What is SBS Board?
SBS (Solid Bleached Sulphate) board is a 100% virgin-fibre, bleached chemical pulp board known for its whiteness, purity, and surface smoothness. Because it is made from premium wood pulp and coated with high-quality pigments, SBS delivers the best printing performance among all paperboard grades. This is why it is widely used for high-value and high-hygiene products, from chocolates to medicines to premium cosmetics.
Specialty of SBS Board
1. Superior Printability
SBS board offers an ultra-smooth surface, high brightness, and excellent ink holdout. It supports: Offset printing, Digital printing, UV printing, Hot foil stamping, Embossing & debossing Graphics and colours appear vibrant, making it ideal for premium packaging.
2. High Stiffness and Strength
Compared to recycled or mixed fibre boards, SBS board maintains exceptional stiffness even at lower GSM. This allows lightweight packaging without compromising durability.
3. Excellent Hygiene & Purity SBS is made from virgin chemical pulp, Ensuring: Low odour, No contamination, High food safety, Low migration It is commonly used for pharma and food packaging due to its clean, safe composition.
4. Smooth Folding and Creasing Due to its uniform fiber structure, SBS folds well without cracking—perfect for detailed carton designs and complex die-cuts.
5. Consistency and Stability Whether it is brightness, coating quality, or caliper, SBS maintains stable quality across batches, offering reliability to printers and brand owners.
Technical Specifications of SBS Board
Below are common technical ranges for SBS grades: 1. GSM Range 180 GSM to 450 GSM 2. Thickness (Caliper) 0.25 mm to 0.65 mm 3. Brightness 92% to 98% ISO 4. Coating Options a) C1S (Coated One Side) – for folding cartons b) C2S (Coated Two Sides) – for covers, cards & premium printing 5. Surface Properties High smoothness (PPS < 1.5), Excellent gloss, High opacity 6. Physical Properties High stiffness (Taber / Gurley values), Good tensile & bursting strength, Ideal moisture content: 5–7%
These characteristics make SBS one of the most consistent and high-performance paperboard materials available globally.
Uses of SBS Board
SBS board is versatile and widely used in: 1. Food & Beverage Packaging, Chocolate boxes, Ice-cream cups, Paper plates, Confectionery cartons, Liquid packaging (PE-coated SBS) 2. Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare, Tablet, capsule & syrup cartons, Medical device packaging, Blister packaging (SBS + foil) 3. Cosmetics & Personal Care, Perfume boxes, Premium soap cartons, Skincare and beauty product packaging 4. Printing & Graphics, Book covers, Greeting cards, High-end brochures, Tags and labels 5. Luxury & Premium Packaging, Gift boxes, Electronics cartons, Foil-laminated & Met-PET cartons
“SBS is preferred wherever premium appearance and safe contact are required.”
Top SBS Board Suppliers in India
Indian Manufacturers 1. ITC Ltd. – Brand Name: Safire Graphic, Cyber XLP (SBS Equivalent) 2. JK Paper – Brand Name: JK Ultima. 3. Century Pulp & Paper –Brand Name: Omega Plus. 4. Emami Paper & Board –Brand Name: Glam kote.
Major Imported SBS Brands (Available in India) 1. APP Indonesia – Enova / Sinar Perdana 2. Stora Enso – Ensocoat, Performa White 3. WestRock USA – Tango SBS 4. Metsä Board – Husum SBS 5. International Paper – Everest SBS 6. Ningbo Asia Pulp & Paper – High-brightness SBS
Conclusion
SBS board stands out as one of the most premium and versatile paperboard materials available today. Its unmatched printability, purity, stiffness, and hygiene make it the preferred choice for pharma, food, cosmetics, luxury packaging, and high-end print applications.