Shipping Tubes

In packaging, there are both round mailing tubes for posters and placards and square mailing tubes for saving postage

A tube is generally defined as a tubular, solid and elongated envelope that can be filled - for example, by inserting mail items. The contents of the tube are tightly sealed by the outer skin of the tube. A separate closure system at each end of the tube ensures that the tube contents cannot slip out or fall out. You are still unsure which case is the right one? We support you with this guide to buy cheap mailing tubes.

The round model is particularly popular because it is ideal for poster packaging. Products of this type are either called round mailing tubes, mailing rolls or mailing tubes. Each of these alternatives hits the nail on the head. The original character of cardboard rolls is their round shape. Nowadays, for logistical and storage reasons, shipping tubes are also processed in a square or angular shape and are being used more and more.

The shipping tube is mainly made of corrugated cardboard, but increasingly also of wound cardboard. This is a solid board made by winding wet fibre layers onto a format roller. Examples of this are handwood and handleather board or bookbinding board. Characteristics of fine or hardboard are high bending stiffness and surface hardness. Wrapping board consists of better grades of waste paper, cellulose and textile waste, in rare cases also of wood pulp with little or no filler. Plastic emulsions are added to optimise strength and waterproofness. The winding board is finished with varnishing, embossing and satin-finishing. As you can see, cardboard has a number of advantages, but you can still buy cores cheaply.

How you can send your documents cheaply with the mailing roll without them bending

In commercial and industrial everyday life, paper tubes are used for the safe transport of rolled goods - keyword: printed matter of any kind such as technical drawings in A3 format, important documents, oversized documents or correspondence. They can all be conveniently stored in the poster packaging. All round mailing tubes have the unique feature that the contents are rolled and not folded. Contents such as posters or calendars are loosely rolled up and inserted into the mailing tube. There, the printed matter unrolls to such an extent that it touches the inner wall of the mailing tube. This is intended so that the contents of the roll can be unrolled again when it is removed.

Otherwise, the contents are tightly rolled up, enclosed with a rubber band and filled into the shipping tube. With this type of packaging, bumping against the inner wall of the shipping tube cannot be prevented - this may well result in damage to the goods being transported. To avoid this risk, the rubber band is dispensed with and the goods are inserted into the shipping tube in such a way that they can be unrolled immediately afterwards. The larger the diameter of the mailing tube, the easier it is to unroll and flatten the document when it is removed. This definitely ensures that valuable original documents reach their destination without buckling - and without causing problems when they are rolled up after being removed from the mailing tube.

Find the poster packaging in the right dimensions for your goods: whether DIN A3, A2, A1, A0 or even larger with the telescopic sleeve

Paper tubes come in all shapes and sizes: Whether you want to store a small poster in the A3 mailing tube or send a huge poster in special sizes, you are sure to find a tube that suits you. The shape is determined by the length inside and outside as well as the diameter, provided that the mailing tubes are produced round. These dimensions are important for the contents as well as for shipping. The quality of the corrugated or wrapped cardboard is decisive for the load-bearing capacity of the contents.

These are the essential properties for the production of shipping tubes in standardised to individual dimensions. A common and sought-after dimension for the shipping tube is the length from 80 mm upwards with a diameter of 50 to 100 mm. The filling volume is measured in litres and the load capacity in kilograms.

Common colours for round cores are brown and white. The preferred corrugation types for the roll material are B-, C- and E-flute. The B flute, also called fine flute, is 2.6 mm high.

Optimal paper cores for mailing posters are, for example, made of hard or fine corrugated board B-flute and single wall. The weight of corrugated board is a good 200 grams per m². For longer to long products, square dimensions such as 900 x 100 x 100 mm as length x width x depth are ideal.

In their dimensions, round and square shipping tubes are largely comparable. While the mailing tube is used almost exclusively to transport documents and printed matter, the square models are also and predominantly suitable for shipping piece goods. This also applies to special forms of mailing tubes such as the trapezoidal or telescopic mailing tube. As the word telescopic makes clear, these are extendable standard sleeves for shipping golf clubs, umbrellas, skis or other long objects. The trapezoidal sleeves made of mostly double-wall corrugated board offer maximum stability - both for piece goods and for rolled contents. Unlike the shipping roll, which literally rolls back and forth during transport and shipping, some shipping tubes are square and can be easily stacked anywhere. They can slide but not roll - this protects against damage to the outer shipping tube skin.

