Paper

Paper is a class of material, mostly made of celulose (a wood product), that ranges in color, thickness and density from very thin 'tissue' to heavy construction paper. The use of paper varies from printing and bindery to gaskets and packaging.

A number of converting processes are applicable to paper, including: die cutting, slitting, laminating, embossing, printing, and coating (adhesive, heat seal material, protective surface). CRC offers all these services, though we are limited to one color flexographic printing and we only coat hot melt adhesives. All these processes can be combined to produce more complex parts.

Paper is generally sold by weight. To specify a paper, you will often hear a weight call out such as 50 pound paper. This is an industry designation that comes from the weight of 3,000 square feet (a ream) of the paper: 10 pounds would be your ice cream wrapper. 25 to 35 pounds is your inkjet or copier paper. 100 pounds is construction paper bordering on card boad. Some papers are also 'densified' by pressing between smooth rollers at very high pressures. There is of course the color. Papers are also classified according to the finish (smoothness and chemical additives) of the surface. Papers also vary acording to the types of fibers and binders that make them up. Many finishes and textures can be added to paper.

Paper comes in rolls or sheets. We prefer to convert rolls. When ordering rolls of the heavier paper, it is generally preferable to have it wound on as large a diameter core as possible. Paper does take on the shape it is held in for a long time and this can cause problems if your product needs to be flat.