Buying Guide
How to Spec Folding Carton Board
Specify folding carton board by caliper, coating, and score behavior—not by GSM alone. Compare grades, samples, and RFQ China carton plants.
Quick answer
Specify folding carton board from structure and converting needs: caliper/thickness, coating side, stiffness, and score performance—not from a single GSM number. The same GSM can crease or print differently across virgin and recycled grades.
What should buyers freeze first?
Lock board family (e.g. SBS/FBB/GC/GT), caliper, coated vs uncoated faces, and whether reverse print or soft-touch will stress scores. State food-contact or retail-only rules before artwork.
How do you validate board on the real blank?
Approve print, score, and glue on production-process blanks. Showroom sheets miss folder-gluer and humidity effects that open cracks or warp lids.
RFQ
Carton style; board family; caliper
Coatings/finishes; score critical zones
Food-contact notes; sample blanks
Monthly volume; Incoterms; substitution ban
When should you reject a quote?
Reject quotes that swap board family without a re-scored sample. Unit price without a frozen grade code is not comparable.
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