Paper rolls are cylindrical shaped rolls made of paper material that are commonly used for various purposes like printing, packaging, cleaning, arts and crafts, etc. They come in different sizes, widths, lengths and quality of paper based on their intended application. Let’s take a closer look at what paper rolls are, their different types, sizes, uses, manufacturing process and more.
What is Paper?
Before we understand paper rolls, it’s important to know what paper is. Paper is a thin sheet material that is produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other plant sources in water. The paper pulp or slurry is spread on a mesh wire screen through which water drains out, leaving behind a wet mat of interlocked fibres. Pressing and drying gives the desired smooth paper sheet. Paper is incredibly versatile and available in various textures, thicknesses, absorbencies and strengths for different uses.
Types of Paper Rolls
Paper rolls are available in different paper types, sizes and qualities as per the application they are meant for. Some common paper rolls include:
Newsprint Rolls
Newsprint rolls are made using low-cost, low-quality wood pulp and recycled paper fibres. They have high absorbency but lower strength. Common uses include newspapers, posters, inexpensive catalogs and guides.
Kraft Paper Rolls
Kraft paper rolls are made using chemical pulp of wood fibres and have high strength and durability but coarse texture. They are used for packaging boxes, bags, envelopes and other industrial wrappings.
Thermal Paper Rolls
Thermal paper rolls have a chemical coating that allows inkless printing with heat. They are used in fax machines, POS receipts, calculators and other devices. But they are not recyclable.
Tissue Paper Rolls
Tissue paper rolls are ultra-thin, lightweight and disposable paper for sanitary uses like toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, facial tissue, etc. They have low wet strength.
Butcher Paper Rolls
Butcher paper rolls are heavy, absorbent and plain white kraft papers commonly used as wrapping paper in meat departments and food processing units. They provide an excellent work surface for arts and crafts too.
Tracing Paper Rolls
Tracing paper rolls are translucent, durable papers that allow marking designs to be traced off easily. They are used for architectural and engineering drawings.
Printer Paper Rolls
Printer paper rolls like copy paper are smooth, bright white paper optimized for printing documents, brochures, manuals, reports etc. from office printers, digital presses and production printers.
Specialty Paper Rolls
This includes wax paper, vellum, cardstock, photographic paper, medical paper and other special papers in roll form tailored for particular uses.
Sizes of Paper Rolls
Paper rolls come in a range of standard widths, diameters and length options to suit different applications.
Widths
Some common paper roll widths are:
- 1.5 inches
- 3 inches
- 6 inches
- 12 inches
- 24 inches
- 30 inches
- 36 inches
Diameters
Standard paper roll diameters are:
- 3 inches
- 6 inches
- 8 inches
- 12 inches
Lengths
Paper rolls can range from 50 feet to several thousand feet in length depending on the product and intended use.
Uses of Paper Rolls
Paper rolls have become indispensable items with a wide range of applications including:
Printing and Publishing
Newsprint, thermal paper and copy paper rolls are vital for printing newspapers, books, magazines, labels, marketing materials and more.
Packaging and Wrapping
Kraft paper rolls are ideal for packaging products for shipping and storage. Wax paper rolls are used for wrapping perishable foods.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Tissue paper rolls like toilet paper, paper towels, napkins and wipes are necessities for hygiene and cleaning in households as well as commercial establishments.
Medical and Health Care
Medical grade paper rolls are used by doctors, dentists and hospitals for examining tables, medical equipment, sterilization wraps, etc.
Retail and Hospitality
Thermal paper rolls are indispensable for cash registers, ATMs, billing systems and other transaction processes in retail stores, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Art and Crafts
Students, artists, hobbyists and craftmakers rely on drawing paper, sketching paper, tracing paper, butcher paper and kraft paper rolls for their projects.
Engineering and Architecture
Large format tracing paper rolls are vital for architects, engineers, designers and draftsmen for making technical drawings of buildings, machines, electronics and more.
Industrial Manufacturing
Paper rolls serve various packaging, cleaning, wiping and hygiene needs in factories, processing units and other industrial facilities.
Manufacturing Process
Paper rolls are produced in bulk using large, high-speed automated machines. Here is a simplified overview of the paper roll manufacturing process:
Raw Material Preparation
The raw materials like wood chips, recycled paper, rags, straw, bamboo etc. are pulped and refined to make a diluted paper stock or furnish.
Sheet Formation
The diluted paper stock is flowed onto a fast moving meshed wire screen that collects the fibres and drains out water to form a continuous wet paper sheet.
Pressing and Drying
The wet paper sheet passes through press rollers to squeeze out water and then over heated cylinders to evaporate remaining moisture and achieve 90-95% dryness.
Finishing
The paper may undergo processes like calendering and coating to obtain desired smoothness, glaze, printability, etc.
Winding
The continuous paper sheet is tightly wound onto a central core or mandrel to produce large paper rolls.
Slitting and Rewinding
The master rolls are slit and rewound into smaller rolls of desired widths and diameters.
Packaging and Shipping
The finished paper rolls are wrapped, labelled and packaged for storage and transportation to customers.
Buying Tips
Here are some useful tips for buying quality paper rolls:
- Choose rolls of appropriate dimensions for your requirements
- Select paper substance/thickness suitable for the application
- Consider paper quality based on usage – premium, standard or economical
- Buy from reputable paper merchants and manufacturers
- Check detailed product specifications before ordering
- Buy in bulk for cost savings on large volume use
- Ensure proper storage conditions to prevent damage
Conclusion
Paper rolls are an indispensable, versatile commodity used extensively in homes, offices, schools, hospitals and industrial facilities worldwide. They come in a wide array of types, sizes, grades and qualities to suit every possible application. When buying paper rolls, carefully consider key criteria like dimensions, paper substance, usage, quantity, storage, budget and supplier reputation. This will help obtain rolls that serve your specific requirements in an optimal and cost-effective manner.
