - Bar code readers require sharp, well-defined edges to differentiate between bars and spaces and properly decode symbols. Poor edge definition may indicate that the ribbon and media are not properly matched for use with each other. Printing bar codes in a vertical (ladder) orientation can also cause edge definition problems, so horizontal (picket fence) orientation should be used whenever possible.

EDGE LIFT - When the edge of a label rises off the surface of the substrate. This condition occurs most frequently on small diameter curved surfaces. Resistance to edge lift is dependent on the bond strength between the adhesive and surface to be labeled, the flexibility of the face stock, and the method of application. There are specific label materials and adhesives made for small diameter and curved surface applications.

EDP LABELS - Electronic Data Processing (EDP) labels are pressure sensitive labels, custom or bland manufactured for use on computer printing equipment. Webs are usually perforated, fan folded, and hole punched (line holes) for pin-wheel feeding.

ELECTRONIC PRE-PRESS - Computer assisted designing of new labels from conceptual through to the separated, stepped and repeated films or files required for plate making.

ELECTRONICS/ELECTRICAL LABELS - These labels are used on PCs, hand-held computers, consumer electronics equipment (audio/video equipment), digital cameras, electronic games, mobile phones, rechargeable batteries, power supply cables and electronic devices.

ELMENDORF TEST - A standard test for determining the tearing strength of paper.

ELONGATION - The distance a material will stretch lengthwise before breaking, expressed as a percentage of original length. Elongation is not necessarily an indication of conformability.

EMULSIFICATION - The process of dispersing one liquid in another when the two liquids normally do not mix.

EMULSIFYING AGENT - Substance used to produce an emulsion of two liquids which do not naturally mix.

ENCAPSULATED INK - Ink encapsulated with a coating giving a free flowing dry system which can be activated by heat or pressure.

ENGRAVING - A general term normally applied to any pattern which has been cut into or incised into a surface by hand, mechanical, or etching process.

EPS - Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) is a graphic file format used to transfer PostScript image information from one program to another, or for importing into other applications. Virtually all page layout, word-processing, and graphic applications accept imported or placed EPS files. The EPS format preserves many of the graphic elements you can create with Adobe Illustrator, which means that EPS files can be reopened and edited as Illustrator files.

EYEMARK/TIMING MARK - A small rectangular printing area, usually located near the edge of a web or design, that activates an automatic electronic position regulator for controlling the register or printed design with subsequent equipment or operations. Eyemarks are typically printed black on the liner backing and equally spaced between adjacent labels for variable printing.

F

FACE MATERIAL - Any paper, film, fabric, laminate or foil material suitable for converting into pressure sensitive label stock. In the finished construction this web is bonded to the adhesive layer and becomes the functional part of the construction.

FACE-CUT LABEL - Any pressure-sensitive label where the face material is cut to the liner.

FADEOMETER - Instrument used to measure the fade resistant properties of inks and other pigmented coatings.

FAN FOLD - Labels manufactured from a continuous web of label stock and then folded into a zigzag accordion style format for packing flat in packaging. The fold is created by horizontal perforations in the release liner. Fan folded labels are mostly used for data processing applications.

FEATHERING - A defect which is characterized by ragged, coarse edges, or undesirable irregular edges around a print.

FILLING-IN - Refers to the filling-in of small reverse areas or a copy of a printed design.

FILMS - Face and liner material manufactured from synthetic high molecular weight polymers.

FINISHING - The last work to be carried out on a clients order prior to the job being shipped. Slitting, rewinding, inspection, packing, and labeling are all included in the finishing process. Finishing is also a quality management step to ensure the product leaves the facility under the correct specifications.

FLAGGING - Usually refer to the ‘lifting’ of a pressure sensitive label from the surface to which it has been applied. This condition most often occurs when the label has been applied around a curved surface.

FLAME-RESISTANT - A material that resists flame because it has been treated with chemicals. While not actually fireproof, it will not support combustion. It will char, but not carry a flame.

FLAMMABLE - Capable of being ignited.

FLEXIBLE DIE - A thin, flexible, steel die cutting plate for use on magnetic cylinders (see magnetic dies). Flexible dies are an inexpensive alternative to engraved tooling. They are typically used for short-run applications as they cannot be re-sharpened like an engraved tool and have a shorter run life than an engraved tool.

FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING - A method of rotary printing which employs flexible plates, rotary die cutting, rapid-drying inks, in-line laminating, and other converting operations.

FLOCK - A commercial fuzz or lint consisting of fine strands or filaments from textile fibers, animal hair, synthetic resins, among others. It is applied to an adhesive coated surface to produce a decorative felt-like appearance.

FLOOD COAT - The coating of an entire label surface with ink, adhesive or varnish.

FLOW OUT - The capacity of an ink or adhesive to spread, filling in the hills and valleys on the surface of the printed or non-printed substrate.

FLUORESCENT PAPER A paper that is coated with fluorescent pigment which reflects a visible wavelength. It is activated by the remaining absorbed light and re-emits it as color of a longer wavelength which reinforces the reflected color. Fluorescent labels are often used for information, warnings, and instructions. FLUORESCENT PIGMENTS By absorbing unwanted wave lengths of light and converting them into light of desired wave lengths, these colors seem to possess an actual glow of their own. FLUOROCARBON FILMS A film with very high and low temperature limits, excellent electrical characteristics, and a very slippery, non-sticking surface. FOIL A very thin metal sheet that can be used as face stock material in label production. FOIL PAPER LAMINATE A foil laminated to a sheet of paper used as a face stock. The foil is usually topcoated to improve ink receptivity. These labels have the appearance of a metal label, but are very thin and can be printed or embossed. FONT A complete set of typeface characters of the same design, size, and face which includes upper and lower case, bold, italic, numerals, punctuation marks, and accents. Labels can be printed with any font supplied in artwork files. FOOD CONTACT ADHESIVES Adhesives meeting specified sections of the Food & Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations cover direct food labeling as well as incidental contact. Special product recommendations are necessary for specific applications. FOUR-COLOR PROCESS Printing with cyan, yellow, magenta, and black (CYMK) inks using screens to reproduce the wide spectrum of colors. This is referred to as process printing or CMYK printing. FRAGILE MATERIALS Materials based on a range of films and papers that provide tamper evidence due to their low structural integrity. Available as destructible paper or film materials and used in applications such as safety warning labels, warranty labels, package seals, and licensing labels. - A paper that is coated with fluorescent pigment which reflects a visible wavelength. It is activated by the remaining absorbed light and re-emits it as color of a longer wavelength which reinforces the reflected color. Fluorescent labels are often used for information, warnings, and instructions.

FLUORESCENT PIGMENTS - By absorbing unwanted wave lengths of light and converting them into light of desired wave lengths, these colors seem to possess an actual glow of their own.

FOIL PAPER LAMINATE - A foil laminated to a sheet of paper used as a face stock. The foil is usually topcoated to improve ink receptivity. These labels have the appearance of a metal label, but are very thin and can be printed or embossed.

FOOD CONTACT ADHESIVES - Adhesives meeting specified sections of the Food & Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations cover direct food labeling as well as incidental contact. Special product recommendations are necessary for specific applications.

FRAGILE MATERIALS - Materials based on a range of films and papers that provide tamper evidence due to their low structural integrity. Available as destructible paper or film materials and used in applications such as safety warning labels, warranty labels, package seals, and licensing labels.

FREEZER ADHESIVES - Adhesives that will function at temperatures below the freezing point. They are usually removable at room temperatures.

G

GAMMA STERILIZATION INDICATOR - A self-adhesive indicator in label form that undergoes a simple, chemical color-change when exposed to gamma radiation. The indicator changes from yellow to red when activated. This provides a yes/no indicator of gamma exposure for a wide range of applications, including medical and surgical products sterilization.

GAUGE BANDS - Areas where material or liner is thicker, forming a hard ridge as layer after layer builds up in the same spot.

GLUE - See adhesive.

GRAB - Ability of an adhesive to quickly adhere to a surface with a minimum of pressure (usually touched to the surface with its own weight). Also called instant adhesion or initial tack.

GRAM - Unit of weight in the metric system; the weight of one cubic centimeter of water at standard conditions. 28.35 grams equal one ounce.

GUARD BARS - The bars which are at both ends and center of a UPC and EAN symbol. They provide reference points for scanning.

GUM - Reference to a broad class of synthetic and natural adhesive materials which exhibit good tack characteristics. See adhesive.

H

HALFTONE - The reproduction of continuous-tone subjects such as photographs through a contact halftone screen, which converts the image into dots with equal spacing and different sizes.

HALO - An undesirable, peripheral outline of a printed image. An undesirable, peripheral outline of adhesive around the edge of an applied pressure sensitive label (due to adhesive ooze or substrate shrinkage).

HANG TAG - Also referred to as swing tag, coupon tag, hang ticket or swing ticket. All variations of the paperboard or plastic swinging tags that are familiar on garments and point of sale applications. Most, but not all, hang tags do not have adhesive.

HARD DOT - A term that refers to a dot where the fringe or halo is so slight it is barely noticeable and the dot is very sharp.

HAZE - A degree of cloudiness in a plastic material.

HEAT RESISTANCE - The property of a material which inhibits the occurrence of physical or chemical changes caused by exposure to high temperatures. Many film materials have high heat resistance and some are specifically made for extreme heat conditions.

HEXACHROME - A six-color process developed by Pantone, which adds a vivid orange and intensified green to the standard CMYK color printing system. It uses a color matching system that allows for the combination of six colors in order to create a larger gamut of reproducible color.

HIGHLIGHT - The lightest or whitest parts in a photograph represented in a halftone reproduction by the smallest dots or the absence of all dots. HIGH-SPEED

HOLOGRAM - The pattern on a photosensitive material or embossed into a polymeric film structure resulting from an interference pattern created by a laser light striking an object, then merging with a reference beam of the same light.

HOT MELT ADHESIVES - Thermoplastic materials with 100% solids that liquefy when heated and resolidify on cooling to form a bond with the face sheet. It is a pressure sensitive lamination which includes a release coated backing sheet.

