Flap (Falda)
Refers to the top and bottom flaps of American-style boxes (RSC – Regular Slotted Container) that allow the box to be closed with adhesive tape or staples. Flaps can be "meeting", "overlapping", "partially overlapping", or "missing top", depending on the intended use or transportation method.
FEFCO
A European federation based in Brussels that has standardized the various types of cardboard packaging using a system of simple, internationally understandable symbols, eliminating the need for lengthy and complex descriptions.
Fiber (Fibra)
Paper and cardboard are made of countless fibers, mostly derived from wood but also from flax, hemp, jute, and bamboo. Recycled paper uses fibers recovered from waste, which highlights the importance of recycling (see CONAI and COMIECO). Depending on the type and extraction method, fiber lengths vary from 1 to 4 mm and are aligned in one direction, which defines the "grain direction".
Cutting Rule (Filetto di cordone, di taglio, di mezzo taglio, di strappo)
A steel element embedded in the die, shaped and fixed into the wood, that creates the cuts, creases, perforations, and partial cuts needed to shape packaging during die-cutting.
Windowing (Finestratura)
A die-cut opening in packaging, often covered with a glued-in plastic film, that allows visibility of the product inside.
Flocculants (Flocculanti)
Used for treating wastewater from industrial washing. They promote sedimentation and separation of impurities, allowing water to be recycled continuously until fully exhausted, at which point it becomes sludge ready for disposal.
Flotation (Flottazione)
A process where foam saturated with contaminants or specific components like ink or particles (lighter than water or fiber) rises to the surface. These foam bubbles attract contaminants through chemical affinity and bring them to the surface, where they are removed via suction or other physical methods. (See flotation de-inking, Scuola Grafica San Zeno.)
Fluting
A type of paper made entirely from recycled pulp, suitable for corrugating or being used as a liner sheet between two corrugated layers (see also: Corrugated board).
Machine Sheet (Foglio macchina)
Refers to the production sheet from printing to the die-cutter output. From that point on, when individual packaging pieces are separated, they are referred to by their specific packaging name.
Background / Background Color (Fondo - Fondino)
Refers to the background color of a printed graphic.
Lock-Bottom / 1-2-3-4 Bottom (Fondo a incastro / 1-2-3-4)
A manual lock-in bottom closure system involving the interlocking of four flaps in a predetermined sequence.
Crash Lock Bottom (Fondo a scatto incollato)
A pre-glued bottom that closes automatically with a simple twisting motion of the box.
Format (Formato)
See "Dimensions".
Euro Slot (Foro europeo)
A die-cut hole commonly used for hanging products on display hooks in retail environments.
Router (Fresa)
A tool attached to a cutting plotter, equipped with a rotating blade that can shape nearly any material in three dimensions.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
A data transmission protocol that uses the internet. It is a system for sharing data, allowing large files to be uploaded or downloaded.
Out of Register (Fuori registro)
Refers to the misalignment of color layers in multicolor printing, or any other deviation in color or text alignment.
Flat or Rotary Die (Fustella piana o rotativa)
A tool made from a special wooden base fitted with cutting and creasing rules. Mounted on a die-cutting machine, it cuts, creases, and compresses machine sheets into packaging shapes. The design is created from a CAD file, laser-cut into the wood, and manually filled with steel or brass rules. Dies may be flat (mounted on a flat wooden base) or rotary (mounted on a cylindrical base for rotating die-cutting machines).
Pilot Die (Fustella pilota)
A die with a single layout, used in specific cases as a prototype to check before producing the final die.
Die-Cutter Machine (Fustellatrice)
An automatic, semi-automatic, or manual machine designed to operate with dies. It can be flat or rotary, depending on the materials being processed. It may include a waste stripper and different sheet-feeding systems. The choice of equipment is determined by the production strategy of the packaging company.
