Also known as: Corrugated Fibre Board Box, CFB Carton, CFB, Corrugated Fibreboard
CFB stands for corrugated fibre board — paperboard made from one or more fluted mediums glued between flat liners. A CFB box is therefore simply a corrugated box; the abbreviation is common in Indian tenders, purchase orders and GST invoices under HSN 4819. Ply count (3, 5 or 7), flute profile and paper grade define its strength.
In India the term CFB appears wherever packaging is bought formally rather than described: government and PSU tenders ("supply of 5-ply CFB boxes"), pharma and FMCG purchase orders, and tax documents, because corrugated cartons fall under HSN 4819 (cartons, boxes and cases of corrugated paper or paperboard). Engineers and converters say "corrugated box" or simply "carton"; procurement says CFB. They are the same product, and the specification language is identical.
The board is made on a corrugator. Fluting medium is steam-heated and pressed between corrugating rolls at roughly 170–190 °C to form the wave, then bonded with starch adhesive to one liner on the single-facer. The double-backer glues the second liner on, producing 3-ply board. Adding another single-face web before the double-backer gives 5-ply; two more give 7-ply. The board is cut into sheets, then printed, slotted or die-cut, and glued or stitched into boxes on separate converting machines.
A CFB specification is written layer by layer. A typical Indian 3-ply line reads 150/120/150 GSM at 22 BF, B or C flute, bursting strength about 6.5–7 kg/cm²; a 5-ply export carton reads 180/120/150/120/180, BC flute, about 11–12 kg/cm². The liners set burst and print quality, the medium and flute set edge crush and stacking strength. IS 2771 (Part 1) is the Indian specification for corrugated fibreboard boxes and defines the grades and test requirements converters certify against.
CFB is often confused with three other paper materials. Cardboard is a loose everyday word with no technical meaning. Paperboard is any thick paper above about 200 GSM. Duplex board is a solid, two-layer coated board of 250–450 GSM used for mono cartons, medicine packs and retail boxes; it has no flutes and no stacking strength to speak of. Only CFB has a fluted core, which is what gives a 600 g/m² board the compression strength of solid board several times heavier.
When reading a CFB quotation, check five items: internal dimensions in mm (length × width × height), ply and flute, GSM and BF per layer, board bursting strength and, for stacked or exported loads, ECT or box compression value. For monsoon storage or sea freight via Mundra or Kandla, add a Cobb value for the outer liner. A quote that lists only "5-ply, 16 BS" leaves the paper grades open, and two converters can meet that number with very different boards.
CFB Box at a glance
| Full form | Corrugated Fibre Board (box) |
|---|---|
| HSN code | 4819 — cartons, boxes and cases of corrugated paper |
| Construction | Fluted medium glued between flat liners on a corrugator |
| Ply options | 3-ply (single wall), 5-ply (double wall), 7-ply (triple wall) |
| Common flutes in India | B and C for 3-ply; BC for 5-ply; E for retail |
| Typical liners | 120–180 GSM kraft and semi-kraft, 16–35 BF |
| Indian standard | IS 2771 (Part 1) — corrugated fibreboard boxes |
| Not the same as | Duplex board, paperboard, solid board (no flutes) |
Common questions
What is the full form of CFB in packaging?
CFB is corrugated fibre board. A CFB box, CFB carton and corrugated box are the same thing: a box made from board with a fluted paper core between flat liners. The abbreviation is mainly used in Indian tenders, purchase orders and invoices.
What is the difference between a CFB box and a duplex box?
A CFB box has a fluted core, so it carries stacking load and cushions impact; it is the outer shipper. A duplex box is folded from solid coated board of 250–450 GSM, prints beautifully and is used as the retail or mono carton inside the shipper. Duplex has almost no compression strength.
How do I specify a CFB box in a tender or purchase order?
State internal dimensions in mm, ply and flute, GSM and BF of each paper layer, minimum board bursting strength in kg/cm², printing and closure. For stacked or exported goods add an ECT or BCT requirement and, for humid routes, a Cobb 60 limit on the outer liner. Reference IS 2771 (Part 1).
Which ply of CFB box do I need?
3-ply covers goods up to about 10 kg on short domestic journeys. 5-ply handles roughly 10–25 kg, stacks far better and is the standard export construction. 7-ply carries 25–50 kg and above and often replaces wooden crates for machinery parts. Weight, stack height and journey length decide, not just weight alone.
Need Custom Corrugated Boxes for your product?
We manufacture custom corrugated boxes at our Rajkot unit and dispatch across India. Send the product, size or weight and monthly quantity and we specify and quote within one working day.
Or read the full specification: Custom Corrugated Boxes