Role of linear guidance components in paperboard tray forming presses

Abstract Paperboard is an increasingly important sustainable packaging material and enables a reduction in usage of plastics. Press-formed trays are one interesting and cost-effective packaging method to increase the usage of paperboard. This article investigates the effect of linear guidance components in tray forming presses. These components influence the final quality of press-forming because any offset in the forming tools leads to non-parallel forming surfaces and faulty products. The slide tilt angles were measured with a clinometer in four different paperboard press units with different configurations during unloaded and loaded conditions. The results indicate that different press configurations and bearing types have a significant influence on the tilt angles in unloaded cases, however the forming tools can reduce the tilt angles in loaded cases and no observable quality variations in final products were observed between presses. This finding suggests less strict tolerance requirements for the guidance elements in the construction of paperboard presses when compared to steel forming.