The sealing system of the shipping tube as a secure protection against water and shocks

Quite similar sealing systems are used for round and square tubes. The round mailing tube is closed at both ends with a plastic lid. This fits exactly to the diameter of the shipping tube and locks into place with a slight pressure. The shipping tube cover can be pulled out just as easily. For safe shipping, both mailing tube lids are covered with an adhesive strip. The recipient can see from the integrity of the adhesive strip that the mailing tube has not been opened en route.

If the mailing tube is square, triangular or trapezoidal in shape, it is a square version that is often fitted with a plug-in closure. The two ends of the mailing tube are pre-folded and inserted into each other. In addition, both push-fit closures are secured with an adhesive strip, just as with the round tubes.

An additional closure system for round tubes is the mailing sleeve. This accessory made of light and soft plastic is put over the mailing tube. This turns the round mailing tube into a square mailing tube. Handling is very simple - to secure the now square mailing tube, two side flaps, pre-folded to the millimetre, snap into place at each end. They are covered with an adhesive strip, which guarantees optimum transport security. This has a cost-saving effect during transport, because due to the new shape, the otherwise due blocking cost surcharge is omitted without replacement.

Whether the closure system is made of cardboard, plastic or metal, the closure ensures that both ends of the shipping tube are watertight and shockproof.

The round shipping tube reliably protects your goods in the warehouse as well as during transport.

The advantages of the round shipping tube are that the contents can be stored and shipped in rolled-up form. Technical drawings as well as originals and documents must not be bent. Paper and reading quality suffer equally from this. The choice of the diameter of the mailing roll also determines how tightly or loosely the content should or can be rolled. A rolled print product should be as smooth as possible when it is unrolled. Consequently, it must not be rolled too tightly, i.e. transported in the mailing reel with too small a diameter. In this respect, it is up to the sender's skill and ability to select the right diameter mailing tube for the volume of the contents.

The mailing tube in its round shape can be filled from both sides and thus also emptied from both sides. This makes handling very easy, especially as both ends of the mailing tube are closed with the same plastic lids, so it is not possible to mix them up.

A particularly individual type of round tube is the picture roll with a transparent screw cap as the sealing system. As a telescopic roll, it is adjustable up to 100 cm in its common version. Picture rolls are usually coloured from white to red, blue, green or yellow, and even black. With their colouring, picture and drawing rolls clearly distinguish themselves from the mailing tube otherwise used in shipping. The coloured mailing tube is particularly suitable for the orderly storage of rolled printed matter, especially in archiving according to content based on colour.

Round tubes are extremely transport-friendly. They cannot be stacked and layered; however, with their round shape and depending on their diameter, they fill many a loading gap in the transport vehicle - the mailing tube simply rolls to where there is still space.

Square paper tubes are the space-saving alternative for unit loads or rolled contents

Square versions with their special properties are neither shipping rolls nor shipping tubes by definition - because they are not round. For this reason, there is a collective term: if someone wants to buy shipping tubes, this means all types - regardless of whether the shipping tubes are square, triangular or rectangular or have another shape.

Square tubes can be stacked in a space-saving and transport-safe manner. Due to their stability, they are ideal for transporting long to extra-long packaged goods. Telescopic models are extended to the desired length and fixed with adhesive tape. The buckling stability ensures a high degree of transport safety in every means of transport - from aeroplane to road and rail transport.

Square long cartons can be used for rolled contents as well as for piece goods. Delivery and storage of empty square paper tubes are a unique selling point. While the shipping roll comes as it is, square shipping tubes are delivered folded. They can be unfolded in a few easy steps and folded again as needed. This saves space in the warehouse and archive.

Industrial unit loads that are frequently transported in square paper tubes include pipes and rails as well as roller blinds, venetian blinds or curtain rods in the decoration sector. Much sought-after dimensions are the cylindrical paper tubes. Many people also want the shipping tubes to be square-shaped or trapezoidal, then also called tubular cardboard. The frequently offered self-adhesive seal at both ends of the tube carton makes the otherwise usual gluing with adhesive tape superfluous. The adhesive mass applied in strip form is protected by the manufacturer with a cover paper. After the paper strip is peeled off, the adhesive flap is permanently glued to the rest of the packaging. The disadvantage: The self-adhesive sealing system can only be used once and is rather used for shipping, but less for storage.

How the closure system and the stability of the shipping tube allow multiple use

Multiple use is a typical and welcome feature of paper tubes in all forms. The manufacturer has to guarantee a lot of stability for the shipping reel or the square tube cartons, as well as for the sealing system.

