Chipboard is the king of “green” paper products. Manufactured from 100% recycled paper waste, chipboard is created to be flexible yet extremely durable. A lot of business owners incorrectly assume that the only way to safely protect their products during shipping and transportation is by using thick, corrugated boxes and partitions. In most cases, chipboard can provide just as much protection while saving companies a significant amount of money by switching to the economical packing option.
Typically, production stages include chipping, drying, screening, gluing, and compaction. When manufacturing chipboard materials, craftsmen will take infinitesimal pieces of ground-up recycled paper and paste them together using industrial-grade glue. This process is usually performed under a high-intensity pressurizer, so the resulting product is strong and smooth. Once the chipboard is created, strippers will cut the partitions out and pass them on to the assemblers, where the partitions are assembled and stored in boxes. Our state-of-the-art machines employ faster running times that still produce clean slots.
Chipboard is produced in a variety of thicknesses, also referred to as calibers in the paper industry, to fulfill a variety of needs. You may hear paper aficionados refer to chipboard as paperboard. That’s because the process by which chipboard is manufactured creates a smooth paperboard material, distinct in its composition. It is easy to manipulate, which makes it the perfect paper material across many industries.
Density & Thickness of Chipboard
You can buy chipboard in different calibers (thicknesses) depending on your intended use of this wood-derivative. For example, using thick chipboard for office partition walls makes it possible to achieve considerable soundproofing between neighboring work cubicles. On the other hand, box separators made from thin sheets of this wood derivative material are ideal for protecting machine components during shipping.
How is it Different From Cardboard?
Those who do not possess a trained eye often refer to every thick paper product as cardboard. In reality, cardboard can either be corrugated or flat. Corrugated cardboard has ridges of thin paperboard between each layer, making the faces hollow. Flat cardboard is made of thick paperboard material, which is technically also called chipboard. Each version of cardboard has its own advantages, though some varieties are better suited for heavy equipment and other varieties are best used for delicate handling.
What are the Advantages of Chipboard?
Chipboard offers multiple benefits that make it a popular material for a wide array of applications. The two main advantages of chipboard are:
Easy to Work With
Large boards of this material can be resized in any desired shape using an ordinary handheld electric cutting saw. The cut pieces can then be quickly and easily joined together using nails, screws, and metal brackets. The ease-of-use and multiple modes of joining make chipboard suited for word working projects requiring fast installation.
Comes with a Prefinished Surface
The glossy mica finish of chipboard products not only gives partitions and furniture notable aesthetic appeal, but this surface is also remarkably easy to clean. Consequently, using this wood-derivative for office partitioning and furniture contributes significantly to a clean working environment.
What are the Disadvantages of Chipboard?
The main disadvantage of chipboard is its tendency to produce fine wood chip dust when the surface of the material is uncoated. This issue is resolved by applying a surface sealing agent such as paint, clear varnish, or epoxy resin.
Can You Waterproof Chipboard?
Yes, you can waterproof chipboard by applying a water-repellent layer over the material. The most straightforward waterproofing option is a coating or two of clear varnish. You can also choose to use ordinary colored paint to achieve this same desired effect. Your third waterproofing option comes in the form of buying pre-waterproofed chipboard — something we’re happy to do for our clients!
What is Chipboard Used For?
There are unlimited uses for chipboard! Since chipboard is an extremely flexible material, it is used for everything from storage to crafting to furniture. We don’t have enough room to cover every single use of chipboard, so we’ll just go over the most common applications.
Boxes and Box Dividers
Like every other type of cardboard, chipboard is primarily manufactured for storage and shipping usage and is considered a great, inexpensive alternative to corrugated shipping container partitions. Chipboard box dividers can be stylized to include additional features or coated with special finishes for an elegant end-result.
Scrapbooking
Since chipboard can be created in a variety of thicknesses, it’s the perfect paper stock for all scrapbooking needs. Chipboard material doesn’t soak up ink like other types of cardboard, so it can be decorated, embellished, or otherwise beautified to each craftsperson’s liking.
Office Furniture
Chipboard is used to make various office furniture items such as desks, tables, worktops, drafting boards, benches, bookshelves, cupboards, and so forth.
Ceiling and Floors
Thin chipboard can be used in enclosing the ceiling space in commercial office buildings, multi-story apartments, and private residences. A purpose-built version of this versatile material can also function as a flooring material.
In a nutshell, chipboard is incredibly versatile and can be used for an array of purposes. If you’re interested in learning more about chipboard box separators and how they can be beneficial to your company, contact us today. We are dedicated to serving all of your packing and shipping needs, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.