FEFCO Standard Tests

The European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO) is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of industry across Europe and strives to solve a wide range of problems, from technical issues to economic ones. FEFCO test methods were developed by this organization and follow internationally accepted principles.

Test methods designed for corrugated board are:

• Sampling procedure
• Determination of basis weight
• Determination of burst strength
• Determination of puncture resistance
• Determination of flat crush resistance
• Determination of water absorbency (Cobb test)
• Crush resistance at the edge
• Determination of the water resistance of the glue bond
• Determining the basis weight of component papers
• Determination of the adhesive strength of the glue bond

The test methods designed for corrugated packaging are:

• Determination of compression resistance
• Vertical falling impact test
• Constant low frequency vibration test
• Common footprint quality

All food contact materials intended to be applied to food contact paper and cardboard, including corrugated board, as specified in regulations (EC) 1935/2004 and (EC) 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practices for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The requirements for the materials have been determined.

The recommendations made by FEFCO are complementary to the internationally accepted FEFCO testing methods. These recommendations include:

• Procedure for determining the inside dimensions of flap-type or one-piece corrugated cardboard crates
• Determination of the take-up factor of corrugated paper
• Procedure for determining the slip angle for corrugated board
• Guidelines for the introduction and use of the SI system in the corrugated industry Calculation of the critical difference between measurements of repeatability and reproducibility according to the ISO 5725 standard
• Determination of the wrap factor of corrugated cardboard products

There is no specific European Union measure regulating paper and cardboard that comes into contact with food. This methodology, developed by FEFCO, for the conformity testing of printed corrugated board used in food applications fills an important gap. The methodology proposes a two-stage approach that combines an officially approved simulation for paper and cardboard in food contact and testing with real food as confirmation.

Our organization also provides FEFCO standard testing services with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.