The round or square plastic lids prove to be an advantage for multiple use. They fit the opening of the shipping reel on both sides exactly to the millimetre and are inserted at both ends of the reel with light pressure. For additional shipping security, the plastic lid can be stapled to the shipping roll with a stapler. Staples are standardised so that the staples used can be easily removed with the appropriate tool.

This closing system is perfect in every respect. It closes, is additionally secured by staples and can be opened again without much effort. The sturdy plastic lid can withstand a large number of stapling processes before it becomes unusable.

Even if, in the long run, the end of the mailing roll should fray somewhat due to repeated insertion and removal of the plastic cover, this wear deficit can be completely compensated for by stapling the roll closure.

The fact that paper tubes are completely recyclable is mentioned more for the sake of completeness. The situation is different with plastic lids. Even the designation plastic makes it clear that the basic component of the closure system is semi-synthetic or wholly synthetic. The exact material determines whether its plastic lids can be chemically recycled and subsequently reused several to many times.

Space-saving transport and storage of documents and technical drawings in suitable shipping tubes

At this point it is deliberately emphasised that technical drawings or oversized printed matter such as posters must be stored or transported in mailing tubes. They must not be folded or bent improperly at any time, but should be stored rolled. This applies, for example, to maps, property location plans, building plans for apartment buildings and other originals.

When handling paper - no matter what kind - some physical laws must be observed. Here the rule of thumb applies: The smaller the format and the heavier the paper, the longer it takes to roll up and smooth. Conversely, the larger and thinner the paper, the shorter the time.

In everyday practice, the two factors diameter of the mailing roll and duration of rewinding are added. In extreme cases, such as after a very long storage period, ironing without steam is a last resort. The printed work, in this case a poster, is covered by smooth and stretched fabric. No creases should be allowed to form during ironing, as they are transferred directly from the fabric to the paper.

But as a rule it does not come to that. Rolled prints such as technical drawings are weighted down at the four side corners when unrolled. This way, even the largest document lies smoothly unrolled, even though it has previously been transported or stored tightly rolled in the mailing tube.

The combination of the round mailing tube and the square mailing tube makes for secure and cheaper mailing

A roll surcharge is charged for round tubes. This is limited to maximum dimensions for length, diameter and weight. If these dimensions are exceeded, the shipment becomes bulky goods. For bulky goods, staggered prices apply for domestic and international transport. The reason for the additional costs: bulky goods cannot be sorted by machine as a consignment in the parcel centre; instead, individual manual processing is required.

These annoying additional costs can be avoided by sending with square paper tubes. Most of them are standardised - this facilitates processing in the logistics provider's parcel centre as well as shipping. To avoid the cost problem with the round shipping tube, there are two possibilities.

If the outer wall of the chosen model of shipping tube is square, the round shipping tube can simply be inserted into it. The goods remain rolled and are doubly protected. The standardised square shipping tube complies with the specifications of the logistics companies, which enables the most cost-effective shipping.

On the other hand, shippers make use of the postal sleeve. If the mailing tube is round, the sleeve only needs to be put over and then fastened with a self-adhesive strip. With this postal sleeve, the mailing tube is no longer round but square. There is no longer a bulky goods surcharge - and there is no danger of the round mailing roll rolling away on the conveyor belt in the parcel centre.

Whether shipping as bulky goods or with a postal sleeve - the sender is well advised to ask the logistics company he or she has chosen about the conditions for transport and costs. This applies equally to trade, commerce and industry.

Find the right round or square shipping sleeve for your requirements and buy it at a reasonable price.

With our guide you can now easily find the right round shipping tube or a square or rectangular version - according to your requirements.

In summary, paper tubes in their many different formats are just as indispensable for shipping, transport and storage as other cardboard boxes. Whether you choose round or square shipping tubes depends largely on the contents.

The stability of the material, made of single- or double-wall corrugated board or wrapped cardboard, must be suitable for protecting the shipping contents from damage and the effects of the weather: Printed works are often stored for years in archive rolls. This must be guaranteed airtight and watertight, after all, the original historical document is a unique specimen.

Round tubes easily become a transport nuisance: when they roll, they change their position in the vehicle, as well as on the conveyor belt in the logistics centre. But: Especially as poster packaging they are still very popular and for many it is hard to imagine shipping posters without them, despite the obvious problems.

Unfilled, square paper tubes can be transported and stored in a space-saving way. They are simply folded, stacked and unfolded only when needed. The closure systems for the square paper tubes are also more varied than those for the round mailing tube. Both types are made of the same material and are therefore equally recyclable - with the exception of the plastic lid. Square mailing tubes are therefore more versatile.

You have decided? Great, at Verpacking.com you can buy your desired tube at a low price.