Packing element for an exchange column

The packing element is made up of a plurality of corrugated plates which are provided with a plurality of apertures as well as with a fine fluting on the walls of the corrugations. The flutings are disposed on both sides of the plates. The flutings are in the form of grooves which extend at an angle to the axis of the column which is of opposite sign to the angle of the corrugations relative to the axis of the column.