I

IMPACT PRINTING A printing system where microprocessor-controlled hammer impacts against a ribbon and a substrate. IMPREGNATE To saturate or permeate a material with a substance. IMPRESSION CYLINDER In printing, the cylinder on a printing press over which the material feeds to pick up the impression from the inked plate. IMPRESSION The image transferred from the printing plate or cylinder to the printing substrate. IMPRINTING Technique in which changeable copy is added to blank or previously printed labels or tags with a secondary printing device such as an imprinter, computer printer, or typewriter. INDUSTRIAL LABELS Labels that are required to withstand a range of conditions and extreme climates which may include oil, water, chemical or grease resistance, high or low temperatures, abrasion or scuffing. INHIBITOR A compound (usually organic) that retards or stops a chemical reaction such as corrosion, oxidation or polymerization. INITIAL RELEASE A release test run immediately after coating and laminating. INITIAL TACK Degree of stickiness when a pressure sensitive label is first applied to a product. INK BLEED Penetration of one color of ink into the facestock in such a manner as to cause one color to run into and discolor either the background color of the facestock, or another color of ink that is laid down adjacent to the color that is bleeding. INK HOLDOUT Describes the degree to which pigment and binder stay on the surface of a material; a function of the ink, material and solvent (or chemical) interactions. INK JET A method of printing using jets of very fine ink droplets fired at the substrate to form the same or variable information images on to paper or other substrate without a press. There are special label materials manufactured specifically for inkjet applications. IN-LINE PRESS A press coupled to another operation such as sheeting, die-cutting, or creasing. A multi-color press in which the color stations are mounted horizontally in a line. IN-MOLD LABELS (IML) Special type of labels which are bonded to plastic bottles during the blow-molding operation. INTERLEAVED 2 of 5 BAR CODE A numeric only, bi-directional, self-checking bar code symbology consisting of five bars, two of which are wide. Both spaces and bars carry information, and there must be an even number of characters in the code. INTERNAL BOND See cohesive strength. - A printing system where microprocessor-controlled hammer impacts against a ribbon and a substrate.

INHIBITOR - A compound (usually organic) that retards or stops a chemical reaction such as corrosion, oxidation or polymerization.

INTERNAL STRESS - Stress created within the adhesive layer by the movement of the adherends at differential rates or by contraction or expansion of the adhesive layer.

INVISIBLE INKS - These inks print an image that is invisible to the eye under normal lighting conditions and glows when the print is placed under a black lamp. These inks are typically used for security or anti-counterfeiting applications.

ISO 9001 - A global quality management standard that involves making improvements across a wide range of business processes. Activities can be managed as a process, with each activity adding value to the last, all ultimately leading to customer satisfaction. ISO 9001 certification demonstrates a converters commitment to quality and for many printing buyers it has become the expected standard. Coast Label companys quality management system is certified under the ISO 9001:2008 standard.

J

K

KRAFT - An unbleached, brown wood pulp made by the sulfate paper-making process. Kraft labels are often used to add information or make printing corrections on brown corrugated packaging or for specific applications where kraft paper is selected for its unique look and feel.

KROMEKOTE - A trademark of a clay coated paper with a highly polished, mirror-like finish; high gloss. L.I.F.E.® Certification A program developed by the Tag & Label Manufacturers Association specifically for Tag & Label companies. Patterned after ISO 14001, it addresses the unique environmental, safety, and sustainability issues that face the label converting industry including: the recycle-compatibility of adhesives; the source and destination of liner materials and how label companies are driving recycling programs for these materials; and material construction light-weighting (adopting thinner constructions that generate less waste). L.I.F.E® is an audited certification process and Coast Label Company is one of the few label companies in North America to achieve this certification for our facility.

L

LABEL - The functional portion of a pressure sensitive construction comprising the face material and adhesive, die cut into various shapes.

LABELING MACHINE - A machine that dispenses a self-adhesive label and applies it to a container, pack or product. Label machines vary in size and function. The orientation of the label off the roll is important when a label will be applied with a labeling machine.

LACQUER - A clear protective coating, usually glossy, applied to a printed web in-line on a label press just prior to die-cutting.

LADDER - See matrix.

LAMINATING ADHESIVE - An adhesive used for laminating transparent films onto printed surfaces. Images are printed on a clear label in mirror image and then a laminating adhesive is laminated with the ink and face stock. The image can then be read through the clear label and the ink is thoroughly protected.

LASER PAPER - Paper suitable to accept laser printing.

LASER SCANNER - An optical reading device using a low energy laser light beam as its source of illumination.

LATEX - An emulsion of rubber or resin particles dispersed in an aqueous medium. A natural or synthetic elastomeric dispersion in an aqueous system.

LAY FLAT - A label material with good non-curling characteristics make it suitable for any form of printing or processing where a flat sheet is required. Laser materials are made with lay flat liners so the sheets do not curl after manufacturing.

LEAN MANUFACTURING - Lean manufacturing, lean enterprise, or lean production, often simply, “lean,” is a production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination. Working from the perspective of the customer who consumes a product or service, “value” is defined as any action or process that a customer would be willing to pay for. Coast Label Associates have been trained in and practices lean manufacturing.

LEXAN - Lexan® is a registered trademark for SABIC Innovative Plastics (formerly General Electric Plastics polycarbonate film). Lexan is a highly durable material and is suitable for outdoor applications, nameplates and overlays.

LIFTING - An undesirable outcome where a label exhibits some degree of lifting from the applied surface.

LIGHT PEN - A hand-held scanning wand which is used as a contact bar code reader.

LITHOGRAPHIC PAPER - A paper coated on at least one side, suitably prepared for lithographic printing. Sometimes it is simply abbreviated as litho.

LOSS OF TACK - The adhesive loses its adhesion properties and does not grab as well as it should.

LUMINESCENT PIGMENTS - Special pigments available to produce striking effects in the dark. Basically there are two types; one is activated by ultra-violet radiation, producing very strong luminescence. The second is known as phosphorescent pigments, it does not require any separate source of radiation.

M

M - Abbreviation for a quantity of 1,000.

MAGENTA - A subtractive primary color which reflects blue and red light and absorbs green light.

MAGNETIC CYLINDER - A cylinder used in die cutting that is magnetized to accept and hold flexible steel dies in place. Also used in conjunction with metal-backed printing plates.

MAGNETIC DIE - A thin, flexible, steel cutting plate that is held on to a base cylinder magnetically. Magnetic dies are a less expensive alternative to solid steel engraved tools.

MANDREL - A shaft upon which cylinders, or other devices, are mounted or affixed. Also unwind or rewind shaft on to which rolls of materials (or labels) are mounted.

MATERIAL SPLICE - An area where tape has been used to attach two rolls of material together to form one continuous web.

MATERIAL - Usually refers to unconverted stock, pressure sensitive or not.

MATTE FINISH - Paper coatings, inks, varnishes, and laminates may all be obtained with a matte finish, which diffuse the reflection of light to provide a flat, non-glossy finish.

METAL FOIL - Thin, flexible layer of metal, such as aluminum, used as face materials. Thinner gauges are often laminated to paper for strength.

METALIZED FILM - A plastic or resinous film that has been coated on one side with a very thin layer of metal.

METALIZED PAPER - A label substrate consisting of a lacquered C1S paper on which a very thin film of aluminum has been deposited.

METALIZING - Applying a thin coating of metal to a non-metallic surface. May be done by chemical disposition or by exposing the surface to vaporized metal in a vacuum chamber.

MICROMETER - A mechanical device for measuring thickness (usually in thousands of an inch).

MICRON - A unit of measure. One-millionth of a meter or about .00004″ (25 microns = 0.001″).

MICROPERF - Microperforations (microperf) are very small perforations or pinholes in paper that enable a section or part of the paper to be easily separated. Microperforations leave a smooth edge without the normal more jagged edge found with standard methods of perforation.

MIGRATION - The movement of one or more of the components of a pressure sensitive adhesive to either the labeled surface or face material. Also the movement of one or more of the components of either or both the face material and the labeled surface into the adhesive and/or ink.

MIL - A unit of thickness measurement used for label materials. 1 mil=0.001 inch=100 gauge.

MILEAGE - The surface area covered by a given quantity of ink or coating. Also used to measure rotary die usage or expected useful life.

MILL ROLL - Roll of paper, film or foil as received by the converter from the mill.

MISCIBLE - Capable of being mixed; mutually soluble.

MISREAD - A condition which occurs when the data output of a reader does not agree with the encoded data presented. MMSI A million square inches of material.

MODULE - The narrowest unit of measure in a bar code. A module may be ‘black’ or ‘white’. Contiguous modules are used to form bars or spaces which are wider than one unit.

MOISTURE RESISTANCE - Label materials that resist the uptake or passage of moisture. The moisture resistance of paper labels can be improved by varnishing or overlaminating.

MOLD RELEASE AGENTS - Materials used in the manufacture of molded objects to facilitate their removal from the mold. Mold release agents can cause serious adhesion problems in some instances.

MONOMER - A primary chemical structure which reacts with itself, under the influence of catalytic action, to create polymeric forms of much greater molecular weight.

MYLAR - DuPonts trademark for clear, tough polymeric polyester film. It has a good resistance to moisture, solvents, oils and other chemicals. Polyester labels are used for durable label applications.

N

NAMEPLATE - A rigid or flexible material that carries detailed information about a product (e.g. serial number, voltage, type, etc.) and is fixed or mounted in position by screws, pins or adhesive. Materials used may be metal plates, metallic foils, metalized plastics, rigid plastics, or other materials designed to withstand exposure and adverse conditions.

NATURAL RUBBER - Coagulated latex obtained from rubber trees and shrubs sometimes used as bases for adhesives and coatings. It has very low compression and permanent set and good resistance to cold flow. Sunlight, oxygen and ozone resistance is not as good as that of most synthetic rubbers.

NEGATIVE - A photographic image of originals on paper, film or glass in reverse from that of the original copy. Dark areas appear light and vice versa.

NIP - Line of contact between two rolls. Often referred to as the pull or draw rolls of a web press.

NOMINAL SIZE - The standard size for a bar code symbol. Most codes can be used over a range of magnifications, commonly from 0.80 to 1.20 nominal.

NON-PRIME LABEL - A label supplying supportive information to a product or performing any other function.

NON-READ INK - Any ink with a sufficiently high reflectance to prohibit detection by an optical scanner. Non-read inks are used as visual guides that do not interfere with data reading.

NON-VOLATILE - Refers to the portion of an adhesive, coating or sealer that does not evaporate or vaporize at relatively low temperatures.

NON-WOVEN MATERIALS - Usually refers to paper tissues or synthetics such as rayon.

NATURAL AGING - The change in a material occurring when it is exposed to normal environmental conditions.

