The Cellulosic Materials Laboratory aims to offer a comprehensive service for the evaluation and advice of containers and packaging made with paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard, from raw materials to the finished product.

The evaluation and understanding of paper and cardboard opens the possibility of obtaining more efficient and optimized containers and packaging, which translates into a reduction of incidents in transport and a better use of resources.

Services

Quality control and preparation of technical data sheets

AIDIMME is accredited according to UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 for carrying out tests on paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard according to the standards:

• UNE-EN ISO 536 for the determination of grammage
• UNE-EN ISO 534 for the determination of the thickness, density and specific volume of paper and board
• UNE-ISO 9895 for the determination of short-circuit compressive strength and compression index (SCT)
• UNE-ISO 2493-2 for the determination of flexural strength (Taber stiffness)
• UNE-ISO 3034 for the determination of the thickness of corrugated cardboard
• UNE-ISO 3039 for the determination of the basis weight of the paper components of corrugated cardboard
• UNE-EN ISO 3037 for the determination of crush resistance on the ECT edge
• UNE-EN ISO 2759 for the determination of burst strength and burst index
• UNE-ISO 3036 for the determination of puncture resistance
• UNE-EN ISO 535 for the determination of Cobb water absorption
• UNE-EN ISO 7263-1 and UNE-EN ISO 7263-2 for the determination of the flat crush resistance (CMT) of corrugating paper
• SCAN-P42 and UNE-ISO 16945 for the determination of the CCT column compressive strength of corrugating paper
• UNE 137001:2003 and FEFCO 50 for the determination of the dynamic compression strength (BCT) of cardboard and corrugated cardboard packaging.

The products usually evaluated by the Cellulosic Materials Laboratory are:

• Papers to be components of corrugated cardboard
• Papers for sacks
• Compact cardboard
• Corrugated paperboard
• Corner protectors
• Mandrills
• bags
• Cardboard and corrugated cardboard packaging and containers

This service offers companies the advice and testing necessary to comply with legislation applicable to paper and cardboard products. Key features include:

• Compliance with Royal Decree 1055/22 of December 27, on packaging and packaging waste, for example, by optimizing the amount of material in packaging (prevention at source according to UNE-EN 13428) or by evaluating recyclability according to UNE-EN 13430
• Compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. This is achieved by applying the criteria set out in BFR Recommendation XXXVI, MCDA Fact Sheet No. 4, Ministerial Decree of 21/03/1973, or Annex 10 of the Swiss Ordinance, among others.

Advice on paper and cardboard packaging

This service is intended for companies that need help in the selection and optimization of their paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard products, making available to them the knowledge and experience of the Cellulosic Materials Laboratory.

Standards and equipment

The relevant regulations used in the laboratory are shown below:

• UNE-EN ISO 536. Paper and board. Determination of basis weight
• UNE-EN ISO 534. Paper and board. Determination of thickness, density and specific volume
• UNE-ISO 3034. Corrugated board. Determination of the thickness of a single sheet
• UNE-EN ISO 287. Paper and board. Determination of the moisture content of a batch. Oven drying method
• UNE-ISO 9895. Paper and board. Compression strength. Short-circuit compression test
• UNE-EN ISO 2759. Cardboard. Determination of burst strength.
• UNE-EN ISO 535. Paper and board. Determination of water absorption. Cobb method.
• UNE-EN ISO 7263. Corrugating paper. Determination of flat crush resistance after corrugation in the laboratory. Part 1 (Flute A) and Part 2 (Flute B)
• UNE-ISO 16945. Corrugating paper. Determination of crush resistance on the edge after corrugating in the laboratory.
• UNE-ISO 2493-2. Paper and board. Determination of flexural strength. Part 2: Taber-type instrument.
• UNE-ISO 3039. Corrugated board. Determination of the basis weight of the component papers after separation.
• UNE-ISO 3036. Cardboard. Determination of puncture resistance.
• UNE-EN ISO 3037. Corrugated board. Determination of edge crush resistance (ECT)
• UNE 137001 and FEFCO 50. Empty corrugated and solid cardboard containers and packaging. Determination of compression strength.

The relevant regulations used in the laboratory are shown below:

• Climate chambers
• Conditioned laboratory
• Specific cutters (SCT, CMT, Billerud)
• Precision scales
• Micrometers for paper, cardboard and corrugated board
• Compression testers and universal testing machines
• SCT Team
• Laboratory waver
• Blast Team
• Cobb water absorption devices and roller
• Drilling equipment
• Taber Stiffness Meter

Standards and equipment

The Cellulosic Materials Laboratory is accredited according to UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025, for carrying out tests on paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard with the following accreditation number 13/LE027

Membership of standardization committees and working groups

The Cellulosic Materials Laboratory is present in the following national and international standardization committees:

• Member of the CTN 57 Cellulose and Paper
• Expert in ISO/TC 122/SC 3/WG 11 "Paper bags and paper sacs"
• Expert in CEN/TC 172/WG 3 "Analytical methods for the assessment of paper and board in contact with foodstuffs"
• Expert in ISO/TC 6/SC 2/WG 46 "Standard atmosphere"
• Expert in the International Management Research Committee of TAPPI