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The history of corrugated
dates back more than a century. Corrugated
board was born from a new paper usage and from the increasing necessity to
pack and protect goods. Thanks to its basic raw materials, and despite
considerable changes, modern corrugated packaging is not so different than
that of our great grandfathers. This ingenuous construction is and will
remain profitable, modern, and innovative. Here are some key dates and points
in the history of corrugated.
1854
Olivier Long patented the
concept of adding a liner to one side of the corrugated paper to strengthen
it.
1856
Two Englishmen, Healey
and Allen obtained a patent for the first known use of corrugated. The paper
was fed through a very simple hand machine made of 2 fluted rolls. The result
was a nice fluted paper used as the lining in hats.
1871
The first use of
corrugated paper for packaging was by an American man, Albert L. Jones who
obtained a patent for the use of corrugated paper for wrapping fragile items
such as bottles and the lamp glass from kerosene lamps.
1881
Some US manufacturers
considered as the corrugated pioneers acquired the patents covering this new
packaging concept. They concentrated their efforts on developing new
machinery.
1883
The Thompson and Norris
Company in London, England created the first mechanically - driven
single-facer (one liner) and introduced the first 3 European Corrugators in
Europe.
1895
Independent Equipment
producers have entered the corrugated business production. The first
continuous corrugator was developed by Jefferson T. Ferres of the Sefton
Manufacturing CO.
Then in 1895 the
first corrugated box was made. At this point production of corrugated was
very slow and the market was sceptical of its use as a dependable shipping
material. Over the next several years it was only used to package lightweight
items delivered locally.
By 1900 there was
a nationwide network of railroads that made it possible to distribute
products throughout the nation. At this point corrugated containers were
still not a recognized classification by which to ship goods. The term
"contained" meant enclosed on all sides in wood.
In 1903 corrugated
was approved as a valid shipping material for a manufacturer of cereal that
had obtained an exception to the official classification. This initial
acceptance jump-started the market for corrugated production and by 1910
there were an estimated 50 companies in business making corrugated or solid
fibre boxes. While corrugated lacked the stacking strength of wood it was
more affordable, more readily available, lighter weight, more uniform in
quality, and more adaptable to volume packing, sealing, and handling. It also
offered cushioning and printability advantages. All of these characteristics
were attractive to businessmen at that time who were eager to take advantage
of nationwide distribution.
Corrugated soon became
the dominant shipping container and has adapted to and evolved with
change over the years to solidify and expand its role. |