NATURAL RUBBER - Coagulated latex obtained from rubber trees and shrubs sometimes used as bases for adhesives and coatings. It has very low compression and permanent set and good resistance to cold flow. Sunlight, oxygen and ozone resistance is not as good as that of most synthetic rubbers.

NEGATIVE - A photographic image of originals on paper, film or glass in reverse from that of the original copy. Dark areas appear light and vice versa.

NEGATIVE IMAGE - A reversed image.

NEOPRENE RUBBER - A polymer of chloroprene which is used as an adhesive base. Commonly used where oil and gasoline resistance is required. Resistance to swelling action of aromatics (pure and in fuels) is poor but much better than natural rubber. Also used to coat doctor or metering rolls.

NIP - Line of contact between two rolls. Often referred to as the pull or draw rolls of a web press.

NOMINAL SIZE - The standard size for a bar code symbol. Most codes can be used over a range of magnifications, commonly from 0.80 to 1.20 nominal.

NON-READ INK - Any ink with a sufficiently high reflectance to prohibit detection by an optical scanner. Non-read inks are used as visual guides that do not interfere with data reading.

NON-WOVEN MATERIALS - Usually refers to paper tissues or synthetics such as rayon.

NUMERIC - A machine vocabulary that includes only numbers as contrasted to alphanumeric which includes letters and numerals.

NYLON - DuPont’s trade name for a strong plastic film with high oil and gas resistance. It is used as a filament in strapping tapes, with high impact resistance.

NATURAL AGING - The change in a material occurring when it is exposed to normal environmental conditions

NATURAL RUBBER - Coagulated latex obtained from rubber trees and shrubs sometimes used as bases for adhesives and coatings. It has very low compression and permanent set and good resistance to cold flow. Sunlight, oxygen and ozone resistance is not as good as that of most synthetic rubbers.

NEGATIVE IMAGE - A reversed image.

NEOPRENE RUBBER - A polymer of chloroprene which is used as an adhesive base. Commonly used where oil and gasoline resistance is required. Resistance to swelling action of aromatics (pure and in fuels) is poor but much better than natural rubber. Also used to coat doctor or metering rolls.

NIP - Line of contact between two rolls. Often referred to as the pull or draw rolls of a web press.

NOMINAL SIZE - The standard size for a bar code symbol. Most codes can be used over a range of magnifications, commonly from 0.80 to 1.20 nominal.

NON-BLOCKING - Refers to an applied adhesive that will not adhere to other surfaces under normal storage conditions.

NON-ORIENTED FILM - Film which has not been subject to stress to align the polymer chains and improve properties.

NON-POLAR - Having no concentrations of electrical charge on a molecular scale, incapable of significant dielectric loss. Examples among resins are polystyrene and polyethylene.

NON-PRIME LABEL - A label supplying supportive information to a product or performing any other function.

NON-READ INK - Any ink with a sufficiently high reflectance to prohibit detection by an optical scanner. Non-read inks are used as visual guides that do not interfere with data reading.

NON-VOLATILE - Refers to the portion of an adhesive, coating or sealer that does not evaporate or vaporize at relatively low temperatures.

O

OCR - Optical Character Recognition. An information processing technology dealing with the conversion of imprinted or written data to another language and medium.

OCR-A - An abbreviation commonly applied to the character set contained in ANSI Std. X3.17-1974.

OCR-B - An abbreviation commonly applied to the character set contained in ANSI Std. X3.49-1975.

OD - The outside diameter (OD) of a cylinder, roller or roll of labels. The OD of a finished roll of labels is often specified, especially when labels will be mounted on a printing or application machine with certain OD size limitations.

OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer. One who produces a component or components used in the making of a finished assembled product.

OFF-CUT - The part of the trim width that is not utilized. Usually a narrow roll which is left over because the customer placed an order which does not utilize the full master roll width.

OLEFINS - A group of unsaturated hydrocarbons of the general formula CnH2n and named after the corresponding paraffins by the addition of ‘ene’ or ‘ylene’ to the stem.

OLEO RESINS - Semi-solid mixtures of the resin and essential oil of the plant from which they exude, and sometimes referred to as balsams. Oleoresinous materials also consist of products of drying oils and natural or synthetic resins.

ONE COMPONENT ADHESIVE - A pressure sensitive adhesive in which all of the necessary properties are derived from a single uniquely designed synthetic polymer.

OOZE - Adhesive moving out of the ends of rolls or stacks of sheets that causes the ends to feel sticky and possible the material to block. Winding labels on the roll too tightly may cause adhesive ooze. Also known as adhesive cold flow.

OPACIMETER - The instrument with which the degree of opacity may be measured.

OPAQUE - A material or surface that is not transparent, translucent or transmits light. Opaque label materials are often used when covering up existing text on a product. The opacity of the label assures the ink underneath the label will not be visible.

OPAQUE INK - Ink that is not transparent and reflects only its color, regardless of what colors it overprints. Opaque inks are used when overprinting on existing inks.

OPTICAL CHARACTER READER - An information processing device that accepts and processes machine or hand written characters.

OPTICAL - Relates to the utilization of light. Sometimes involves the use of light sensitive devices to acquire information.

OPTICAL THROW - The distance from the face of the code reader or scanner to the beginning of the depth of field.

ORIENTATION (BAR CODE) - Bar code symbols may be positioned so that they can be scanned horizontally (the bars are vertical in a picket fence orientation) or vertically (the bars are horizontal in a ladder orientation).

ORIENTATION - The alignment of the crystalline structure in polymeric materials so as to produce a highly uniform structure. Can be accomplished by cold drawing or stretching during fabrication. Also, the alignment of bars and spaces to the scanner.

OSHA - has caution and warning labels placed in and around hazards in the workplace and on machinery suggesting operator use.

OVERLAMINATING - Applications of a clear film to a label stock for the purpose of protection or to enhance graphic quality, usually done in-line on the press. These clear films can be glossy, matte or textured depending on the desired finished look.

OVERLAP - In applying a label around a bottle or container, one end extends over the other and adheres to itself.

OVERLAY - In artwork, a transparent film or tissue over copy on which color breaks, instructions or corrections are indicated. Also, transparent prints which, when combined or overlaid, form a composite picture.

OVERS - See overrun.

P

PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM (PMS) - An international system of matching color for printing, designating unique colors by standard Pantone Matching System® (PMS) numbers. Pantone is known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer. See our Pantone color chart for reference.

PASS - One trip for the material through a production piece of equipment. Certain constructions require additional passes to complete the production.

PATTERN COATED - The width and spacing arrangement of strips of adhesive laid down parallel to machine direction and across the width of pressure sensitive label stock during its manufacture. Also refers to adhesive coating applied in a pattern which is not related to web direction. Pattern adhesives are used when dry lift areas are needed on a label and when different grades of adhesive on the same label are required.

PDF - Portable Document Format (PDF) is the standard for digital file transfer, where the information about all elements on the page; format, text, font, graphics etc, is delivered with the page. It is standard practice to provide a PDF of the label artwork with any request for quote.

PENETRATION - Change of appearance of the face material due to movement of one or more components from the adhesive or the labeled surface. Also called bleed through and migration.

PERMANENT ADHESIVE - An adhesive with relatively high ultimate adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces.

PERMEABILITY - The property of a material that allows or resists a substance to pass or flow through it.

PHARMACEUTICAL LABEL - There are a wide range of applications and solutions required for pharmaceutical labels. Some applications may require the inks to be autoclaved or sterilized, while others may need to be stored in a freezer. The label will often need secondary information printed with a thermal transfer printer.

PHOTOINITIATOR - In ultraviolet-curing systems, the chemical which, when exposed to UV light, breaks certain chemical bonds in the system to start the chain reactions which cause polymer formation. This chemical is commonly referred to as a catalyst.

PIGGYBACK LABELS - Pressure-sensitive label constructions that have two release coated liners, two layers of adhesive and a face material which enables the label to be applied, complete with the backing, for further or future application.

PIGMENT - The particles or substance that gives printing inks, dyes or paints their color. PIN FEED See feed slots. .

PLASTICIZER MIGRATION - The migration of liquid plasticizers from some plastics into an adhesive and/or face material. It often causes excessive softening or degrading of adhesives.

PMS - Pantone Matching System® (PMS) is an international system of matching color for printing, designating unique colors by standard PMS numbers. Pantone is known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer. See our Pantone color chart for reference.

POLYCARBONATE - A thermoplastic polymer with excellent toughness characteristics. A composition of several layers is fused at high temperature.

POLYESTER - Made of polyetherylene terephthalate (PET), it is a high-performing film with excellent resistance to moisture, solvents, and oils. It provides excellent strength, clarity, and dimensional stability.

POLYESTER METALIZED FILM - A clear polyester film, vacuum metalized on one side to provide a metallic look.

POLYESTER OVERLAMINATION - A clear matte or glossy polyester film coated with clear acrylic adhesive.

POLYVINYL - Refers to a group of resins formed by polymerizing various vinyl monomers.

POLYVINYLIDENE CHLORIDE - A usually very thin transparent film with excellent resistance to acids, water and organic solvents.

POST CURE - The continuation of a polymerization (curing) process within a UV ink or coating, after exposure to UV radiation has been terminated

PREPRESS - The activities involved in setting up and preparing label artwork for printing.

PRESS VARNISH - A clear varnish applied in-line on a press. It can be overall or printed in pattern from a plate to allow for dry laps and other uncoated areas.

PRESS, WEB - Press which prints substrates supplied on rolls.

PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE - Unlike other types of adhesives, they are able to form a bond at any time, permanently tacky and capable of bonding to almost any surface. No activation by water, solvent or heat is required to exert a strong adhesive bond on materials as diverse as paper, plastic, glass, wood, cement and metals.

PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABEL STOCK - The combination of face material, pressure-sensitive adhesive and release liner from which pressure sensitive labels are manufactured.

PRIMARY LABEL - A label that acts as the main identification of a product. Often designed to attract attention and contains information to appeal to a buyer and is usually applied at the time of its manufacture.

PRINTABILITY - The ability of a material to accept and hold a printed legend, and especially to resist offset of the printing when rewound into a roll after printing. Also, a collective term used to describe the properties required of all components in the printing process.

PROTECTIVE COATING - Coating that protects the print and face material of a pressure sensitive label from abrasion, chemicals, and moisture. Also known as overcoat and overprint coating. PSI Pounds per square inch.

PULL ROLL - See nip.

