If you are a folding cartons manufacturer, you may be happy to know that growth within this industry is expected to continue. According to a study completed by Smithers Pira, the folding carton industry is growing globally by 5.1% per year, and it is anticipated to reach over $184 billion by 2018. This can be traced back to the 1.3% increase in carton board production, which reached a total of 42.5 million tons in 2012, over half of which originated in the Asia-Pacific sector of the world. This market growth is thought to be driven by an increasing demand for folding cartons to house healthcare items, dry foods, frozen foods, and cigarettes, especially in countries that are experiencing emerging or growing economies.

Anticipated Trends for Folding Cartons Manufacturers

The Study by Smithers Pira indicated that a variety of trends in the folding carton industry will be experienced from 2013-2018. Three new technologies are expected to add value to the market between those years: barrier coating technologies, anti-counterfeit systems, and retail-ready packs. It is anticipated that globally, smaller packs will be desired and an increased demand will be noted for single portions of food products, medications, and personal hygiene products.

• Convenience Foods. Global demand is continuing to increase for convenience foods, and the convenient store industry is increasing the amount of grab-and-go foods they offer that are housed in folding cartons. Additionally, niche markets are beginning to provide lower calorie products in both frozen and dry food areas, so these manufacturers will also have an increased need for folding cartons.

• Health Care. The health care sector makes up around 10% of the demand for folding cartons, and it is expected that this trend will continue to rise. Many medical professionals are calling for a smart pack system to be created by a folding carton manufacturer as a way to monitor the medication of patients.

• Personal Care. A variety of personal care products rely on the use of folding cartons for both storage and marketing. If you walk down the toothpaste aisle at your local grocery store, you will notice rows of neatly lined toothpaste boxes, all of which are cleverly designed to grab your attention to make you choose them over the competition. Eco-friendly personal care options are also gaining popularity, so folding cartons made from recycled or recyclable materials will also be in greater demand in the future years.

[10/31/2013]

You may turn to your packaging company to help you with selecting boxes for your business, as they come in a variety sizes, shapes, and constructed materials. However, mailing envelopes can also be found there, and many people are unaware that there are a variety of options available to the shipper. Some of them are described below.

Envelope Varieties

When scouring packaging companies for the right type of envelope for your product, you may be overwhelmed with the numerous varieties out there. By learning a little more about the options that are available to you, you can make the right decision for your business.

• Tamper-proof: These envelopes incorporate extra security measures in the form of physical features on seals. Once the envelope has been opened, it is impossible to re-close it so that it appears tamper-free.
• Expansion: These envelopes are flexible so that they can be filled with extra documents, and they are often puncture and moisture resistant.
• Padded: Some envelopes include cushioning to provide for added protection, and this can avoid shock during transport. Some may also be made with thermal properties to protect the contents of packages from extremely cold temperatures.
• Extra long: These envelopes can accommodate wallpaper rolls, posters, and art for shipping, and legal documents may also be shipped within them.
• Flat: Flat envelopes can serve as a stiff enclosure for photos and other documents that should not be bent. Some come with self-sealing options so that they can be opened and re-secured easily between viewings.

Envelope Materials

A mailing envelope works to carry flat contents during shipment, and they can be used for documents needing a variety of protection and security levels. Envelopes are usually constructed from the following materials:

• Paper: As the industry standard, paper is one of the least expensive options and it can provide the needed level of protection for many types of printed material.
• Polyolefin: Envelopes made from polyolefin provide additional protection against moisture and water-related damage during shipping. Stronger than paper, it is also available in a clear variety that can highlight the contents of your envelope.
• Tyvek: Tyvek offers a high level of tear and puncture resistance, and it is around ten times stronger than the average paper envelope. It also offers greater moisture protection.
• Nylon: Nylon-reinforced envelopes provide a lightweight alternative to high shipping costs, but they are only a good option if padding is not needed.

[10/28/2013]

Corrugated cartons are virtually everywhere, from supermarkets to gift shops. In fact, most of the boxes in which the products are shipped are also the ones in which they are displayed. Because of the ease and versatility of corrugated material, millions of tons of corrugated cartons are used each year to store and display all kinds of products.

