Collaborative Testing Services, Inc. 
P.O. Box 650820, Sterling, VA, USA 20165-0820 1-571-434-1925
Paper and paper products are everywhere, commonly accepted and commonly expected to perform their various functions with quality and reliability. Underlying this premise is the need for accurate and precise testing to ensure that reality matches expectations. Determining the trustworthiness of that testing is a critical component. The economics of the paper industry demand that your quality testing keep you ahead of the curve to stave off problems that could impact the bottom line.
At CTS, we have developed a convenient and cost-effective testing program that keeps you one step ahead. Established in 1971, the CTS Paper Program was the first and remains the largest interlaboratory program of its kind, allowing hundreds of organizations worldwide to continuously monitor their testing performance. With guidance from TAPPI, CTS offers a wide array of tests across four properties: Dimensional, Mechanical, Optical and Physical testing. Laboratories may customize their testing programs by selecting tests from any of these categories. As an added feature, and to make ongoing assessment easier, CTS provides each laboratory with Trend Charts that summarizes lab performance over a revolving year. Your laboratory will have a clear picture of the reliability of its measurements both over time and as compared to other laboratories around the world. The CTS Paper Program makes it uncommonly easy to meet the quality demands placed on your laboratory.
These analyses include Caliper testing for both Print and Package materials.
Tests in this category include Brightness (both Directional and Diffuse), Opacity, Color & Color Difference and Gloss.
CTS' largest category includes important test properties such as Burst, Tear, Tensile as well as many other test methods and material types.
Test offerings in this grouping cover the measurement of various physical properties including Roughness, Grammage, Moisture Content and HST.
The ubiquitous nature of paper and paper products belies the accurate and precise testing that must be conducted to ensure the suitability of paper for even routine applications. The wide range of paper types and properties to be tested only add to the complexities of the industry. The diversity of the industry is reflected in the many industry and government groups, products and analyses that have shaped the Paper and Paperboard Interlaboratory Program since its initiation.
In April 1969, the National Bureau of Standards (NBS, now the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST) and the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) developed an interlaboratory program for paper and paperboard testing. While we usually trace the roots of the program back to this first bimonthly TAPPI Collaborative Reference Program for Paper, the governments interest in paper stretched back much further. As is often the case, this interest was driven by necessity. The work in 1969 built on a legacy of standards and testing of paper filters used in WWI gas masks. While the interlaboratory program had little to do with this application, it is no accident that the TAPPI Program is considered one of the first modern, large-scale interlaboratory surveys.
Modern readers of the first report would see many familiar friends. Of the 10 original tests, nine are still active in some form in the current program: Bursting Strength, Tearing Strength, Tensile Strength, Gurley Porosity (Air Resistance), Sheffield Smoothness (Roughness), Opacity, Directional Brightness, Diffuse Brightness and Gloss. Only IGT Pick Strength is no longer offered. The program already contained the two-sample statistical design; the samples offered were a coated 70lb. lithograph offset and an uncoated 60lb. book offset. But there have indeed been several changes since 1969. It appears that originally all the paper for the tests was supplied by Champion Paper. All of the reporting laboratories used the Martin Sweets (GE) instrument for brightness, and pendulum (constant rate of load, CRL) tensile testers outnumbered load cell (constant rate of elongation, CRE) testers by a 40 to 30 margin.
The program grew quickly: by the start of 1973, there were 22 tests offered. By 1974 the survey was split into 3 parts, each conducted in the same month Part A for Strength, Part B for Physical and Sheet Properties and Part C for Optical Properties. Later in 1976, the format was changed to accommodate Strength Tests in the S program and General Tests in the G program. Later still, the programs were offered in alternating months.
In the same era, 1974 to 1976, a joint program with Englands PIRA (then, Paper Industry Research Association) was initiated to cover a number of analyses that are known to be important but at this time have only limited interest among participants in the program. These reports combined results from both groups in a diverse array of analyses, 11 in all, such as Beach Puncture resistance, Schopper Folding endurance, K&N Ink Absorbency and Ring Crush. Also included were eight US and six English labs using the new Parker Printsurf Roughness method. Ring Crush testing of linerboard was included in the program for eight years, despite its being the only linerboard test offered; eventually the test was moved to the Containerboard Program. Following on this tradition of tests for packaging materials, in 1981 the Fiber Box Association (FBA) co-sponsored a program for Flat Crush Strength, Bursting Strength and Edgewise Compression of corrugated boards.
In addition, between 1985 and 1990 CTS operated a program specifically for Proctor & Gamble (P&G) laboratories which included a wide array of consumer paper products including disposable diapers and their components, kitchen tissues, facial tissues and bath tissues. Although these tests were never incorporated into the regular program, the P&G program spurred further Paper program expansion. Newsprint testing was incorporated into the program in 1991, with the assistance of members of the American Newspaper Publishers Association (ANPA). And the Recycled Paperboard Trade Association (RPTA) joined with CTS to offer testing to its members in 1993 and 1995. After those years of expansion and outreach, more than 250 laboratories world-wide were involved in a program that began in April 1969 with fewer than 75 labs and 10 properties.
