The tube in cardboard
The use of the cardboard tube produced in parallel with the automation of production techniques and the performance increases of paper wrapping machines, chemical fibers, yarns and fabrics.
Originally, the cardboard tube was inserted on the final winding bar or between the mandrel clamping devices to allow the winding, removal, rewinding and unwinding of the coil. The increase in the speed of the production equipment has led to the transformation of the tube from auxiliary material to technology supporting production.
Most of the pipes produced are supplied to the following markets: Paper (cores for paper mills) Plastic (film cores) Textiles (spools for yarns) Construction (casting tubes) The following pages describe each of these uses in detail. The cardboard tube assumes different denominations according to the functions and the sector of use, but more commonly it is called “tube” or “soul”.
The alternative and competitive materials to the cardboard cylinder are steel, aluminum or plastic or fiberglass, which perform the same tasks as cardboard tubes and are perceived as “products” by most industries.
The purpose of this Treaty is to outline the role of the cardboard tube in the various production processes and the importance of critical tolerances for this product which can not be considered as just a packaging.
Traditionally more than 80% of the cardboard tubes used in Europe have uses and destinations that are different from those of packaging. Approximately 950,000 tons of cardboard tubes are produced annually in the Common Market and the cardboard used in the tubes is 100% recycled. the final content of the tube in terms of recycled fibers is therefore equal to 90-95%, while the remaining 5-10% consists of glues, recyclable resins or special papers.
According to some estimates, more than 70% of the cardboard tubes are recovered and recycled in the various EU countries. It is certainly a state-of-the-art situation and, following the more restrictive controls on landfills, this figure is destined to increase.
100% recycled fibers. the final content of the tube in terms of recycled fibers is therefore equal to 90-95%, while the remaining 5-10% consists of glues, recyclable resins or special papers. According to some estimates, more than 70% of the cardboard tubes are recovered and recycled in the various EU countries. It is certainly a state-of-the-art situation and, following the more restrictive controls on landfills, this figure is destined to increase.
Summary
The cardboard tube can therefore be clearly considered as an ecological product and the companies that produce it have always been involved in the diffusion of the use of recycled material and in the recovery programs of the used products. The development of this ecological product has been achieved through long years of research on processes and materials and a considerable commitment in the environmental field.
The European cartonboard industry has always acted responsibly from an ecological point of view and is proud of the results achieved and that other sectors will now have to pursue.