PULL TAB - The area on a face stock that facilitates easy removal of the label, usually a cut area on a sheeted label. Also called a peel tab or tear tab.

PUNCHED OUT LABELS - Anvil cut or sheeted labels. Also referred to as metal-to-metal cutting due to the die cutting edge coming in contact with the anvil. PVC Vinyl; polyvinyl chloride.

Q

QUALITY MANAGEMENT - The ability to satisfy, or exceed, the needs and expectations of customers. Printing is a manufacturing process that uses variable components such as paper, inks, plates and films completed by machinery that will eventually show signs of wear, or can be set up differently by the same or different operators. All of these variable elements need to be quality managed and controlled when possible. ISO 9001:2008 has become the standard in the printing industry by which key users, brand owners and buyers assess whether the system and procedures are in place to manage and control quality.

QUIET AREA - See clear area.

R

REAM - Five hundred sheets of paper. .

REAM WEIGHT - The amount which one ream of paper weighs.

REEL - A finished roll of labels.

REGISTER - A term in pressure sensitive label production that describes exact placement of successively printed images and/or die-cut pressure sensitive labels.

REGISTER MARKS - Symbols attached to original copy for registering two or more colors when printing.

REGISTER - The corresponding placement of one color to the next, as well as the printing placement as it relates to die-cutting, scoring and perfing.

RELEASE AGENT - Materials used to facilitate the removal of molded items from their molds. These agents can cause serious problems in adhesion when applying labels to the molded products.

RELEASE COAT - The release liner treatment material that allows pressure sensitive labels to release from the release liner. They are usually made of silicone.

RELEASE COAT TRANSFER - The transfer of release coat from the release liner to the pressure sensitive adhesive during release.

RELEASE - The force required to free or separate a pressure sensitive label from its release liner, using a specific measuring device.

REMOVABLE ADHESIVE - A pressure sensitive adhesive characterized by low ultimate adhesion and clean removability from a wide variety of surfaces.

REPEAT - The printing length of a plate cylinder, determined by one revolution of the plate cylinder gear.

REPOSITIONABLE - The ability of a pressure sensitive label to be bonded to a surface, removed and repositioned. This can only be done for a limited period of time (e.g., 20 minutes). Beyond that time, the bond may begin to become permanent if a removable adhesive wasnt used.

RESOLUTION - The crispness or sharpness of an image or typeface, either on a monitor or an output device.

REVERSE PRINTING - Printing on the underside of a transparent film. Also a design in which the copy is ‘dropped-out’ and the background is printed making the copy appear in the color of the background.

REWIND - The take-up spindle or mandrel on a press. Also, the act of winding a roll of material through a machine to effect the opposite unwind.

REWINDING & INSPECTION - The operation of winding the material from the press roll onto a core (or coreless) to produce rolls of the desired width, diameter and tension. Out-of-spec labels can be removed during this operation.

RIGHT READING - An image whose parts are spatially oriented to each other on the original, in contrast to the way they would appear reflected in a mirror.

ROLL LABEL - Pressure-sensitive labels that are produced in a continuous roll form.

ROLL-TO-SHEET - A method of running material through a printing machine. A roll of material is fed into a printing unit then sheeted as it exits the printing machine.

ROTARY PRESS - A press that in normal use features a roll-to-roll operation.

ROTARY PRINTING - Accomplished by means of a cylindrical impression cylinder and printing plate.

RUB TEST - Test performed to determine the durability and abrasion resistance of the printed surface of a label.

RUNNING REGISTER - That control on a flexographic press which accurately positions, while in the run mode, the printing of each color station in the direction of the web travel. Also called circumferential register or longitudinal register.

S

SANDWICH CONSTRUCTION - Panels composed of a lightweight core material to which two relatively thin, dense, high strength faces or skins are adhered.

SATURATION - The addition of various materials such as latex or rubber to a face material so as to improve its various physical properties. Also called impregnation.

SCORE - To make an impression or a partial cut in a material for the purpose of bending, creasing, folding, or tearing.

SCREEN PRINTING - A method of printing in which the ink is forced through a design on a taut screen and onto the object to be printed. This process results in a heavy ink deposit that provides excellent outdoor durability.

SEALER - A coating designed to prevent the passage of a substance through a substrate.

SECONDARY LABELS - Where primary and secondary labels are adhered to a product, the secondary label is usually smaller and positioned not to detract from the primary brand label. They are used to carry information such as health or safety requirements, nutritional details, instructions for use, EAN code, warnings, manufacturer or supplier information. Secondary labels are also used for tracking purposes. Also known as information or variable information labels.

SELF-CHECKING - A bar code or symbol using a checking algorithm which can be applied to each character to guard against undetected errors. Non self-checked codes may employ a check digit or other redundancy in addition to the data message.

SELF-EXTINGUISHING - A somewhat loosely used term describing the ability of a material to cease burning once the source of flame has been removed.

SELF-WOUND - A roll of material with a single liner, which is coated on both sides with a release coating and a carrier having a pressure sensitive adhesive on both sides. Also, a material that has pressure sensitive adhesive applied to one side and then rolled up on itself without a release liner).

SEMI-AUTOMATIC - A labeling machine in which only part of the operation is controlled by the direct action of a human. The automatic part of the operation is controlled by the machine.

SEPARATOR - See pattern coated.

SERVICE TEMPERATURE - The temperature range that a P.S. label will withstand after a 24-hour residence time on the substrate. The range is expressed in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius. Also called exposure temperature.

SET - The point during the bonding process when the adhesive has reached such structural proportions that it prevents the movement of the substrate’s surface.

SETUPS - See makeready.

SHEAR CUT - A cut of a continuous web of stock using an action similar to the action of scissors.

SHEAR RATE - Time required for breakdown of the shear strength.

SHEAR STRENGTH - The relative resistance of an adhesive coated film or paper to a stress applied in such a manner that the adhering surfaces slide in a plane parallel to their plane of contact; the internal or cohesive strength of the adhesive.

SHEAR TEST - A method of separating adhesive bonded materials by forcing the interfaces to slide over each other. The force exerted is distributed over the entire bonded area at the same time. Strengths are recorded in pounds per square inch, or in minutes or hours to failure.

SHEAR - The relative movement of adjacent layers in a liquid or plastic during flow. See cohesive strength.

SHEET-FED - Designates a printing press to which paper is fed in sheets rather than rolls.

SHELF LIFE - The period of time during which a product can be stored under specific conditions and still remain suitable for use. Supplied material has a shelf life of one year. Also known as storage life.

SHRINK WRAPPING - A method of packaging where labels are overwrapped with a shrink film and then passed through a heat tunnel to shrink the film tightly against the labels.

SHRINKAGE - Reduction in any dimension.

SILICONE COATING - A unique polymer system which is the standard release coating for pressure sensitive constructions.

SILICONE STAIN TEST - A water-based stain used to test silicone coating coverage and continuity on die cut paper release liners.

SKIPPING - Missing print, tints or coatings on a substrate due to dry-in of ink or coatings in the cells of the anilox roll.

SLIP ADDITIVE - Additive to inks or varnishes to effect improved slip or lubricating qualities.

SLITTER - A machine used to cut roll stock in the long direction. Three types are used: 1) razor blade slitter, 2) shear slitter, and 3) score slitter.

SMUDGE RESISTANCE - Resistance of a printed paper surface to ink blurring or smearing and thus related to the absorption of the paper.

SMUDGE RESISTANCE - The resistance of a printed surface to smearing.

SOLVENT - A liquid substance capable of thinning or reducing the viscosity of ink, coating or adhesives. Water is a solvent, but the term usually refers to organic liquids.

SOLVENT ADHESIVE - Adhesive components that are dissolved in a variety of organic solvents for coating. Rubber or acrylic based systems can be coated this way.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY - The ratio of the weight of a specimen to the weight of an equal volume of water.

SPLIT BACK - Slits in the release liner to facilitate its removal by hand.

SPLIT LINER - See split back.

SPOT LABEL - Label that does not extend completely around can or bottle. Usually confined to less than half the circumference.

SPOT VARNISH - See pattern varnish.

SPREAD - The enlargement of a printed image from the printing plate to the printed image. Also, a photospread to achieve required ink bleeds or traps.

STABILIZED KRAFT - Term used to describe paper that is treated to provide moisture resistance and dimensional stability.

STABILIZER - An ingredient used in the formulation of some plastics, especially elastomers, to assist in maintaining the physical and chemical properties of the compounded materials at their initial values throughout the processing and service life of the material.

STACKER - An accessory device on the take-off end of a press that automatically stacks sheeted labels.

STAIN RESISTANCE - The ability of a label to be applied to a surface without discoloring that surface. Also, the ability of a printed label to resist staining due to exposure to the product being labeled.

STAINING - A discoloration of a surface caused by adhesive residue.

STATIC CLING - An induced property of a film which enables it to grab onto a smooth clean surface without using a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Static cling is a phrase applied to both mechanical grabbing and grabbing by electrical static.

STIFFNESS - The measure or degree of resistance to bending stress of a material.

STOCK - Paper or other material to be converted.

STRIKE-THROUGH - The penetration of the adhesive or ink through the substrate.

STRIPPER-PLATE - See peeler plate.

STRIPPING - The removal of the excess face material and adhesive (the matrix waste) from around the die-cut label shape by taking it around a roller, or over a metal bar, prior to being wound up on its own roll for disposal or recycling. Also called waste stripping or weeding.

STYRENE - A liquid unsaturated hydrocarbon (C8H8). See polystyrene.

SUBSTRATE - The surface to which a label is applied. Converters also refer to the face stock being printed as the substrate.

SUNLIGHT RESISTANT ADHESIVE - An adhesive which contains an inhibitor to resist destruction by ultraviolet rays.

SURFACE RESISTIVITY - The electrical resistance of a material between the two opposite points of a unit of its surface.

SURFACE TENSION - The property, due to molecular forces, by which all liquids through contraction of the surface, tend to bring the contained volume into a form having the least area. If an ink is to be compatible with a substrate, the surface tension of the ink must approximate that of the substrate.

SURFACTANTS - A coined word used in industry to include all surface active agents.

SYMBOL LENGTH - The length of a symbol measured from the beginning of the quiet area adjacent to the start character to the end of the quiet area adjacent to the stop character.

SYNTHETICS - Those materials developed and manufactured through chemistry, which tend to replace natural materials.

