Anti-Static
Our anti-static products are designed to prevent and/or inhibit a build-up of static electric charges. 

Bale
If you choose to purchase by the bale, your product comes prepackaged for storage, shipping, or sale. It will be compressed tightly, and secured together by hoops, cords, or wire. 

Basis Weight
Basis weight is the weight in pounds of a ream (500 sheets) of paper that has been cut to a regular size, such as 24”x36”

Blind Shipping
Blind shipping is a term used to describe any shipping item that does not carry a logo or product description that identifies VP Supplies.  VP Supplies doesn’t ship its items blind.

BOL
The BOL refers to the Bill of Lading 

Break Strength
Break strength is the force that would be necessary to break or injure an item. It is typically listed in pounds per square inch, or pounds.

Calibrate
Calibrating allows you to adjust a scale so that weight is displayed accurately.  

Camera Ready Artwork
Camera-Ready artwork defines artwork ready for print. It must be to scale and should be a clear, crisp image. If it is a multi-colored image and is not being printed in black and white, it must be separated by color and ready for the printer.

Centerfold
A centerfold is shrink film that is folded in two before it is wound onto a role. When it is unfolded, the width of the shrink wrap is double what is originally listed.

Cert Stamp
A Cert Stamp must be embossed on the outside flap on the bottom of a corrugated box, according to packing regulations.

CFC’s (Chloro-Floro Carbons)
CFL’s are chemicals known to deplete the ozone, and are quite harmful to the enviornment. We do not use them in our peanuts or packing materials. They are main found in spray cans and refrigerants.

CIF USA
CIF refers to Cost Insurance Freight and is a term of sale. In general, it is the shipper holds responsibility for the necessary factors and shipping costs up to a given point of the sale.

Class 3 Rating
Class 3 rating refers to a product that is legal for trade, and is approved by the National Type Evaluation Program, or NTEP.

Convoluted Foam
Convoluted foam is a common material used to package delicate and breakable products. It is egg-carton shaped foam. 

Cornerboards
Cornerboards are edge protectors designed to protect corners and edges of more delicate furniture to avoid chipping or damage in transit. 

Dimensional Weight
Dimensional weight refers to a formula that is used to calculate the density of an item in order to determine airfreight charges.  Dimensional weight takes into account the volume and weight of a package in order to determine how much of an aircraft’s total load it will use up.  This information is then used to calculate a portion of the shipping charges.

DOT
The DOT is the Department of Transportation, which oversees all commercial shipping and freight. 

ECT
The ECT, or Edge Crust Test, determines how much force is necessary in order to crush an edge-combined board. It is a way to understand and predict the compression strength an assembled box has. 

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
ESD refers to when electrostatic charge is transferred between objects which have differing potential electrostatic charges. 

Electrostatic Shield
Electrostatic Shield is a barrier that does not allow the penetration of the electrostatic field.

ESD Sensitive Material
ESD sensitive material is extremely sensitive to any type of electrostatic discharge. 

Faraday Cage
A faraday cage is a conductive enclosure that is electrically continuous. It is designed in order to provide electrostatic shielding.

FDA
The FDA is an acronym for the Food & Drug Administration.

Flute
A flute is a wave shape pressed into the middle of a corrugated wall of any box. Most of VP Supplies boxes are C flute. Flute thickness: C flute 9/64", B flute 3/32", E flute 3/64", A flute 3/16".

FOL
The FOL refers to the type of box flaps that overlap completely. 

GA
GA refers to gauge, or thickness of a product.

Green Cross Certified
Green Cross Certified refers to a product that is environmentally safe, and has been approved through the Green Cross. 

H.M.I.S.
HMIS refers to the Hazardous Materials Identification System, which is used to mark what materials are hazardous in a clear and safe manner. 

HSC
HSC refers to a Half Slotted Container. This is a box that has flaps only on one side, leaving the other side completely open. HSC boxes typically have tops that complete the box. 

IATA
The IATA refers to the International Air Transport Association

IBM Style PLE
This refers to an open ended PLE. It does not close or seal the box. 

Internet Only
Any product marked “Internet only” is available only via the Internet.

Lignin
Lignin is a substance found in naturally in wood. It is the substance that strengthens and binds the fibers.

Micron
A micron is the gauge measured in the metric system. You may see them used interchangeably when looking at shipping supplies.

Mil
A mil is a unit of measure equal to 1/1000”, and describes how thick a product is.

MSDS
The MSDS refers to the Material Safety Data Sheet enclosed with a product.

NTEP
NTEP is the National Type Evaluation Program. This is testing to guarantee a scale produces proper results and is legal for trade.

Ohm
An ohm is a unit of electrical resistance.

Opaque
Opaque defines a product that is only penetrable by light and not any other type of radiant energy.

OPF
OPF is an Open Panel Folder, similar to that of an EZ fold mailer.

ORM-D
ORM-D refers to other regulated materials that have the classification of D.

ORM-D Air
ORM-D Air is an ORM-D product that will be shipped via air cargo.

Oscillated Strapping
Oscillated Strapping refers to a product that is wound like a thread on a spool. The layers overlap and are wound on top of each other and next to each other.

OSHA
OSHA refers to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Painted Strapping
Painted Strapping is a type of strapping that is painted to provide a higher resistance to corrosion and better performance in use.

PMS
PMS refers to the Pantone Matching System, which provides an ability to match color swatches universally within the United States. It is used by all printers to assure accuracy.

POD
POD refers to Proof of Delivery

Polyolefin
Polyolefin is a strong film that is 100% petrochemicals. It is waterproof and quite similar to materials such as Tyvek in its use and appearance.

Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a strong petrochemical film. It will not discolor or shrink even after use. It has more stretch to it than PVC. It is popular due to its strength.

 

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC is a strong film made of 100% petrochemical, that does not discolor or shrink even with use. It releases quietly and does not have much stretch to it. It is a stiff type of plastic.

Pre-Stretched Stretch Wrap
Pre-stretched stretch wrap is a kind of wrap that is pre-stretched to its best level of stretch.

Ream
A ream refers to a package of 500 sheets of paper.

Resistivity
Resistivity refers to how a material will conduct any type of current.

RH
RH refers to relative humidity.

Ribbon Wound Strapping
Ribbon wound strapping refers to strapping packaged in a roll with one layer on top of another.

ROHS
ROHS refers to the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances such the waste from electronic or electric equipment.

RSC
RSC is the industry term for a slotted container.

Skid
A skid is used for handling or loading goods and products.

Smart Pay
Smart Pay refers to government impact credit cards

Static Dissipative
Static Dissipative refers to any type of materials that can remove or dissipate any static charges.

Static Sensitive
Static Sensitive refers to any type of product that is particularly sensitive to static charges and may experience damage due to them.

Tare Indicator
A tare indicator is the unladen weight of an empty box.

Tensile Strength
A material’s tensile strength is its resistance to any force that would tend to tear or destroy it.

Typeset
Typeset refers to any custom printed item. The typeset is a procedure where the letters are set into the text in order for the writing to fit on a label in the correct fashion.

UVI
UVI refers to an Ultra-Violet Inhibitor.

VCI
VCI stands for Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor, which is designed to prevent corrosion and rust.

Way-Bill
The Way-Bill is the Proof of Delivery or the Bill of Lading.