Folder Gluer Industry Glossary

At MK Masterwork, we engineer folder gluers for uncompromising precision, speed, and intelligent control.

This glossary consolidates the core terminology of modern folding-gluing—from carton styles and converting modules to automation and quality assurance—so engineers, converters, and brand owners share a common, actionable language for performance at scale.

Term	Definition
Folder Gluer	A converting machine that folds, glues, and delivers cartons from pre-creased blanks.
Carton Blank	Die-cut, creased board ready for folding and gluing.
Folding Section	Modules that pre-break and fold panels along crease lines.
Pre-Breaking	Opening creases (1st/3rd) to stabilize folding.
Crash Lock Bottom (CLB)	Bottom style formed by pre-glued flaps that interlock on erection.
Auto-Lock Bottom	Synonym for crash lock bottom.
Straight Line Carton	Carton with side seam gluing only.
4-Corner Carton	Carton with pre-formed base using inner frames; requires backfold device.
6-Corner Carton	Advanced carton with two frames; requires timed backfold units.
Mini Carton	Small-format carton requiring high-precision guides.
E-Commerce Mailer	Folded/locked shipper style with tear strip or peel-&-seal.
Corrugated (E/F/N Flute)	Micro-flute board grades for high-speed folding.
Folding Boxboard (FBB)	Multi-layer board used in premium packaging.
SBS / Ivory Board	Solid bleached sulfate board with smooth surface.
Kraft Back / Duplex	Coated top board with recycled back.
Crease (Score) Line	Compressed channel for controlled folding.
Score-to-Cut Register	Alignment between creases and die-cut edges.
Feeder	Infeed section separating and accelerating blanks.
Friction Feeder	Belt-based single-sheet feeder.
Vacuum Feeder	Suction assist for coated or slippery stock.
Side Lay (Register)	Lateral alignment system before folding.
Pre-Fold Device	Tool for opening/conditioning specific panels.
Backfold Unit	Mechanism reversing panels for corner styles.
Crash-Lock Device	Timed fingers forming auto-lock bases.
Plough (Fold Guide)	Adjustable rails forming panel folds.
Belt Carrier	Drive belts conveying blanks through modules.
Rail Adjuster	Handwheel or servo-controlled guides.
Glue System	Hot-melt or cold glue system with pattern control.
Hot-Melt Adhesive (HMA)	Thermoplastic glue applied molten; fast set.
Cold Glue (PVA)	Water-based adhesive with longer open time.
Glue Pot / Melter	Tank and pump for conditioning hot-melt.
Glue Wheel / Nozzle	Applicators for patterned glue application.
Pattern Controller	System timing bead/dot/line glue patterns.
Barcode Recipe (Job Recall)	Stored parameters for quick setup.
Vision Glue Detection	Camera inspection of glue presence.
UV/Fluorescent Glue Check	UV sensors detecting tracer dyes in glue.
All-Fold Verification	Sensors confirming all folds are achieved.
Nip Roller (Compression Roller)	Presses glued seams for bonding.
Compression Section	Long belt zone allowing adhesive setting.
Delivery (Counter-Ejector)	Outfeed that counts and stacks batches.
Shingle Delivery	Overlapped stream for gentle stacking.
Squaring Device	Aligns carton edges for straight stacks.
Eject Gate (Reject)	Diverts defective cartons.
Fish-Tailing	Edge fan-out indicating poor squareness.
Open Seam	Incomplete bonding at side seam.
Glue Squeeze-Out	Excess glue visible at seam edges.
Wrinkling	Surface buckling from incorrect pressure.
Skew	Angular misalignment during feeding.
Jam Detection	Stops machine upon obstruction.
Belt Pressure Setting	Adjusts belt squeeze for transport stability.
Back Pressure (Feeder)	Rear support aiding consistent separation.
Make-Ready	Setup process to reach target quality.
Changeover (SMED)	Fast tooling to reduce downtime.
Center Distance	Gap between carrier belts/rails.
Trombone Section	Adjustable conveyor for timing control.
Memory Stops	Repeatable settings for format recall.
Servo Register	Closed-loop servo positioning system.
HMI (Human-Machine Interface)	Touchscreen for setup and diagnostics.
PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)	Controls I/O, timing, and safety.
Encoder	Motion reference for glue/vision timing.
Edge Guide (EPC)	Lateral blank guidance to maintain register.
Vacuum Transfer	Vacuum belts stabilizing blanks at speed.
Noise Abatement Hood	Enclosure reducing noise and dust.
Light Curtain	Presence-sensing safety device.
Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO)	Energy-isolation for maintenance safety.
Tear Tape / Rippa Tape	Easy-open tear strip applied inline.
Peel-&-Seal (P&S)	Pressure-sensitive tape for mailers.
Data Matrix / QR Code	Identifier for traceability and QA.
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)	Availability × Performance × Quality metric.
UPM/UPH	Units per minute/hour throughput.
MTBF / MTTR	Mean time between failures / to repair.
Statistical Sampling (AQL)	Acceptance quality limit inspection.
Pull Test (Bond Strength)	Mechanical seam adhesion test.
Carton Squareness	Deviation from 90° affecting packing.
Flatness (Warp)	Blank planarity affecting feeding.
Glue Open Time	Time window for wet bonding.
Setting Time	Time to reach handling strength.
Stringing	Filaments of hot-melt upon cutoff.
Bridging	Adhesive spanning without wetting both sides.
Recipe Management	Centralized job parameter storage.

Packaging performance relies on repeatable folding accuracy, clean adhesion, and intelligent inspection.

By aligning on this common vocabulary, your teams can set up faster, run steadier, and verify quality with confidence—backed by MK Masterwork engineering across every folder gluer solution.

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