Applied Paper Technology has a large number of paper testing instruments. We are able to run physical and surface tests typically performed on many paper grades as well as folding carton board, beverage carrier board, linerboard, corrugating medium, and other grades.

We also perform various surface quality tests and printability tests. These include several surface smoothness tests, surface strength tests, and ink receptivity tests.

Gluability is a concern for many packaging applications, and we are able to perform several cold set glue tests, as well as hot melt gluability. One unique cold set gluability device, the Automated Glue Tester (AGT) is able to measure the force required to separate a glued sample, in addition to showing the amount of fiber tear.

Hot melt gluability is evaluated using a Waldorf Hot Melt Glue Applicator. This device has proved useful because it can reliably apply a hot melt glue bead at a desired temperature, open time and compression time, simulating the real world.

Creasability and score cracking evaluation is an area in which APT has significant experience. With the use of a laboratory bench-top die cutter, technicians can cut and crease paperboard the same as in a commercial operation. We can evaluate score cracking tendency by scoring board under various environmental conditions. An L&W Creasability Tester and a PCA Scorebend tester are used to evaluate performance characteristics of commercially produced creases and scores as well as laboratory scores.

Applied Paper Technology conducts various compression tests, both Full Box Compression and component compression tests, like Block Compression and Corner Crush. These tests are performed on both solid fiber products and fluted products.

We have experience testing fluted products including E-flute, F-flute, and N-flute as well as B & C flute. We are able to use traditional folding carton test methods for small fluted products that will be converted into folding cartons. This allows these products to be presented and evaluated in terms that are familiar to folding cartons customers.

We also run the traditional tests for corrugated board, ECT, Flat Crush, and others.

The following list currently links to individual PDFs of short, non-technical descriptions of some of the tests that we run. For some tests there are short videos.  As more of these simple, straightforward descriptions or videos of our tests are produced, they will be added to this page.

The test links on this page will open as PDFs (Portable Document Format). To view this data you will need to use the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

TEST	VIDEO	TEST	VIDEO
Ash		Marbach Bench-Top Die Cutter
Automated Glue Test (AGT)		Metal Detector
Basis Weight		MIT Double Fold
Bekk Smoothness		Mullen Burst
Bendtsen Smoothness		Opacity
Block Compression		Parker Print Surf (PPS)
Blocking		PCA Scorebend
Box Compression		Photomicrographs
BRDA Plybond		Pin Adhesion
Brightness		Porosity
Caliper		Ring Crush
Coefficient of Friction - Static Inclined Page		Scott Plybond
Coefficient of Friction - Static Kinetic Horizontal Plane		Shade
Contact Angle		Sheffield Smoothness
Corner Crush		Stiffness - Taber, L&W, Gurley
Creasability L&W		STFI Compression
Curl		Sutherland Rub
Edge Crush Test		Tear - Dry, Wet
Fiber Analysis		Tensile Stretch TEA
Gloss - 75°		Waldorf Hot Melt Gluability
Glue Speed (Pull Tab)		Water Cobb
Hercules Size Test		Wax Pick
IGT Pick & Blister		Water Vapor Trans Rate
Ink Absorption (K&N, TK-1, TK-2)		Z-Direction Tensile (ZDT)

APPLIED PAPER TECHNOLGY'S FACILITIES
A TAPPI Standard testing lab at 50% RH and 73°F is the heart of our facility. Samples for testing are preconditioned at 20% RH then conditioned at TAPPI Standard conditions.

We also have a walk-in environmental chamber that can maintain conditions from 20% to 100% RH and 40°F to 100°F. Many of the testing instruments can be placed in the chamber for testing under various conditions.

The environmental chamber also allows us to perform Water Vapor Transmission Rate tests at high relative humidity (tropical) as well as at standard conditions. We have a freezer, and we have conducted studies involving packaging and distribution of frozen foods. Investigations have included the Freeze-Thaw Cycles that frozen food experience during distribution and delivery.