Kraftliner vs. testliner – which should I choose?
3min read
08/01/2021
What should I choose… kraftliner or testliner cardboard boxes? You may have asked yourself this question, so in this article we look at the difference between cardboard boxes made from kraftliner and cardboard boxes made from testliner.
1. Construction of the paperboard
Cardboard is made of several layers of paper that are glued together. This makes cardboard very strong, heavy and sturdy. Before defining paper as cardboard, it must weigh 180 g/m². Anything that is lighter falls under the heading ‘paper’.
The corrugated board we use to make boxes is constructed from a layer of paper on the outside and a layer of paper on the inside – a layer of testliner or kraftliner. The two types differ in their composition and therefore in their quality.
2. Quality – kraftliner vs. testliner:
| What is kraftliner? | What is testliner? |
|---|---|
| Kraftliner comes from the German word “Kraft” which means “Strong”. | Testliner is the budget-friendly variant and cheaper than Kraftliner. |
| Made from a virgin wood pulp mixed with a percentage of recycled material. The paper fibres are therefore longer and firmer. | Made exclusively from recycled material. The paper fibres are therefore shorter and less firm. |
| Water repellent (the paper fibres are very dense and therefore moisture has less chance to penetrate). | – |
| Tear-resistant (due to the random arrangement of the long elastic fibres.) | – |
| Use: Good for heavy and fragile products + difficult environments with low temperature and humidity. | Application: Good for simple application, for low value products. |
Kraftliner is also used to cushion paper bags. The kraftliner makes them strong and durable. For bags you can choose between two types of kraftliner.
In the picture below you have the normal kraftliner made of virgin fibres on the left. It has a nice smooth surface and texture. On the right we have a kraftliner made only from recycled fibres. This has a grooved and striped surface and gives the bag a thinner structure.
Are kraftliner and testliner environmentally friendly?
Both variants can be used several times and can therefore be recycled. In addition, they are both made of paper and are therefore easy to recycle and compost (on an industrial level). It is said that cardboard can be recycled up to 10 times – a discarded cardboard box can therefore perfectly have a second life as a carrier bag or newspaper.
3. What does the kraftliner or testliner do for your packaging?
It’s important to know what properties the two types of paper have and give to your packaging, that’s ultimately what it’s all about even though the two types, are just thin layers of paper.
The kraft liner is the strongest variant and clearly the one recommended in most cases. In addition, it is much more resistant to cold and moisture, which are two weather phenomena we often have to deal with here in Denmark. At RAJA , all our boxes are covered with kraftliner as standard – we want you to always have the best quality in your hands.
Kraftliner is also the winner when we talk about the best surface for packaging tape. Testliner is made from short recycled paper fibers that create an uneven surface that makes it more difficult for the tape to stick. Kraftliner, on the other hand, has long virgin fibres that make the surface flatter. This allows the tape adhesive to adhere better. When you need a completely secure seal, go for the kraftliner.
Now you’ve got the basics down regarding kraftliner and testliner – if you want to know more, you can read more about cardboard box construction and which is best for what in this post:
Have fun! 🙂
