The corrugated group has unveiled R-Flute, a new type of fluting with a calliper, or thickness, that is 20% thinner than the B-flute that is currently the standard for retail-ready packaging (RRP).
Brand owners such as wine giant Constellation Europe (whose Echo Falls brand is pictured) and fish newcomer The Saucy Fish Company are already using the board for RRP, while packaging manufacturer Ardagh Glass has begun using the board for deliveries of bottles and jars.
DS Smith is pitching the material at the RRP market and is aiming to sell the new material on its RRP performance, supply chain efficiency and carbon footprint credentials.
DS Smith Packaging sector director Tony Foster told Packaging News that R-Flute was the result of two years’ development work. Trials with customers began in spring 2009 and he said that R-Flute is now DS Smith’s second most popular material profile.
“The thought process was to challenge whether B-flute could be improved for today’s RRP needs,” Foster said.
“It’s very linked to the environment, of course, using fewer pallets and storage space. But what we’ve come up with also has a far better printing surface because the flutes are closer together and the surface is flatter .
“Where we’ve ended up is with a flute profile which works in today’s markets; it is perfectly pitched for both strength and brand supporting print quality.”
As well as the print quality, DS Smith is selling the board particularly on its thinner profile, which allows more board to be delivered on a pallet and, on automated lines, requires fewer replenishments of material.