Corrugated Carton Raw Materials

A corrugated carton is constructed from a stiff yet lightweight material made of three layers of Kraft paper, a strong paper made through a refined process of pulping wood chips so that the resulting product resists splitting and tearing.

The primary resource used for corrugated cartons is the pine tree. After the trees are harvested, they are stripped of everything but the trunks, which are the only part of the pines used in the pulp mill. The trees then must go through the Kraft process (invented in 1906) where they are converted to a strong paper product that is processed from a sulfur solution. Finally, a paper machine mixes all the materials and rolls it together to form, dry, and press together rolls of the tough paper.

Once at the plant, the carton requires a few more materials to become a finished product. First, cornstarch paste connects the corrugated material to the lining. Waxes and other materials help the boxes to resist water and contaminants (ideal for produce storage). Finally, creative teams uses several patterns to create a unique outside design that will showcase the product inside and highlight its most important attributes. Whereas older cardboard cartons used to look basically the same, today, designers get to use up to four colors and countless design templates for their boxes. Because the Kraft paper allows for greater efficiency and ease of production, more time can be spent on the creative process, which helps businesses raise their bottom line.

When constructing corrugated materials, manufacturers must take into account four primary guidelines: container board, crushing tests for box edges, styles and shape of boards, and board dimensions. Container board is difficult to produce. The creation of the Kraft paper itself is a complex process, and the chances of failure or damage due to structural deficiencies is common. Testing for strength is another factor that determines the efficacy of the carton. Most cartons will withstand at least a 1000 pound load, but if the design is faulty, this number decreases significantly.

How corrugated cardboard is made

[9/30/2013]

Not all Corrugated Boxes are the same

Corrugated cardboard boxes have been used in the shipping industry since many decades.

However, there is a great variety of cardboard shipping boxes available out there, and not all boxes are best suitable for your needs. There are many factors that need to be considered while deciding for shipping boxes such as size, shape, weight, durability, strength and cost of course.

Exploring the 3 Most Common Types of Cardboard Box Material

The term ‘Cardboard’ is used for a wide range of products, designed for many different applications and different scale of durability. Following are the three main types of cardboard box material:

· Paper – It is thin and light material, which is made by suppressing wet wooden fibers. It is mainly used as a packaging material of small items that don’t weigh much.

· Paperboard – Also known as ‘Cardstock’, Paperboard material is thicker and stronger that paper material. It is used a storage box or containers of varied items like soft drinks, ready-to-eat food product, etc.

· Corrugated Cardboard – It is also called corrugated fiberboard material. It comprises of ridge shaped center cardboard material which is surrounded by flat paperboard lines on its both sides. Corrugated cardboard is used to build heavy duty shipping boxes that are used to store and ship heavier products like auto parts and canned goods.

Heavy Duty Cardboard Boxes for Extra Protection

In order to double protect heavy items such as TVs, computers, machineries, tools, etc. while on the road or during manhandling, heavy duty shipping boxes along with box accessories like foam inserts, pads, trays and dividers are used to package the items.

Heavy duty cardboard shipping boxes offer extra protection and allow shippers to stack products on one another without compromising on safety and security of the products inside. These shipping boxes are easily available off-the-shelf, and you can order them online by making a few clicks.

However, if you want to go further and add one more layer of security as well as strength, you can order custom designed triple wall cardboard shipping boxes. Triple wall boxes are a good alternative of small sized wood crates; they are lighter in weight, more affordable and durable enough to ship heavy industrial products.

Heavy Duty Boxes for Space Optimization

By making use of heavy duty cardboard shipping containers, shippers can consolidate multiple small sized items into one carton. This way, shippers can make the most of the truck size available and also save a considerable amount on transportation of goods. Moreover, with this approach, number of trips can also be reduced, meaning you are not just saving on packaging material, but you are also contributing to green environment by saving fuel used in the transportation of your goods.

So, regardless if you want to buy off-the-shelf small shipping boxes or custom designed triple wall heavy duty boxes, hire the best packaging company in your city.

[9/26/2013]

You spend thousands of dollars marketing your line of business products, so in order to make up for the cost, you decide to forgo customized packaging. After all, the customers are buying your product, not the package, right?

Wrong.