The rise of the digital age has reduced paper's footprint but has not diminished the need for reliable measurements. Organizations around the world still participate in the largest program of its kind. Most importantly, the CTS Paper and Paperboard Program continues to achieve two critical objectives: it allows laboratories to compare the performance of their testing with that of other laboratories, and provides a realistic picture of the state of paper testing for TAPPIs technical committees.
Enroll at any time during the year. A subscription to a test includes six cycles, which are outlined below. Although Paper tests are offered across several categories, for test administration and shipping purposes, Paper tests are divided into two groups. Odd Month tests (formerly "S" tests; test nos. 3100-3499) occur in odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September, and November). Even Month tests (formerly "G" tests; test nos. 3500-3799) occur in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October, and December).
Note that data due dates occur approximately 6 weeks after a shipment date and results must be submitted on or before a data due date in order to be included in the report.
Participants can track shipments, submit data and access reports through the CTS Customer Portal.
| Enroll Between: | Samples Ship: | Data Due: | Report Issued: |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 6 - March 5 | 3rd Week of April | Last Week of May | 3rd Week of June |
| March 6 - May 5 | 3rd Week of June | Last Week of July | 3rd Week of August |
| May 6 - July 5 | 3rd Week of August | Last Week of September | 3rd Week of October |
| July 6 - September 5 | 3rd Week of October | Last Week of November | 3rd Week of December |
| September 6 - November 5 | 3rd Week of December | Last Week of January | 3rd Week of February |
| November 6 - January 5 | 3rd Week of February | Last Week of March | 3rd Week of April |
| Enroll Between: | Samples Ship: | Data Due: | Report Issued: |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 6 - April 5 | 3rd Week of May | Last Week of June | 3rd Week of July |
| April 6 - June 5 | 3rd Week of July | Last Week of August | 3rd Week of September |
| June 6 - August 5 | 3rd Week of September | Last Week of October | 3rd Week of November |
| August 6 - October 5 | 3rd Week of November | Last Week of December | 3rd Week of January |
| October 6 - December 5 | 3rd Week of January | Last Week of February | 3rd Week of March |
| December 6 - February 5 | 3rd Week of March | Last Week of April | 3rd Week of May |
March 2024
Paper Summary Report No. 4291
February 2024
Paper Summary Report No. 4282
January 2024
Paper Summary Report No. 4281
December 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4272
November 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4271
October 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4262
September 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4261
August 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4252
July 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4251
June 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4242
May 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4241
April 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4232
March 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4231
February 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4222
January 2023
Paper Summary Report No. 4221
December 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3212
November 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3211
October 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3202
September 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3201
August 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3192
July 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3191
June 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3182
May 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3181
April 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3172
March 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3171
February 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3162
January 2022
Paper Summary Report No. 3161
December 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3152
November 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3151
October 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3142
September 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3141
August 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3132
July 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3131
June 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3122
May 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3121
April 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3112
March 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3111
February 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3102
January 2021
Paper Summary Report No. 3101
December 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3092
November 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3091
October 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3082
September 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3081
August 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3072
July 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3071
June 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3062
May 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3061
April 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3052
March 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3051
February 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3042
January 2020
Paper Summary Report No. 3041
December 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 3032
November 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 3031
October 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 3022
September 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 3021
August 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 3012
July 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 3011
June 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 3002
May 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 3001
April 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 2992
March 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 2991
February 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 2982
January 2019
Paper Summary Report No. 2981
December 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2972
November 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2971
October 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2962
September 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2961
August 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2952
July 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2951
June 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2942
May 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2941
April 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2932
March 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2931
February 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2922
January 2018
Paper Summary Report No. 2921
December 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2912
November 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2911
October 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2902
September 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2901
August 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2892
July 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2891
June 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2882
May 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2881
April 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2872
March 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2871
February 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2862
January 2017
Paper Summary Report No. 2861
December 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2852
November 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2851
October 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2842
September 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2841
August 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2832
July 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2831
June 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2822
May 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2821
April 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2812
March 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2811
February 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2802
January 2016
Paper Summary Report No. 2801
December 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 2792
November 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 2791
October 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 278G
September 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 278S
August 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 277G
July 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 277S
June 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 276G
May 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 276S
April 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 275G
March 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 275S
February 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 274G
January 2015
Paper Summary Report No. 274S
December 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 273G
November 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 273S
October 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 272G
September 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 272S
August 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 271G
July 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 271S
June 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 270G
May 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 270S
April 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 269G
March 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 269S
February 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 268G
January 2014
Paper Summary Report No. 268S
Participants in CTS Paper Program tests can access Test Instructions on the CTS Customer Portal.
A Guide to Interpreting Performance Analysis Reports, available as well on the CTS Customer Portal, assists participants in understanding and getting maximum benefit from the individual reports issued at the completion of each testing round.