2.2 The Right Tension

These tension guidelines have been handed down and shared across many companies.

To find the recommended tension for your product, multiple the value in the table by the thickness or weight of your product.

Example 1:

Recommended polyethylene tension is 2 N/m/micron.
If your product is 75 micron PE, tension target is (2 N/m/micron)(75 microns) = 150 N/m
If your polyethylene is 1.5m wide, your target tension is (150N/m)(1.5m) = 225 N = 22.5 kgf

Recommended polyethylene tension is 0.3 pli/mil.
If your product is 3 mil PE, tension target is (0.3 pli/mil)(3 mil) = 0.9 pli
If your polyethylene is 60 inches wide, your target tension is (0.9 pli)(60 in.) = 54 lbs

Example 2:

Recommended paperboard tension is 4 N/m/gsm.
If your product is 80 gms, tension target is (4 N/m/gsm)(80 gsm) = 320 N/m
If your paperboard 2m wide, your target tension is (320N/m)(2m) = 640 N = 64 kgf

Recommended paper tension is 0.04 pli/(lbs/ream).
If your product is 50 lbs/ream, tension target is (0.04 pli/lbs/ream)(50 mil) = 2.0 pli
If your polyethylene is 60 inches wide, your target tension is (2.0 pli)(60 in.) = 120 lbs