When you market a new product, the package is the first thing that your potential customers see. That package must be easy to access, memorable, and unique. Packaging is also a necessary aspect of consumerism. Without effective and safe packaging supplies, people would not be able to transfer goods from one place to another. Perishable goods would be nearly impossible to transport in warmer climates, and breakable items would not be able to withstand the transportation needed to reach a large customer base.

While packaging is largely dependent on the materials within, there are many choices that a business owner can make to form a cohesive unit between package and product.

Price and Quantity:

When choosing your packaging supplies, it is important to take into consideration the number of products you will be shipping or selling, how delicate the product is, the weight of the product, and the product’s size. Cardboard is an affordable option for packaging and is significantly lighter than other packing materials (plastics, metals, glass and wood). For most any kind of product type, cardboard is a great choice of material, simply because of its versatility and durability.

The primary packaging is not the only monetary aspect to consider. There are also secondary and tertiary aspects of packaging (including shrink-wrap, cases, pallets, cans and carrier packs) that businesses must consider. The total packaging cost includes each level of packaging materials, the storage and transportation costs and the production cost of the packaging operation.

Smart Choices in Product Packaging:

The most important aspect of packaging to remember is that the packaging box must fit the purpose of the product. If the product is perishable, the package must be airtight to guard against contaminants. If the product is made of a breakable material, the package must be strong enough to withstand transportation. Finally, the packaging must showcase the product in the best way possible, highlighting important aspects and keeping logos, names and other key information visible. Smart packaging, which can raise your bottom line and protect your product from damage and decay, is one of the best investments you can make in your business.

Pro Carton – fact file category 2

Paperboard

[9/23/2013]

Have you ever wondered what to do with shipping boxes that inevitably collect dust in your garage after Christmas? Many people shudder at the thought of simply throwing away so much paper, but never fear – before you dispose your extra boxes, try using them for reasons other than shipping or storage.

A Makeshift Tray:

The lids of heavy-duty boxes are perfect substitutes for trays. Simply put, lids can hold
almost anything! For instance, teachers can use lids to collect papers and projects. Lids are also commonly used in office mailrooms to organize items like mail, note cards, surveys, and other forms that employees may need in a pinch. Lids can even work well as casual serving trays; so before you spend more money on expensive plastic or glass dishes, consider using a sturdy cardboard lid for your next cookout or party.

Art Projects:

The cardboard material from boxes can be used in a myriad of ways for art projects, and it’s a lot more affordable than buying new materials from a craft
store. The standard art supplies used in projects include poster board, foam, glue, containers, and decorative adhesives. Buying all of these supplies for a project can cost a lot of money! Foam shapes range from $3 to $15 a piece depending on size, and poster board can cost over $3 per piece. Instead of spending your money, consider cutting out sections of boxes and using flat portions as posters and lidded, lined portions for a 3D effect. Cardboard is easy to decorate, and some shipping boxes even come with their own unique designs on them.

A Practical Use:

Homeowners and teachers can use the lids and flat sections of cardboard to help keep their classroom or house clean. For an art class, lids can be used as pallets to arrange paint or as paintbrush holders. Plus, the cardboard from boxes can be cut flat and placed on the floor to protect it from paint and other art supplies.

Additionally, boxes for shipping can be used to keep your puppy from wreaking havoc around the house. Anyone who has owned a dog knows that training them to “wait” until they go outside to do their business is tough, but lids from large heavy-duty boxes can help protect your floor and carpet. Just place some newspaper inside the lid and train your puppy to use the board in an emergency. Cardboard boxes are also easily disposable, and with many eco-friendly options, you can even help your environment while you train your dog.

[9/19/2013]

A corrugated or crenelated box divider is simply a ridged partition of varying sizes and colors that divides boxes into even sections for efficient storage. Box dividers can be all-purpose brown cardboard, or they can be colorful and artistic. Because of the versatility of design and variety of sizes and shapes, it is easy to think of “outside-of-the-box” uses for corrugated partitions and trays.

Box dividers are most commonly used to separate beverages and food-stuffs that would otherwise break if placed next to each other. The sturdy, ribbed cardboard offers a surprising amount of protection to glass containers and bottles. But there are many other uses for these affordable and handy containers that may surprise you.

