950 BC
The ancient Egyptians produced the first writing material by pasting together thin layers of plant stems. |
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100 BC
The Chinese created the first authentic paper from bamboo and mulberry fibers. |
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1400s AD
Paper mills appeared in Spain, Italy, Germany and France. |
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1690
The first sheet paper mill in North America was built near Philadelphia. |
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1767
England wanted to regain its loss of colonial paper exports. They imposed the Stamp Act, which included a tax on all paper made in the colonies. Many consider this fuel for the American Revolution. |
1803
The first continuous papermaking machine was patented. |
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1854
In England, the first pulp from wood was manufactured. |
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1856
The first known corrugated material was patented for sweatband lining in tall hats of Victorian Englishmen. |
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1871
Unlined corrugated first appeared as a packaging material for glass and kerosene lamp chimneys. |
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1874
A liner was added to one side of the corrugated material to prevent the flutes from stretching. |
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1894
Corrugated was slotted and cut to make the first boxes. Wells Fargo began using corrugated boxes for small freight shipments. |
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1903
Corrugated was first approved as a valid shipping material and was used to ship cereals. |
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1909
Rubber printing plates were developed which allowed for greater design creativity. |
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1914
Tariffs imposed on corrugated shipping containers were ruled discriminatory. |
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1957
Flexographic printing virtually replaced letterpress and oil-based ink. |
1960s
The flexo folder-gluer was invented. |
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Early 1980s
Preprinted linerboard emerged. |
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Late 1980s
New developments in the anilox roll, plate and press design drove the industry into short-run, high-graphic products. |
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1991
The edge crush test was added to Item 222 and Rule 41 as an alternative to burst strength and basis weight, allowing the manufacture of lighter weight liners. |