Carton, Board & Paper Closing the quality gap in
carton & board: Why moisture control matters By Sarah Hammond, marketing manager, MoistTech
Q
uality in carton and paperboard converting is no longer something checked at the end of the line; it is a continuous variable that determines
how effi ciently material runs and how reliably fi nished packaging performs. Continuous moisture monitoring turns moisture from an intermittent quality check into a controllable process parameter that directly aff ects strength, print quality and waste across carton and board operations.
Moisture content infl uences nearly every critical property of paper and board. When sheets or webs are too wet, they are more prone to stretch, curl and dimensional instability, which can lead to misregistration, wrinkling and downstream web breaks. When they are too dry, converters can see brittleness, cracking at scores, poor fold performance and inconsistent adhesion during carton forming or laminating. In both directions, variability in moisture erodes converting effi ciency and threatens the performance and appearance standards that brand owners expect. Traditional approaches to moisture control rely on lab sampling or operator judgment at discrete points in the process. These checks
are slow and reactive by nature. By the time an off -spec condition is discovered, multiple rolls or stacks may already be compromised, forcing rework, downgrade, or scrap. Moving to continuous, inline moisture measurement allows converters and their paper suppliers to see trends in real time and make adjustments before those issues show up as waste at the printer, coater, or folder-gluer.
This is where modern near-infrared (NIR) sensing has changed the equation. Non-contact NIR sensors can be mounted over the moving web to deliver instant, continuous moisture readings without interrupting production. Systems such as the MoistTech IR3000 Series Moisture Sensor are designed for industrial environments and provide stable measurements even when basis weight, color, or surface characteristics change, reducing the need for frequent recalibration. Placing sensors at strategic locations, for example, near the end
of drying, before rewinding, or on the infeed to a converting or printing line, gives operators immediate feedback to optimise dryer settings, balance moisture profi les and protect critical downstream processes. For converters, the benefi ts extend beyond quality alone. Tighter moisture control helps stabilise run speeds, reduce unplanned stops, and lower the amount of hand inspection required on press or on the folder-gluer. Over time, the moisture data captured across grades, shifts and machines becomes a powerful resource for standardising best practices, supporting quality certifi cations, and collaborating more eff ectively with board suppliers. As the industry pushes toward higher effi ciency and more demanding performance specifi cations, continuous moisture monitoring is becoming a practical, high-impact tool for closing the quality gap in carton, board and paper converting.
14
February 2026
www.convertermag.com
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