Tools:

When it comes to garages, most homeowners complain about too little space and too much clutter. Box trays and dividers can easily turn a chaotic mix of
nails, screws and tools into an organized handy man’s heaven. Smaller divided boxes can be used to categorize different brands of nails, screws, clips, tacks, sockets, wrenches and all other essential smaller items that would go in a standard toolbox. Use a box divider in the truck for an easy, on-the-go emergency tool kit.

Fishing and Camping:

Tackle boxes and camping equipment can get expensive, so if you want to have fun on a budget, a box with varied partitions is a perfect way to store all of
your gear. Since the cardboard dividers come in an array of colors, systemizing your tackle gear becomes easy to do. Use an additional cardboard box for
different kinds of bait; and since there are many eco-friendly boxes on the market, you won’t feel guilty about damaging your environment.

Office and Desk Storage:

Box trays come in many sizes and colors and can be used as pen or pencil holders, paper trays, collection boxes, and even file cabinets. There are also
colored file dividers made of the ridged cardboard which are great for easy organizing and long-term storage.

Inside the House:

You’ll mind an infinite amount of uses for divided boxes inside every room of your house.

• The Pantry: use trays and dividers to store produce and to keep fruits and vegetables separate and organized. Larger trays are great for snack items, candy, and other goodies that kids can easily retrieve.
• The Closet: Larger dividers are perfect closet organizers. Keep shoes, lingerie, socks, and accessories like scarves out of the way and off the floor.
• The Bathroom: Colorful box dividers become a Shabby-Chic method of organizing cosmetics and hair accessories. Stack a narrow box against your bathroom wall or on top of the counter and watch as your counter-top clutter disappears. These boxes can also be used to store cleaning supplies, hair products, and even
  prescription medicines (keep all medicines out of reach of children).

[9/17/2013]

Five Panel Wrap:

This shipping box is ideal for cumbersome items used for outdoor sporting events. One piece of cardboard bends into five panels and is as versatile as it is durable. If you have an athlete in the family or need to transport long, awkward objects, this is a great box for shipping.

Full Overlap Box:

Resistant to rough handling, this style is similar to an RSC (Regular Slotted Carton); however, its flaps, which fully overlap each other when closed, are the same length as the width of the carton. The overlapping flaps provide a nice cushioning on the top & bottom.

Regular Slotted Carton:

This common box style contains flaps of equal length, with the outer flaps at one-half the carton’s width. This efficient design means that the flaps meet at the center of the box when folded, which allows for easy gluing or taping. Regular slotted cartons can be used for most products. A pad that serves as extra protection can be placed between the two inner flaps if the product requires a flat, even bottom surface.

Regular Slotted Container with Variable Flaps:

The Regular Slotted Container with Variable Flaps is similar to the regular slotted carton box, except the outer flaps overlap by an inch or more. The RSCVF style of box is used when the length of the box is considerably greater than the width. When the length of the box is longer than the width, there will be a greater distance between the flaps at each end. This makes it desirable to overlap the outer flaps to prevent them from spreading apart. Consumers can easily close the slotted container by stapling the overlapping flaps.

Half-slotted Box with Cover:

The half-slotted corrugated box with cover has a cover that is less than two-thirds of the depth of the body section. In instances where the box cover must be removed and replaced repeatedly, this style is perfect and easy. It has a dual purpose, serving as a shipping and as a storage container. The cover may be a design style or a half-slotted style.

Regular Slotted Container with Double Cover:

Mostly used for tall or large heavy items, this three-piece box is basically a four panel tube with side panels and two interchangeable trays that serve as the top and bottom of the box. The two transposable covers are shipped in flat pieces.

[9/13/2013]

Corrugated Material

Whether you are moving your business or family to another location or are shipping a product to a customer, there are many standard packaging boxes from which businesses and families may choose. Moving boxes are durable, are affordable and can be recycled, have reinforced lids, and are available with a fire retardant option.

Contemporary corrugated packaging offers a zero crush rate, which ensures safety, sustainability and durability for your products and equipment. Corrugated packaging, made of corrugated fiberboard (a paper-based material made from flute laminating machines), is the most common packaging used to transport and warehouse products during distribution.

