Two people looking to buy the same product will usually use two different words. One says "paper tube", another says "core". A third asks for a "spiral tube". All three are looking for the same thing.
This article gathers the names used across the industry and the real differences between them.
Tube
The most common name. It describes the cylindrical paperboard body onto which yarn, fabric, foil or film is wound.
Paper tube and paperboard tube describe the same product. Both are made by spirally winding and bonding kraft paper; there is no difference in material, only in preference of wording.
Core
Core is the standard term in international trade. It emphasises the central part around which something is wound.
When speaking with a foreign supplier, "paper core" or "core tube" is the safest wording.
Spiral tube
This describes the manufacturing method. Strips of kraft paper are wound at an angle around a mandrel and bonded with adhesive. Viewed in cross-section, the winding marks appear as a spiral.
The alternative method is convolute (parallel) winding, where the paper strip is wound parallel to the mandrel. The spiral method is more widespread because it suits continuous production.
Mandrel tube
The term emphasises the part that fits over the winding spindle. In industry it is used when referring specifically to the component that mounts on the machine.
Bobbin and package
Careful: in textile usage, package or bobbin usually refers to the full item — the tube plus the yarn on it. When someone says "package weight" they mean the total weight including the wound yarn, not the weight of the tube itself.
When ordering, saying "empty tube" avoids confusion.
Names by application
The product is also named after where it is used:
- Textile tube — the general heading
- Yarn tube — for winding yarn
- Fabric tube — for fabric rolls, larger in diameter and length
- Carpet yarn tube — for carpet yarn, with a thicker wall
- Packaging tube — for stretch film, foil and similar products
These are not different products but the same product in different dimensions and strengths.
Which word should you use when ordering?
The choice of word does not matter; dimensions and application do. When contacting a supplier it is enough to state:
- Inner diameter
- Length
- Wall thickness, if known
- What will be wound onto it and on which machine
Once these four pieces of information are given, differences in naming disappear on their own.
At Kafkas Masura
All the tubes we manufacture are made of paperboard; there are no plastic tubes in our product range. We produce tubes for DTY, POY, and carpet and knitting yarns, in custom sizes made to order.
Whichever name you use, simply telling us your requirement is enough.