They may seem like little more than an afterthought. Nonetheless, well-made paper “cores” (or tubes, depending on the application) provide crucial structure and stability to the continuously processed materials wound onto them at the end of a production line. The unsung heroes of shipping and warehousing workers everywhere, paper cores prevent a roll of plastic, paper, textiles, or some other product from becoming a formless mass of unusable material as it is moved around and used.
Core Versus Tube: What’s the Difference?
The industry distinguishes a core from a tube in that the former has the product wrapped around it while the latter is designed to carry the product inside it. Consequently, a tube will typically not be as thick as a core because it doesn’t require the same strength. Ace Paper Tube can produce cores and tubes with different diameters and thicknesses, depending on the application. We can make paper tubes up to 12 inches in diameter.
Paper cores and tubes have a wide array of applications, ranging from the everyday to the extraordinary. For instance, they can be used to transport carpet rolls or, on a more adventurous note, to send ice augers to Antarctica. They are also employed in rolling up and shipping pickleball courts worldwide. Ace’s ideal size range is between three and six inches in diameter, as this is the most commonly used size for several major industries, including tape and label manufacturing.
Sustainability Is Our Middle Name
“We use recycled materials, high-quality glue, and the best equipment available,” says Tyler Folger, sales manager for ACE. “If you don’t have quality machinery and materials, you’re not going to get a quality core.”
While it may seem straightforward, making the paper cores themselves can be finicky. “The size of the core determines the angle they run the machine. If a ply of paper is a quarter of an inch off – if the gap in the ply is too large, for example – it will affect the strength and integrity of that core,” says Tyler.
Combining Art With Science
“If the glue isn’t covering it entirely, if the gap is too big, the core could be worthless performance-wise. There’s an art to it,” says Tyler. “It involves knowing what works best in each situation and what makes the strongest core. That’s where our guys come into play. We have several operators that have been here for over 30 years. For us, having experienced operators running quality machinery using quality materials is the ‘Trifecta’.”
The paper core or tube is made using recycled paper. “We can use paper and cardboard that has undergone recycling up to seven times,” says Tyler. “After that, it lacks the strength and integrity needed to make paper tubes.” Despite a local-first approach to paper procurement, Tyler admits that global sourcing is sometimes required. One example is an Indian paper supplier that uniquely provides high-quality paper, excellent service, competitive pricing, and operates entirely off the grid. “It’s fully integrated, highly automated, sustainable, and standalone,” says Tyler. “They produce most of their own energy and observe 20,000 checkpoints on the paper as they produce it – nobody in America is doing that.”
In summing up, Tyler mentions both the quality of Ace products and the customer and supplier relationships that support their ability to offer world-class services. “As a company, we always put quality first, but establishing strong relationships is a key factor for long-term success for us.”
To learn more about Ace Paper Tube and our high-quality paper cores and tubes, call 216-961-0250 or contact us via our website.