T

TAG LABEL - Labels on heavy paper or tag stock with die cut holes so labels can be folded over a packaging material as in a header or hanger label.

TAGS - Any identification that is only partially affixed to the product or item. System tags are converted through roll-fed production equipment. Merchandise tags are converted through narrow web roll-fed production equipment.

TAMPERPROOF - A pressure sensitive material which cannot be removed intact from a substrate thus making reuse of the label impossible.

TAPPI - Technical Association of the Paper and Pulp Industry.

TEAR TAB - An additional area of face stock attached by the release liner to a pressure sensitive label produced in single form to facilitate removal of the release liner.

TEDLAR® - Du Pont’s trademark for bi-axially oriented polyvinyl fluoride. One of the most durable, chemical-resistant and protective films.

TEETH PER INCH (TPI) - Denotes the number of cuts per inch in a perforation blade.

TELESCOPING - Transverse slipping of successive winds of a roll of material so that the edge is conical rather than flat.

TENSION - The mechanical control of unwinding or rewinding paper, film, foil and other roll materials. The stress caused by a force operating to extend, stretch or pull apart.

THERMAL - A printing system where pixels on a print head are selectively heated and cooled in order to print images on material with a heat-sensitive coating that is passed under the print head at a controlled rate. The direct thermal surface coating turns dark in the heated areas.

THERMAL TRANSFER MATERIALS - A face stock specifically designed to accept heat-activated ink from the ribbon of a thermal-transfer printer.

THERMAL TRANSFER - Similar to a thermal print system, except a one-time ribbon and smooth surfaced materials are used to eliminate the problems of fading or changing color inherent in the direct thermal print process.

THERMOGRAPHIC PAPER - A label paper having a heat activated coating that will accept an image from a thermal graphic printer.

THICKNESS - Distance from one surface of tape, label or adhesive to the other, usually expressed in mils, or thousandths of an inch. This is normally measured under slight pressure with a special gauge.

TIE - The uncut portion of a perforation.

TIGHT RELEASE - The level of adhesion between the release liner and the adhesive on a pressure sensitive material, when the liner is difficult to remove.

TOLERANCE - A specified range that products must fall within.

TOOLING - Tools used to cut labels such as dies, perforations, sheeters, scoring and slitting wheels, and butt cutters.

TOP LAMINATION - Applications of a clear film to a label stock for the purpose of protection or to enhance graphic quality, usually done in-line on the press. These clear films can be glossy, matte or textured depending on the desired finished look.

TOPCOAT - A surface treatment or coating on a material which enhances ink receptivity. Sometimes refers to a protective coating.

TRANSLUCENT LABEL - Material capable of transmitting light, yet not totally transparent.

TRANSLUCENT - Transmitting light in a diffuse manner so that objects beyond cannot be clearly distinguished; partly transparent.

TRANSPARENT LABEL - A pressure sensitive label whose face material, adhesive and protective coatings transmit light so that objects can be seen through it.

TRANSPARENT - Transmitting light without appreciable scattering so the objects beyond are clearly distinguishable.

TRANSVERSE DIRECTION - The direction of a base stock from left to right and side to side, as opposed to the web direction; cross direction.

TRAPPING - The overlapping of various colors in a design to prevent their separating and not touching as a result of registration variables during printing. The condition of printing ink on ink, making sure the first-down ink is dry when the next one is printed over it to properly hide the first down color.

TRIM MARKS - Marks placed on the copy to indicate the edge of the label where it will be cut. See crop marks.

TRIM - The normal edge waste from a master roll.

TUNNEL - The compartment through which the web passes for drying after printing.

TYVEK® - Du Ponts registered trademark for its non-woven, spun-bonded polyolefin material that brings together several of the best properties of paper, textile fibers and film into one synthetic material. It is extremely strong and resistant to continuous folding, tearing, and weather conditions.

U

UNWIND - A device used to accelerate the unwinding of a roll of labels on a high speed automatic label dispenser.

ULTIMATE STRENGTH - The maximum stress a material is capable of withstanding under specified load or tension.

ULTRAVIOLET - Zone of invisible radiations beyond the violet end of the spectrum of visible radiations. Since UV wave lengths are shorter than the visible, their photons have more energy, enough to initiate some chemical reactions. Radiation is from a source such as a high-intensity, mercury vapor tube emitting light in the 315 to 400 mill micron range.

UNBLEACHED - A term applied to paper or pulp which has not been treated with bleaching agents.

UV INHIBITOR - An additive that increases resistance to degradation caused by UV light.

UV INK - Solventless, 100% solids ink that is cured by ultraviolet radiation.

UV STABILIZER - Any chemical compound which, when mixed with a thermoplastic resin, selectively absorbs UV rays. UV The part of the spectrum wherein the wavelength of light is shorter than that of visible light.

V

VARNISH - A clear protective coating either glossy or matte in finish that contains no coloring pigments or dyes. When printed or coated over the top of a substrate, the varnish provides a protective finish that enhances appearance and increases durability.

VECTOR - Graphics and fonts which are created in outlines and then filled into dots before the printers can utilize them. Vector graphics are defined by points and curves rather than pixels or bitmapped graphics and are stored by a computer as a series of instructions by which the lines may be created. They are scalable and therefore not resolution dependent.

VEHICLE - In printing inks, the fluid component which serves as the dispersant for the pigment and gives the ink flow (carrier).

VIGNETTE - An illustration in which the background fades gradually until it blends into the unprinted area.

VINYL - Synthetic plastic products which can be made in film, sheet or other forms. Vinyl can be manufactured in rigid or flexible constructions and is generally more flexible and conformable than polyester or other films. A tough durable plastic film having excellent resistance to oils, chemicals, and many solvents. It has excellent abrasion-resistance and can be colored. Its high degree of stretch is due to the addition of plasticizer. Also known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride. .

VOID - An area of a coated film which does not have the coating. An adhesive skip or adhesive void.

VOID MATERIALS - Anti-tamper label products, usually polyester based, that are applied to a labeling surface and when attempts are made to remove the material from the labeling surface, the pigmented or metalized layer on the back of the label fractures to leave a message on the labeling surface and the same message in relief on the back of the polyester.

W

WAND SCANNER - See light pen.

WARM COLOR - A color that appears to be on the reddish side.

WATER SOLUBLE ADHESIVE - A pressure sensitive adhesive in which all components are water soluble.

WATERBORNE ADHESIVE - A dispersion of fine particles in another liquid. Many pressure sensitive adhesives are waterborne or emulsion systems.

WEATHERABILITY - Capability of a label to withstand the effects of outdoor conditions such as sunlight, heat, cold, humidity, rain, snow and time.

WEATHEROMETER - A testing machine designed for evaluating the ability of a pressure sensitive label to withstand various simulated weather conditions.

WEB DIRECTION - See machine direction.

WEB GUIDE - Device which keeps the web traveling straight and true through the press.

WEB PRESS - A press which prints from rolls (or webs) of material.

WET STRENGTH - The tensile strength of paper when it is wetted after manufacture.

WETTING AGENT - A preparation usually added to aqueous solutions to facilitate their spreading or increase their ability to evenly wet or penetrate a surface.

WETTING - The relative ability of a liquid adhesive to display interfacial affinity for an adherent and to flow uniformly over the adherent surface.

WRINKLES - Small creases or folds in a smooth surface

X

XEROGRAPHY - A method of printing in which negatively charged ink powder is attracted to a positively charged metal plate, from which it is transferred to the printing surface by electrostatic attraction.

Y

Z

ZIG ZAG FOLD - See fan fold.

ZONE RELEASE COATING - Permanently bonded liner and face stock that allows only the label portion to be removed from the liner.

GENERAL PAPER MILL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

A

AirR Dry (AD) - Weight of moisture-free pulp or paper plus a nominal 10% moisture based on the traditional assumption that this amount of moisture exists when they come into equilibrium with the atmosphere.

Alum - Papermaking chemicals are commonly used for precipitating rosin size onto pulp fibers to impart water-resistant properties (when used for water treatment) to the paper. Also, used for pitch control. More correctly called aluminum sulphate.

Anti-tarnish Paper - Term originally applied to higher weight tissues used for wrapping silverware, but now used for all papers so prepared that they will not rust of discolor razor blades, needles, silverware etc.

B

Backs - The waste paper stock used to make the bottom ply of a sheet of board.

Basestock - Paper or board to be further treated in various ways

Binders Board - Grey coloured, glazed board often used in the binding of hardcover books.

Bisulphite Pulp - Pulp made by the bisulphite cooking process using bisulphite cooking liquor.

Board - Generic term for stiff paper, often consisting of several plies and with a grammage normally above 150g/m.

Bristol Bords - A fine quality cardboard made by pasting several sheets together, the middle sheets in it usually of inferior grade.

Broke - In general, it is a paper waste produced during Paper trimmings or damaged paper due to breaks on paper machine and in finishing operations. This is recyclable in pulp mills.

Broke Pit - A pit below the machine into which broke is disposed from the machine floor.

C

Camber - Greater diameter in the center of a papermaking roll, compared to the ends; this compensates for roll weight.

Carbonizing Paper - Lightweight, uncoated paper made from unbleached chemical and/or mechanical pulps and surface coated with a carbon solvent or wax so that it takes up carbon inks and releases them under pressure, thereby duplicating the inked areas being printed.

Carbonless Paper - Copying paper that is treated or coated so it can be used without needing carbon coating or interleaved carbon paper.

Chemical Pulp - The pulp is made from the process of extraction of cellulose from wood by dissolving the lignin that binds the cellulose.

Chemical Pulping - Mass of fibers resulting from reduction of wood or other fibrous raw material into component parts during cooking phases with various chemical liquors in processes such as sulphate, sulfite, soda and neutral sulfite semi-chemical process (NSCC).

Chemical Wood Pulp - Pulp is prepared from wood by either the kraft or other suitable digestion process.

Chipboard - Inferior quality, low density, solid or lined paperboard made primarily from recycled wastepaper stock and used in low strength applications.

Combination board - A Multi layered, cylinder made paperboard having outer and inner layers made from different pulp stocks.

Construction Paper - Heavy type of paper used for watercolour and crayon artwork, made in various colours primarily from groundwood pulp. Used for Sheathing paper, roofing, floor covering, automotive, soundproofing, industrial, pipe covering, refrigerator, and similar felt Sheathing paper, roofing, floor covering, automotive, soundproofing, industrial, pipe covering, refrigerator, and similar felt.

