Chuck asks,
How can we, as a sheet buyer, communicate to our sheet suppliers what we mean by ‘heavy scoring’. Is there a TAPPI industry standard for how much score pressure should be applied at the corrugator on the substrate…based on the flute configuration and weight of combined board? Does the corrugator have gages that indicate how much scoring pressure is being applied to the combined sheet at the slitter/scorer?
We have multiple vendors, we find that we’re having difficulty getting some of the suppliers to understand what we mean by ‘heavy scoring’. Hence my questions. We need a consistent means to communicate to our suppliers what we require when we ask for ‘heavy scoring’.
Every sheet plant must set quality and quantifiable specifications with their sheet suppliers. In regards to this latter point those measurable and reportable properties should be ECT, Flat Crush, caliper, four point bending, board performance index, and score bending. In a Corrugated Today article written by Dick Target, he discusses testing many aspects of corrugated board including score bending. (Raising Manufacturing Standards – Corrugated Today, March/April 2012, Page 22). You can and should set very specific values with your sheet supplier and establish a numerical target verses the very subjective term, “Heavy Scoring.”
Score bend testers available from the normal commercial testing machine manufacturers can be rather pricey. You may want order one from Dick Target, start to set standards for your sheets and hold your supplies accountable!
-Ralph
askralph 
July 18, 2014 at 4:16 pm
“Heavy/deep” is too subjective. Modern dry ends are capable of multiple score depths which can be standardized. After determining an acceptable score depth, the gap can be noted and repeated on each set up. Thereafter it can be designated on the sheet order with complete confidence of repeatability. This can be designated on EDI ordering by use of a unique score description based on profile and exact depth (score gap).