Technical Specifications:ALUMINIUM TUBES FOR CUBAN HAND-ROLLED CIGARS

[El Presidente]

ALUMINIUM TUBES FOR CUBAN HAND-ROLLED CIGARS

Technical Specifications

Norms and conditions:

• The tubes should be made of 99.5 % pure aluminium.
• The finishing of the tube should be sharp and uniform without any deep scratches, burrs, fins or bumps that may result in damaging its image or the external appearance.
• Caps won’t have burrs in order to guarantee its perfect joint.
• The text should be easily read in the case of tubes with engravings and up-relief.
• Tubes and cap coils should guarantee an adequate joint and make the closing easy without applying unnecessary pressure.
• The printing should be clear and accurate so as to be able to see the text and the images perfectly clear.
• Tonalities or colour shades should meet the specifications upon the colour pattern agreed.
• No stains, blemishes or other imperfections should be allowed in the making of the tubes.
• The thickness of the tube should be from 0,15 to 0,20 mm while the thickness on the cap won’t exceed 1,0 mm.
• The recycling logo shall have the colour pattern agreed.
• The enamel will cover all the exterior of the enamelled tubes including coils and joints.
• The lot will only be accepted if the 4% of the production could have not met the standard.
• The tubes will be packed in corrugated cardboard boxes with protected sides.
• It will be considered unacceptable class A the items that may have the following imperfections:

§ Illegible printings

§ Colour shades variations not coherent with the pattern agreed.

§ Inadequate joint between the cap and the tube

§ Punctured tubes

§ Non-printed tubes

§ Measurements out of the established parameters.

§ Scratches that could affect the external appearance of the tube.

§ Deformed tubes

§ Inaccurate printing (mounted colours) due to inappropriate adjustments of the clichés.

§ Scratched or burred caps

§ Caps with blurred embossing (colour slip)

§ Blemished caps

§ Placement of the ring band out of the measurements

§ Dirt in the inside or outside the tubes

§ Ink stains either inside or outside the tubes.

15. It will be considered unacceptable class B the items that may have the following imperfections:

§ Uneven washing and polishing

§ Tubes and caps with burrs

§ Caps without vinilyte (with the exception of those with 22 mm girth)

§ Mild deforms both in the end of the tube and the surface of the coils that may not affect the joint between the cap and the tube.

§ Caps with wrong knurls

§ Caps with double vinilyte

Measurements of the aluminium tubes in mm

Tolerance range

Girth : +- 0,1 mm

Length : +- 0,5 mm

Height of the ring band : +- 0,5 mm

[Trevor2118]

Quality Control will have their hands full this this one.....

[Fuzz AI]

No problem at all! Though manufacturing the tubes will now be $50 each....

[OZCUBAN]

No problem at all! Though manufacturing the tubes will now be $50 each....

Well said fuzz

[Fuzz AI]

I'm not sure if this is true or not but a friend told me that the main reason

there are tubes is because when cigars are matched for boxes (10, 15, 25, 50, half wheel, etc, etc,..,)

the cigars that don't look or conform with the cigars that are being used in boxes go to the tubes!

Not sure if he is correct but does make sense.

I'd disagree with that. I've seen some fantastic looking sticks come out of tubes, some looking better than ones in boxes.

My understanding was that tubes were created to conveniently protect single cigars, without the need for carrying a bulky protective box. Also, being in a sealed tube, there was less chance of the cigar drying out, than if it were in a leather case or pouch.