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E

Effluent - This waste backwater and rejected material from which fibre is recovered prior to discharge from the mill.

Electrostatic Copy Paper - Smooth finished, stable, medium weight bond paper made from chemical pulps. Generally treated with a zinc oxide coating material and used on dry type office copying machines.

F

Fillers and Loadings - These are Minerals or compounds added to the stock to improve characteristics in the finished paper.

Fine Papers - These are High quality printing, writing, and cover papers having excellent surface characteristics for pen and ink writing.

Fluorescent Paper - White paper is made with synthetic dyes that produce a brighter appearance when irradiation by some light. Alternatively, this describes paper that is surface coated with colored, light-emitting dyestuff materials (which reflect white light as color). Primarily these materials absorb radiation in the UV region and re-emit in the visible, tending to give the paper a bluish tinge.

Fourdrinier - The name of the brothers who developed the first process for making paper on a continuous wire belt. Paper machines incorporating this principle are Fourdrinier machines and are still the most common form of paper machine in use today.

G

Groundwood - Pulp The slurry produced by mechanically abrading fibers from debarked logs through forced contact with the surface of a revolving grindstone is used extensively to make newsprint and publication grades.

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Industrial Papers - This Paper is made for purposes such as industrial packaging, tissues, wrappings, impregnating, insulating, etc.

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Ledger Paper - Highly sized paper made from bleached chemical pulp. Used to make accounting and record books; also used with accounting machines.

M

Machine Coated - Paper and paperboard that have a surface coating of adhesives and minerals applied while being made on the paper machine as an integral part of the papermaking operation.

Machine Finish (MF) - The surface finish is produced on an uncoated sheet of paper as it is being made on the paper machine. It is usually accomplished with limited calendering on the machine calendar stacks.

Machine Glazed (MG) - A high gloss surface finish is produced on the wire side of a sheet by passing it over a large diameter, highly polished, steam-heated roll as used on Yankee-type paper machine dryers.

N

Newsprint - A Grade of paper, combining high percentages of groundwood pulp, made especially for use in the printing of newspapers.

O

P

Paper - Homogeneous sheet of felted cellulose fibers, bound together by overlapping and by self-bonding (“hydrogen bonding”) or by the use of bonding agents and made in a variety of types.

Paper Stock Water slurry of various pulp fibers, dyes, additives, and chemicals is pumped to the paper machine for forming into a sheet. - Water slurry of various pulp fibers, dyes, additives, and chemicals is pumped to the paper machine for forming into a sheet.

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Silvi Chemical - Name of Chemical by-products of the wood pulping process and other chemicals derived from wood.

Softwood - Wood obtained from evergreen, cone bearing species of trees, such as pines, spruces, hemlocks, etc., which are characterized by having needles.

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W

Wet Strength - Paper Paper in which the fiber constituents and/or the sheet are chemically treated to enhance resistance to tear, rupture or disintegration after becoming saturated with liquids.

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PACKAGING TERMS

A

Absorbent packing - material within a package which absorbs liquids from product; pad in meat trays is made from paper and has a plastic liner.

Aseptic packaging - a technique for creating a shelf-stable container by placing a commercially sterile product into a commercially sterile container in a commercially sterile environment. The sealed container is designed to maintain product sterility until the seal is broken.

B

Blister packaging - the item is secured between a preformed (usually transparent plastic) dome or "bubble" and a paperboard surface or "carrier"; also referred to as a "bubble pack."

Boil-in-bag - a sealed container made of heat-resistant material designed to hold a food product and permit the ultimate user to bring the bag and product to boiling temperature in preparation for eating before the product is removed from the bag. (example: frozen entrees or vegetables)

Breathing package - packaging material made in such a manner that air may enter or leave under varying conditions, including temperature changes, with or without a drying agent to remove moisture from entering the package. Most wrap used for fresh red meat allows enough air to pass through to keep the proper color in the meat.

C

CAP - "Controlled Atmosphere Packaging"- a packaging method in which selected atmospheric concentrations of gases are maintained throughout storage in order to extend product shelf life. Gas may either be evacuated or introduced to achieve the desired atmosphere. Normally used for fruits and vegetables, not meat products.

CPET - (Crystallized Polyethylene Terephthalate) - a heat-tolerant plastic that can be molded into multi-compartment and single frozen food containers; can be heated in the microwave or conventional oven

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E

F

Fiberboard can - a rigid container constructed almost completely of lightweight fiber stock; may be lined, treated or coated; ends of can may be made of paperboard or metal (composite can). (examples: packaging used for juice concentrates, potato sticks and onion rings)

Flexible container - bags, envelopes, pouches or wraps which can be changed in shape or bent manually; made of materials such as paper, plastic film, foils, etc., or combinations of them.

Foam trays and other foam shapes - made from expanded polystyrene (EPS); formed when foaming agents are added to polystyrene and passed through a die. (examples: trays for fresh meat; egg cartons) Styrofoam [trade mark] is an insulation used in building materials; it's not used in packaging.

Frozen foods paper - a type of high moisture and water vapor resistant paper used for inner liners in frozen food packaging; usually specially treated glassine or bleached chemical wood papers, waxed papers, or plain or coated vegetable parchment paper; pliable and strong to resist cracking at freezing temperatures and for high wet strength.

G

Glassine - smooth, dense, transparent or semi-transparent paper manufactured primarily from chemical wood pulps; is grease resistant and has a high resistance to the passage of air. May be waxed, lacquered or laminated to be impervious to the transmission of moisture vapor. White and colors.

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M

Meat wrapping paper - a specially treated odorless and tasteless paper that resists meat juices, fat and grease, and is easy to remove from any kind of meat.

Metal can - a rigid metal container made of steel sheet or plate, 27 gauge or less in thickness, or a similar container made of aluminum, copper or other metal. (example: food cans)

Migration - transfer of a component of a packaging material into the product contained, or loss of a component of the product into the packaging material.

MAP - "Modified Atmosphere Packaging"- a packaging method in which a combination of gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen is introduced into the package at the time of closure. Purpose is to extend shelf life of the product packaged.

N

Netting (plastic) - continuous extruded net of flexible plastic material, most commonly polyethylene, which can be made into bags, sleeves or wraps.

Nylon - nylon is a versatile family of thermoplastic resins that vary from relatively flexible products to tough, strong and stiff materials; resistant to oils and greases; widely used for meat and cheese packaging, for boil-in-bags and pouches.

O

Ovenable board - a paperboard that can be placed in an oven (microwave or conventional) to serve as the cooking utensil for food; typically a solid, bleached sulphate board coated with polyester terephthalate. (example: frozen entrees)

P

Plasticizer - material added during the manufacturing process to increase flexibility; for example, the plasticizer ATBC (acetyl tributyl citrate), used in such DowBrands [trade mark] as Saran [trade mark] and Handiwrap [trade mark], is made from citric acid which is commonly present in citrus fruit.

Polyester, thermoset - filled plastic which is heated to harden into a shape and does not soften when heated during normal cooking temperatures; example: plastic dishes in frozen dinner entrees; can be heated in the microwave or conventional oven.

PET - "Polyethylene Terephthalate" - a thermoplastic polyester used in beverage bottles and food trays designed for microwave and conventional ovens.

Polyethylene film - the most-used transparent flexible packaging material; made from polyethylene, a synthetic clear compound formed by subjecting ethylene, a gas found in coal, to pressure. It is low cost, transparent, tough, heat sealable, moisture-proof and resistant to low temperatures.

PVC - "Polyvinyl Chloride" - replaced cellophane as the preferred meat wrapping used in supermarkets; a member of the vinyl family made from a compound found in petroleum. Low cost, protects against moisture loss, but has some oxygen permeability so it allows meat to "bloom" (stay red and fresh looking).

Polypropylene - a synthetic resin plastic packaging material used for microwave-only heating of foods with low fat and sugar content; not heat stable for use in conventional ovens.

Polyvinylidene Chloride - "polly-vanilla-deen"- a thermoplastic polymer which can withstand higher temperatures than polyethylene; especially useful for covering utensils when microwaving foods; moisture-proof and transparent.

Q

R

Retort packaging - a flexible container typically formed from aluminum foil and plastic laminants. Can withstand in-package sterilization of the product, and, like metal food cans, can provide a shelf-stable package for foods.

S

Shrink wrapping - plastic film that shrinks when heated, producing a tight, neat fit; the most popular form of grocery store meat packaging is PVC wrapping with foam trays.

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Vacuum packaging - rigid or flexible containers from which substantially all air has been removed before sealing. Carbon dioxide or nitrogen may be introduced into the container. This process prolongs shelf life, preserves the flavors and retards bacterial growth.

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PLASTIC PACKAGING

A

ABS - Acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene (ABS). Tough, hard, rigid, opaque plastic easily fabricated by injection molding, extrusion and thermoforming. More costly than general purpose and impact grades of polystyrene. Of limited use in packaging.

Additive - A material such as a hardener, softener, preservative, slip agent, etc., added to a base material in order to achieve a specific result.

Aerosol - Describes any container which consists of (1) a gas-tight, pressure resistant container, (2) a valve (3) a desired product, and (4) a self-contained propellent which forces the product from the container when the valve is opened. Products dispensed from aerosol packages include true aerosols, "wet" sprays (coarse particles), foams, pastes, syrups and powders.

Aerosol Components - Extruded aluminum containers, plastic coated bottles, closures and overcaps. Aerosol bottles and containers are available in various sizes, shoulder configurations, diameters, and neck finishes. Decorating options are available.

Aerosol Propellents - Liquefied or compressed gases that are packed with a product in a pressure-propulsion container in order to provide sufficient pressure to propel the product through a valve to give the form of discharge desired.

Ampul - Also ampoule, ampule, ampoul. A relatively small container made from a glass or plastic tube, the end of which is drawn into a stem and closed by fusion after filling. The bottom may be flat, convex or drawn out as required. Opening is achieved by breaking the stem.

Applicator Cap - A container closure designed so that it may be used to apply the contents of the container, such as oil and grease spouts or daubers.

Aseptic Packaging - A technique for creating a shelf-stable container by placing a commercially sterile product into a commercially sterile container. The process involves sterilizing a product and its intended container (usually separately) and then bringing them together within a sterile environment for filling and sealing. The sealed container is designed to maintain a sterile product until the seal is broken. In addition, when packaged aseptically, the product does not require refrigeration until the package seal is broken. Used for drink boxes, wine (bag-in-box), tomato products and soy milk.

