What does a converter check before qualifying a paper grade?
They check grammage and its tolerance, the strength and surface properties that govern runnability on their machine, and the certification for their market. Paper is qualified on how it runs, so a grade that breaks on a press is worthless whatever the specification says.
A printer or converter is trialling a grade that has to run at full speed without breaks.
Reviewed 4 August 2026
Scope and specifications
- Grade and application
- Printing, packaging, tissue and specialty grades differ entirely.
- Grammage and its tolerance
- Consistency matters more than the nominal value.
- Caliper and bulk
- Determines stiffness and pack behaviour.
- Strength properties
- Tensile, burst and tear govern runnability.
- Surface properties
- Smoothness, porosity and coating affect print quality.
- Moisture content
- A common cause of runnability problems.
- Reel dimensions and sheet sizes
- Must match the converting equipment.
Documents buyers may need
| Document | What it proves | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of AnalysisAsked at: every delivery | Measured properties for the reel or batch supplied | Per shipment |
| Technical datasheetAsked at: grade selection | Grade properties with the test methods named | Publish it |
| Runnability and consistency dataAsked at: qualification — where grades actually fail | Property variation across and between reels | Name it, share on request |
| Chain of custody certificationAsked at: brand and retail customers | Responsible fibre sourcing, with the scheme named | Publish it |
| Food contact complianceAsked at: food packaging | Suitability where the paper contacts food | Name it, share on request |
| Recycled content statementAsked at: sustainability requirements | Substantiated recycled fibre content | Publish it |
| Reel specificationAsked at: converting planning | Diameter, core, splices and winding quality | Publish it |
Details for a useful enquiry
- Grade and grammage required
- The core specification.
- Converting process and machine
- Determines the runnability requirements.
- Reel or sheet dimensions
- Must match the equipment.
- Annual volume and delivery pattern
- Paper is bought on contract.
- Certification required
- Chain of custody and food contact are common.
- Trial timing
- Machine time for trials must be booked.
Questions suppliers ask
Why does variation data matter more than the datasheet?
Because a converter's cost comes from breaks and stops, which are caused by variation rather than by the nominal value. Publishing the spread of properties, and the reel quality and splice policy, addresses the risk that actually decides whether your grade is qualified.
What makes a paper trial succeed?
Preparation. Sending the grade with full property data, reel specification and a technical contact who understands the converting process turns a trial into a qualification. Sending a reel with a datasheet leaves the converter to diagnose problems alone, and they will not repeat it.
Is recycled content a commercial advantage yet?
It is becoming a requirement in packaging supplied to major brands, with specified percentages. Publishing substantiated content, with the basis, is increasingly a condition of being considered rather than a differentiator.
Check which documents and standards your buyer needs; requirements vary by market, customer and contract.
Plact Research. Plact's editorial desk for buyer-evidence research. Industry standards, documents and buyer questions are researched and drafted with Plact's AI tools, then reviewed by Praveen Kavuri before publication. Every claim cites the standard, regulation or public source it rests on.
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