The invention of shipping containers and the ability to transport products around the world helped catapult the growth and globalization of commerce. The paper used in manufacturing a box is called Kraft linerboard. In normal boxes, there is an inner liner and an outer Kraft inerboard. The wavy middle is called corrugated medium. Each linerboard and medium is shipped from the linerboard mill to a corrugated box plant. The linerboard and medium are in large rolls and fit to a machine called a corrugator. The purpose of this is to join through heat and adhesive the three rolls of paper into a flat sheet. The flat sheet is cut to a specific size and placed through other manufacturing machines to form the shipping container. Depending on the size of box, some are manufactured in rates of 5000 per hour.

Sizes of Packaging/Moving Boxes

The smallest general purpose moving box measures in at just 1.5 cubic feet. This size moving box should be used to pack the smallest and heaviest items, including books, records, heavy tools, CD’s and canned goods.

The next size up is the medium carton, which measures in at 3.0 cubic feet. This carton is perfect for small, heavy items like kitchen appliances, gardening tools, lamp bases, electronics and pots and pans.

With larger carton sizes, the weight of the materials on the inside should decrease. The 4.5 cubic foot carton will still hold plenty of weight, however. It is great for non-hanging clothes, linens, children’s toys, Tupperware, baking sheets and other non-breakable kitchenware, and lamp bases.

The largest of the packing cartons is 6.5 cubic feet, and it should be used for your lightest household items including stuffed toys, pillows, blankets, sheets, rugs, coats, and other lightweight items.

Sources:

http://www.ppcnet.org/Portals/0/Uploads/How%20to%20Make%20a%20Folding%20Carton%20sml.pdf
Corrugated fiberboard
Paperboard
Packing tips – moving boxes sizes

[9/6/2013]

Folding Cartons

In the packaging industry, the most common type of packaging is the standard folding box, called a “folding carton”. Because they are flat during storage and assembled when needed, folding cartons are very easy to store and transport. Folding boxes can be used for a myriad of packaging needs; they can be sealed for long-term storage and resealed for repeated use.

Paperboard

Folding carton manufacturers use paperboard for their cartons. Paperboard is a thick, paper-based material that is usually a margin thicker than standard paper. Paperboard can be single or multi-ply. To ensure the highest quality, paperboard usually has several layers of repeated applications of a dilute fiber suspension. Because paperboard is strong, lightweight, easily cut and shaped, and durable, it is often used in packaging.

Products Sold in Folding Cartons

Folding cartons, used in mail order, vending machines, hospitals, schools, and in the pharmaceutical industry, are the packaging we see in grocery stores and shops. Cartons are used to package convenience foods, which makes travel and sporting events a lot easier.

What about the Environment?

Folding packaging is made of wood, which is a naturally renewable resource. Additionally, the energy used to process the wood comes from the non-cellulose constituents of the wood and is therefore naturally renewable as well.

Terminology

Different companies and industries often use varied terminology for their packaging system. Listed below are the most standard terms and definitions:

• Boxboard: Also known as carton board (compressed paper made into thick cardboard) for folding cartons and stiff boxes, which are commonly used to ship fine stationery, letterhead and business cards.
• Folding boxboard – A type of boxboard that can bend without breaking or fracturing.
• Chipboard – Lower quality board; often recycled.
• Kraft board – a paperboard made of sulfate pulp that has particularly good strength and bending qualities. Often treated with clay to facilitate printing.
• Laminated board – Occurs when layers of materials are bonded together to form an aggregate material.
• Solid Bleached Board – Clean white board used for food products. This kind of board undergoes a process called bleaching in order to make it brighter, stronger, and more durable. This process also ensures that the board is clean and free of any outside contaminants. The three layers of the top surface are usually a lighter color.
• Corrugated medium – the lined portion on the inside of the box.
• Linerboard – a strong, rigid board for the sides of grooved boxes. It is the flat cover over the grooved section of the box.

Sources:

http://www.ppcnet.org/Portals/0/Uploads/How%20to%20Make%20a%20Folding%20Carton%20sml.pdf

Wiki Paperboard

http://www.sgia.org/training_and_education/glossary/Kk.cfm

Laminated Board

http://www.procarton.com/?section=fact_file&category=6

http://www.procarton.com/?section=fact_file&category=3#item_15

[9/2/2013]