B

Barrier Material - Term used to prescribe one of two classes of specialized packaging materials that provide environmental protection to the package contents: (1) gas-, moisture-, or light-proof materials that control or eliminate the amount of these environmental constituents that pass into or out of a package; (2) a porous material possessing a structure that prevents the passage of microorganisms that might contaminate the contents of a package.

Biodegradable - The degradation of material from naturally occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi or algae over a period of time.

Blister Packaging - A product is secured between a preformed (usually transparent plastic) dome or "bubble" and a paperboard surface or "carrier". Attachment may be by stapling, heat-sealing, gluing, etc.

Blister Packs - A form of packaging and displaying merchandise in which the merchandise is sealed into a transparent molded plastic blister shaped to accommodate the merchandise with a foil or cardboard backing.

Blow Molding - A method of fabrication in which a warm glass or plastic parison (hollow tube) is placed between the two halves of a mold (cavity) and forced to assume the shape of that mold cavity by the use of air pressure.

Bubble Pack - A type of cushioning material that is made by trapping air between two layers of plastic material and using the "bubbles" to protect products inside their shipping containers. See blister packaging.

C

Co-Extrusion - Extruding two or more layers of thermoplastic materials to form a combined film sheet or molded unit. Limited to plastics.

Composite Can - A rigid container with the body made of fibreboard or fibreboard in combination with other materials such as metal foils or plastics. One or both ends may be made of metal, plastic or other materials.

Compostable Plastic - Plastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue.

Compound - The resin, along with modifiers, pigments, antioxidants, lubricants, etc., which are to be molded or blown into final form.

Compression Molding - A method of forming objects from plastics by placing the material in a confining mold cavity, then applying pressure, and usually heat.

D

E

EPS (Expandable polystyrene) - A generic term for polystyrene and styrene copolymers, supplied as a compound with physical blowing agents and other additives which can be processed into low density foamed articles. A major end-use is cushioned packaging. Low molding pressures and economical tooling make EPS molding an inexpensive method of producing foam shapes.

E.V.A. (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) - Co-polymers from these two monomers retain many of the properties of polyethylene, but have considerably increased flexibility for their density. Elongation and impact resistance are also increased. Used for making film, coatings, and adhesives. The combination of high clarity, puncture resistance, impact strength, and low heat-seal temperature makew EVA desirable for flexible packaging.

EVOH - Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers. Plastics produced by combining the processability of ethylene polymers with the barrier properties obtained from vinyl and alcohol polymers. The result is a material offering excellent processability and superior barrier to gases, odors, fragrances, solvents, etc.

Extrusion - A method of shaping a plastic material by forcing it, with the application of heat and pressure, through an orifice in a continuous fashion.

Extrusion Blow Molding - A method of fabrication in which a hollow plastic tube (parison) is forced into the shape of the mold cavity by internal air pressure. Post finishing of the product is required.

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H

H.D.P.E. (High Density Polyethylene) - The resin of choice in blow molding because it is stiff, chemical resistant, has good processing behavior and good environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR). This ESCR makes it a good choice for bleach and detergent bottles where resins having densities between 0.950 and 0.960 and above are commonly chosen. Injection blow molding is a proven and valued processing technique when a container benefits from excellent neck finish and lack of pinch-off.

Heat-Seal - A method of uniting two or more surfaces by fusion, either of the coatings or of the base materials, under controlled conditions of temperature, pressure and time (dwell).

HIPS - High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) is used in applications requiring more toughness than that provided by general purpose polystyrene. During the 1990’s, new grades of HIPS were developed with the stress crack resistance to replace ABS. It is produced from styrene monomer along with elastomers. The resulting opaque material offers good dimensional stability, low-temperature impact strength and rigidity. HIPS is readily molded to precise tolerances. It can be combined with other plastic parts to make units which are attractive and tough. Disadvantages include poor barrier properties, and poor grease resistance.

Hot-Melt Adhesive - Adhesive, solid at room temperature, which is liquefied by heat, applied molten, and forms a bond by cooling and solidifying. Based on thermoplastic polymers generally modified with resins and/or waxes. Usually used in range of 250 to 400 degrees F.

I

Injection Blow Molding - A two-stage process of plastic bottle manufacturing where a preform or parison is injection molded. The bottle finish is formed at this time. The preform is then transferred to a blow mold where the bottle takes its final shape.

Injection Mold - A mold into which a plastic resin is introduced by pressure from an exterior heated cylinder.

Injection Molding - A molding procedure whereby a heat-softened plastic material is forced from a cylinder into a relatively cool cavity giving the article the desired shape.

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L.D.P.E. (Low Density Polyethylene) - LDPE is similar to HDPE in composition. It is less rigid and generally less chemically resistant than HDPE, but more translucent. Used primarily for squeeze applications. LDPE is significantly more expensive than HDPE, but will yield a glossy bottle when produced in colors.

LLDPE - Linear low density polyethylene.

M

MDPE - Medium density polyethylene. Slightly stiffer and has a higher melting index than low density polyethylene. Widely used in film.

Metallizing - The process of coating a plastic item with a thin layer of metal to give a gold, silver or other metal look. It is commonly used on closures used for cosmetic packaging.

Mold (also Mould) - A set of iron forms fastened on a bottle machine to provide a means of shaping a glass or plastic container. Parts of the set are tips, neck rings, blank molds, finish molds, and bottom plates with a plunger used in producing wide mouth containers.

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Nylon - The generic name for polyamides. A versatile family of thermoplastic resins that vary from relatively flexible products to tough, strong, and stiff materials. A key characteristic is resistance to oils and greases. Also outstanding resistance to fatigue and repeated impact. Water vapor transmission rate is high and gas permeability is moderate. Nylon films are widely used for meat and cheese packaging, boil-in-bags and pouches.

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PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) - Known as thermoplastic polyester. Has the unusual ability to exist in either an amorphous or highly crystalline state. The crystalline state is necessary for extruding the material, and the amorphous state permits it to be oriented. Widely used in beverage bottles and in food trays designed for microwave and conventional ovens.

Polycarbonate - Polycarbonate is window-clear, amazingly strong, and rigid. It is autoclavable, nontoxic and the toughest of all thermoplastics. PC is a special type of polyester in which dihydric phenols are joined through carbonate linkages. These linkages are subject to chemical reaction with bases and concentrated acids, cydrolytic attack at elevated temperatures (e.g. during autoclaving), and make PC soluble in various organic solvents. For many applications, the transparency and unusual strength of PC offset these limitations.

Polyethylene - A thermoplastic material composed of polymers of ethylene. It is normally a translucent, tough, waxy solid unaffected by water and by a large range of chemicals. There are three general classifications: low density, medium density and high density.

Polymer - A high molecular weight organic compound, natural or synthetic, whose structure can be represented by a repeated small unit, the polymer; i.e., polyethylene, rubber, cellulose. Synthetic polymers are formed by addition or condensation polymerization of monomers. If two or more monomers are involved, a copolymer is obtained. Some polymers are elastomers, some plastics.

Polyolefins - Polyolefins are high molecular weight hydrocarbons. They include low-density and high-density polyethylene, and polypropylene. All are break resistant, nontoxic, and non-contaminating. These are the only plastics lighter than water. They easily withstand exposure to nearly all chemicals at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Strong oxidizing agents eventually cause embrittlement. All polyolefins can be damaged by long exposure to ultraviolet light.

Polypropylene - Similar to polyethylene, but each unit of the chain has a methyl group attached. It is tranlucent, autoclavable, and has no known solvent at room temperature. It is slightly more susceptible than polyethylene to strong oxidizing agents. It offers the best stress-crack resistance of the polyolefins. Products made of polypropylene are brittle at ambient temperature and may crack or break if dropped from benchtop height. Used in film, in sheet and for molded rigid containers.

Polystyrene - A thermoplastic material derived from the polymerization of styrene (vinyl benzene); non-toxic, tasteless, odorless, good general dielectric properties; excellent water and weather resistance and resistant to most foods, drinks, etc., with the exception of essential oils, gasoline, turpentine, which will harm the material. Poor impact strength.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - A thermoplastic material composed of polymers of vinyl chloride. Rigid, natural straw color, transparent, good barrier properties with strong resistance to oxygen permeation and oils as well as a fair impact resistance.

Preform - Used in the blow molding processes. A heat-softened polymer is formed into a shape similar to a thick test tube with neck threads. This tube is subsequently inflated while inside a blow mold to create the shape of the desired article.

Prototype Mold - A simplified mold construction often made from a light metal casting alloy or from an epoxy resin to provide actual molding for evaluation and testing prior to production mold consideration.

PVC - Polyvinyl chloride. A thermoplastic material composed of polymers of vinyl chloride, a colorless solid with outstanding resistance to water, alcohols, and concentrated acids and alkalines. Compounded with plasticizers, it yields a flexible material superior to rubber in aging properties.

PVDC - A thermoplastic polymer of vinylidene chloride (1.1-dechloroethylene), it is a white powder with softening temperature at 185 to 200 degrees Celcius. Polyvinylidene chloride is also known as "Saran".

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PULP & PAPER MAKING PROCEDURES

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AIR DRYING - A method of drying the paper web on the paper machine by blowing air along the direction of the web.

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BLENDING - Blending of different pulps in a chest to determine the quality of the final product.

BREAKING - Process of returning sheets to liquid form.

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CHEMICAL PULPING - Process of dissolving and extracting the lignin in wood with help of chemical reactions.

COATING - Process by which paper or board is coated with an agent to improve its brightness and/or printing properties.

COOK - Process of reacting fibre-containing materials, such as wood, rag, straw and bagasse, with suitable chemicals, usually under high temperature and pressure, to reduce them into parts so that acceptable fibres can be separated and made into pulp.

CREPING - Creping of paper on the paper machine using a large drying cylinder known as a Yankee.

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DEFIBRATION - Separation of wood fibres by mechanical and/or chemical means.

DEFIBERING - Term for pulping processes i.e. separating the fibres of pulp bales, broke or waste paper, in water by mechanical action.

DEINKING - Removal or printing ink and impurities from recovered paper; to produce recycled fibre pulp with maximum whiteness by a floatation or washing process.

DRAINAGE - Formation of a paper or board web on the wire by removing water at the paper machine wet end.

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FINISHING - Processing of paper after completion of papermaking operations, including supercalendering, slitting, rewinding, trimming, sorting, counting and packaging, prior to shipment from mill.

FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING - Rotary letterpress printing process using liquid ink. Solvent-based formulations made of aniline dyes and pigments (mixed with a binder) dry primarily by evaporation due to the solvent vehicle; water-based formulations have now become more common and are force-dried either by heat or irradiation (if the ink contains monomers that can be polymerized by UV-irradiation). Sometimes called aniline printing.

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GLAZING - First calendering, in which paper is passed through a roll nip to give it a smoother surface.

GRAVURE PRINTING - Intaglio printing process employing minute engraved “wells” and a liquid ink. Generally, deeply etched wells carry more ink than a raised surface, hence they print darker values. Shallow wells are used to print light values. A doctor blade wipes excess ink from the cylindrical printing surface. Rotogravure employs etched cylinders and web fed stock. Sheet fed gravure, as its name implies, involves individual sheet feeding.

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OFF MACHINE COATING - Process of applying coating material to a web of paper or paperboard in a location that is away from the machine on which it is made.

OFFSET PRINTING - The indirect printing process is where an impression of type or a design on a flat plate or cylinder is transferred to a rubber blanketed cylinder from which it is impressed (“offset”) upon the surface to be printed.

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PULPING - Separation of the fibres in the raw material permits individual cellulose fibres to form a free suspension in water.

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REFINING - Pulp and paper mill operations conducted of fibre suspensions to rub, brush, crush, fray or cut fibres as desired. Imparts such characteristics as increased capacity to absorb water and improved sheet formation.

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SULPHATE PROCESS - An alkaline pulp manufacturing process in which the active components of the liquor used to cook chips in a pressurised vessel are primarily sodium sulphide and sodium hydroxide, with sodium sulphate and lime being used to replenish these chemicals in recovery operations. Also called kraft process.

SULPHITE PROCESS - An acid pulp manufacturing process in which chips are reduced to their component parts by cooking in a pressurised vessel using a liquor composed of calcium, sodium, magnesium, or ammonia salts of sulphurous acid.

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PULP & PAPER MACHINERY – TECHNICAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

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Abrasion Resistance - The ability of a paper product to withstand abrasion. Measured by determining the degree and rate at which a sample loses weight under specific rubbing action of an abrading substance, such as an eraser.

Absorbency - Property of pulp, paper, and its constituents and products that permits the entrainment and retention of other materials it contacts, such as liquid, gaseous and solid substances.

Agitator - A rotating device for mixing fluids and fluid suspension in a tank or chest.

Apparent Density - Weight (mass) per unit volume of a sheet of paper is obtained by dividing the basis weight (or grammage) by the caliper (thickness).

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Baffle - A device that obstructs the flow of fluid, whether to aid mixing or restrict the flow rate.

Basis Weight - of a Ream of Paper Weight in pounds of a ream of paper, usually consisting of 480, 500, or 1000 sheets of a specified size, according to grade. In countries using the metric system, more commonly referred to as grammage and expressed as g/m2.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) - Amount of dissolved oxygen consumed in five days by biological processes breaking down organic matter in mill effluent.

Bonding Strength - An intralayer binding force in a multi-ply paperboard or laminate. Also refers to the degree of adherence of coating and film on a sheet and the inter-fiber binding force within a sheet.

Bone Dry or Over Dry - Moisture-free conditions of pulp and paper. Usually determined by drying a known sample to a constant weight in a completely dry atmosphere at a temperature of 100°C to 105°C.

Brightness - The degree of the reflectivity of a sheet of pulp or paper for blue light is measured under specified standard conditions. (Also, though incorrectly, called whiteness).

Bulk - Compactness property of a sheet to its weight (whose value decreases as compactness increases). Bulk is calculated as caliper divided by grammage.

Bursting Strength - Resistance of paper to rupture when pressure is applied to a side by a specified instrument. Also called burst, Mullen, and pop strength.

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Calenders - At the dry end of a paper machine, smooth-faced rolls smooth, level, polish and improve gloss. The rollers can be metal or composite (soft). Hardness affects how much paper or board is crushed. Equipment can be lined up at the end of the paper machine before reel-up or outside the machine.

Calender Finished - Paper and paperboard passed through a calender to improve surface characteristics by application of pressure, friction, or moisture.

Caliper - The thickness of a sheet of paper or paperboard, measured under certain expressly stated conditions, expressed in units of thousandths of an inch (called “mils” when referring to paper and “points” when referring to paperboard)—in regions using metric measurement, usually measured in millionths of a meter (microns or µm). Also called thickness.

Chest - A vessel equipped with an agitating device for storing, collecting, mixing, and chemical treatment of pulp suspension. A large vessel fitted with an agitator for storing pulp stock.

Corrugated Board - A pasted single or double-faced, multi-layered board is having a fluted bottom or middle layer.

Couch Pit or Hog Pit - The paper-making machine has a tank with an agitator below it that is used to pick up couch broke. Also called a pig pit.

Cross Direction (CD) - Side to side direction of a paper machine or the paper sheet made on it, as opposed to machine direction, which runs from head to exit.

Cutting Pipe - Water jets used to trim the rough edge off the paper while it is being made on the machine (deckle edges).

Cylinder Machine T - he machine makes paperboards. The forming cylinders are wrapped with wire, so fibers are picked up to form a web as they turn in a vat filled with stock solution, with water pouring out at the ends. The wet sheet is then transferred from the cylinder to felt for pressing and drying.

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Digester - Pressure vessels are used to chemically treat chips and other cellulosic fibrous materials such as straw, bagasse, rags, etc., under elevated temperature and pressure to separate fibres and produce pulp. Di

Dryers - Portion of a paper machine where water is removed from wet paper by passing it over rotating, steam heated, cylindrical, metal drums or by running it through a hot air stream.

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Flow Box - An open through with an adjustable slit along the length at the bottom (slice) and an inlet pipe of a manifold. Used to distribute the pulp suspension across the width of the papermaking machine.

Furnish - Various pulps, dyes, additives and other chemicals blended together in stock preparation area of paper mill and fed to wet end of paper machine to make paper or paperboard. Also called stock.

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Guillotine - A device for cutting or trimming piles of sheets of paper to the required size and with smooth edges.

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Hood - A hood covering the paper machine drying section and designed for moist air removal.

Hydrapulper - A metal tank fitted with an agitator rotor for disintegrating pulp and broke in water. I

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Krofta - Name of equipment used for recovering fiber excess from backwater on an air flotation principle.

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Layboy - Device at the end of a cutting machine for jogging sheets into a neat pile.

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Machine Direction (MD) - Direction from the wet end to the dry end of a paper machine or to a paper sheet parallel to its forward movement on a paper machine.

MG Cylinder - Similar to a Yankee cylinder, usually more prominent in diameter, 23 feet, with lower steam pressure. It gives a smooth or glazed finish to one side of the sheet while leaving the other quite rough.

Moisture Content (MC) - Percentage of water by its weight in paper, pulp, paperboard, chips, Etc., which will vary according to atmospheric conditions because of the ability of these types of materials to absorb or emit moisture.

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Opacity - The ability of substances such as paper, flue gases (smoke), and liquids to resist transmission of both diffuse and non-diffuse light through them. Prevents show through of dark printing in contact with the backside sheet of paper.

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Porosity - Ability of fluids to pass into paper and paperboard, related to size, shape and distribution orientation or the pores in a sheet and the compactness of the fibers.

Press - A wringer device situated in the machine after the wire and couch consist of a loaded top and bottom roll, through which the paper and felt pass. Water is squeezed out of the form into the felt.

Pulp - Fibrous material is produced mechanically or chemically reducing plants into their parts from which pulp, paper, and paperboard sheets are formed after proper slushing treatment—also used for dissolving purposes (dissolving pulp or chemical cellulose) to make rayon (or viscose) and other synthetic products.

Pulper - Machine that disintegrates fibrous raw material using water and mechanical agitation.

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Rag Content - Paper containing from 25% to 75% cotton or rag fibres, including bond, ledger, and specialty papers.

Ream - Stack or package of paper containing a number of sheets (usually 480, 500 or 520) designated as standard for that grade.

Refiner - A machine that modifies the fibre to the degree required by the final product. A series of metal blades rotate from a central shaft against static blades built inside the outer casing of a cone or disc.

Reverse Rolls - Press rolls where the paper is fed through in the reverse direction from the normal flow of paper through the machine so that both sides of the paper have the same characteristics.

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Screens & Strainers - A variety of devices for removing contraries from a pulp suspension by a filtering process, usually either pressure or vibratory.

Semi Chemical Pulp - Lower quality pulp made by cooking fibrous materials in a neutral sodium sulphite/sodium carbonate cooking liquor followed by a final separation of the fiber using unpressurised mechanical means.

Sheeter - Machine for cutting the paper web into sheets.

Size Press - Paper mill processing unit consisting of two usually rubber covered rolls located between two dry end sections of the paper machine. Applies size solution to the surface of the paper sheet.

Starch - Type of carbohydrate adhesive and sizing material obtained primarily from corn, wheat, rice, tapioca, maize and potatoes. Produces a higher degree of rigidity in a sheet and improves the finish by causing the fibres to lie flat.

Stock - Fibrous mixture that is made into paper. May consist of one or more types of beaten or refined pulps, with or without suitable fillers, dyes, additives, and other chemicals. Also called furnish.

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Tar Strength - Resistance of a paper sheet to tearing, is usually measured by the force required to tear a strip under standardized conditions. (See Elmendorf test).

Tensile Strength of Paper - Resistant property of a sheet to pull or stress produced by tension. Expressed as the force per unit width of a sample that is tested to the point of rupture.

Thermo Mechanical Pulp (TMP) - Pulp is made by pre-steaming chips and then reducing them into their fiber components during initial mechanical treatment in refiners under elevated temperature and pressure. Subsequent refining is done at atmospheric pressure.

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Wet Machine - Paper machine consisting essentially of a wire covered cylinder rotating in a vat of pulp stock on which a mat of varying thickness is formed by drainage. These mats are removed either intermittently in thick sheets called laps or continuously.

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Yankee Cylinder - Cast iron cylinder, 8-18 feet in diameter and designed to handle steam pressures of up to 160 psi. Functions as a press roll and surface for creping.

Yankee Dryer - Type of steam heated paper dryer consisting of a large, revolving drum equipped with a felt to held the sheet in contact with its highly polished surface. Commonly used for drying tissue type papers.

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