Don’t Get Crushed by the Details

In the paper and board world, crush isn’t just a test result—it’s a make-or-break performance factor. At TAPPICon® 2026, April 26-29 in Columbus, Ohio, one standout presentation takes a fresh look at how we evaluate crush resistance and challenges long-held assumptions that may be, quite literally, crushing performance insight.

During the Paper & Board Fundamentals of Fiber Development and Strength Characterization session on Tuesday from 8:00–10:00 a.m., Sarah Dumont of Smurfit Westrock will present “Making Medium That Matters – An Evaluation of Crush Resistance Including the s-Test.” Her work dives into how containerboard medium behaves under compression—and why focusing solely on ultimate failure may be missing what really matters.

Crushing Old Assumptions
Containerboard medium plays a critical role in combined board, maintaining thickness and providing compression strength. When thickness is lost, structural integrity suffers, leading to underperformance during converting and end use. Traditionally, the industry has relied on the Corrugated Medium Test (CMT) at the mill and the Flat Crush Test (FCT) at the box plant to evaluate crush resistance. Both tests measure maximum force at complete flute failure—but that point occurs well beyond the elastic limit of the medium.

Dumont’s presentation questions the effectiveness of this approach. CMT, in particular, is a manual and time-dependent test that can introduce operator variability. In contrast, the s-test offers a streamlined, automatable alternative that reduces human influence and focuses on the elastic range of deformation—where meaningful performance differences actually emerge. Dumont stresses that emphasizing elasticity rather than ultimate failure, manufacturers can better preserve board integrity and optimize medium grades for real world applications.

Paper & Board: In-depth Learning and Insight
Dumont’s presentation is just one highlight in a robust Paper & Board track featuring multiple presentations delivered within eight key sessions, including:

  • Mill Automation – Dewatering and Moisture Measurement
  • Fundamentals of Fiber Development and Strength Characterization
  • Innovations in Barrier Coatings for Molded Fiber
  • Advanced Additives and Functional Fiber Technologies
  • Deciding What’s Best: The Metrics You Should Strive For
  • Materials and Innovations Driving Molded Fiber
  • Optimizing Paper Machine Performance with Advanced Wet-End Solutions
  • Success Stories from Operating Mills

Together, these sessions deliver both foundational knowledge and forward-looking insight for paper and board professionals.

Papermaker’s Roundtable
Attendees can also be part of the Papermaker’s Roundtable on Monday from 1pm – 3pm. A decades-old tradition of the Papermaker’s Committee—now the Paper Technology and Operations Committee—this open forum encourages candid peer-to-peer discussion. In combination with the PIMA Superintendent Roundtable, sponsored by Couch Pit University, the session offers a rare opportunity to share experiences, discuss challenges, and crowdsource solutions to improve mill efficiency. The floor is open, questions are encouraged, and the session is open to all attendees.

Mill Master Class
Rounding out the Paper & Board experience is the Mill Masterclass, Monday from 4pm-5:30pm, which brings together practical mill experience, foundational project economics, and proven improvement ideas to help mills do more with limited resources. The session features lessons learned by veteran papermakers, insights on transferring that knowledge to the next generation, and straightforward, back-of-the-envelope methods for evaluating and managing capital projects.

With an emphasis on practical decision-making and proven tools, the Mill Master Class highlights time-tested cost-reduction projects that have delivered real results in operating mills. Attendees will leave with ideas they can apply immediately—whether they work in operations, engineering, or technical support.

Early Bird Registration
Be part of the event that unites the forest products industry and powers its future. Register now and take advantage of the early bird discount.

For more program details, visit TAPPICon.org.