How glue kitchens work and their impact on corrugated board production.
In corrugated cardboard manufacturing, one of the most critical but often underestimated elements is the adhesive preparation system, commonly known as the glue kitchen.
This component plays a key role in the final product quality and the corrugator’s efficiency. Understanding how glue kitchens work and their direct impact on production is essential for achieving a stable, clean, and cost-effective process.
What is a glue kitchen?
A glue kitchen is an industrial system designed to dose and prepare starch-based adhesives used to bond paper layers in corrugated board. This adhesive must meet specific parameters of viscosity, temperature, and preparation time.
Modern kitchens, such as modular ones, allow precise dosing, thermal control, and automation—resulting in repeatability and reduced error.
At Waraktecnic, our 20 years of experience with starches in corrugators has enabled us to design, manufacture, and install high-performance glue kitchens.
Function of glue kitchens
They prepare a homogeneous mix of starch (corn or potato), water, and chemical additives like borax or caustic soda. The mixture must be kept in optimal conditions for real-time use by the corrugator.
Typical components:
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Mixing and cooking tanks.
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Dosing pumps.
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Heat exchangers.
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Agitation and control systems.
Many modern kitchens are integrated with the corrugator control system.
Impact of glue on corrugator efficiency
Poorly prepared glue can lead to:
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Insufficient or excessive bonding.
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Collapsed fluting.
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Increased energy consumption.
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Downtime due to clogs or cleaning.
Well-designed automated kitchens ensure:
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Stable production lines.
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Reduced waste.
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Increased corrugator speed.
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Improved board quality, especially with low basis weights or recycled paper.
Modular kitchens: efficiency and flexibility
Waraktecnic offers modular kitchens scalable to plant growth. These are ready for Industry 4.0 integration with real-time monitoring, batch traceability, and automatic recipe adjustment.
