Tubes used in yarn winding are made from essentially two materials: paperboard and plastic. Each material has its own place. The right choice depends on production conditions and workflow.
Paperboard tubes
- Recycling. Paperboard is a material that can enter the paper recycling stream directly. It is easy to separate at the end of its service life.
- Weight. It is generally lighter than its plastic equivalent of the same size. In work with high shipping volumes, that feeds through to freight cost.
- Cost. In single-use scenarios it is generally more economical.
- Dimensional flexibility. Inner diameter, length and wall thickness can be produced to order, according to the winding machine.
- Its limit. Paperboard is affected by moisture. Long-term storage in high-humidity environments is not appropriate.
Plastic tubes
- Reuse. In closed-loop systems where the tube comes back, it can be used many times over.
- Moisture resistance. It holds its shape in damp environments and wet processes.
- Its limit. The recycling process is more complex than for paper and the unit cost is generally higher. It is not economical in single-use scenarios.
Which one, when?
There is no absolute "better"; the decision depends on the workflow.
- If the tube stays with the customer and does not come back: paperboard is generally more suitable
- If you work closed-loop and the tube returns: plastic may be considered
- If the product is processed or stored in a damp environment: plastic
- If recycling and waste management are priorities: paperboard
Where we stand
At Kafkas Masura, all the tubes we manufacture are made of paperboard. There are no plastic tubes in our product range.