Folding box packaging kicked off the packaging industry more than a hundred years ago and has become a billion-dollar business today. Box packaging is basically made of paper, cardboard, vinyl, plastic, cork or wood, with interlocking, sliding, snap or other mechanisms to close or open the box’s wrapper. Most folding box packaging is made of a variety of materials, including paperboard, cork, vinyl, fiberboard or wood, with hinges, snap closing, or hinges on both sides. Some packaging can be designed with unique features like a water-resistant laminate finish, full color slipcovers, and specialty boxes designed for certain foods or medical supplies.
With the onset of modern packaging, new materials and styles of boxes have been invented and improved constantly. Two major types of packaging boxes are corrugated boxes and stacked boxes. Corrugated boxes have flat sides that have grooves along the edge for drainage; they are lightweight, which makes them easy to handle and transport, and they’re also easily sanitized since mildew can grow on their surfaces. Corrugated boxes have been used for decades in the food and beverage industry for their ability to keep liquids or foods fresh and appealing, even for long periods of time.
Stacked boxes, on the other hand, consist of two or more corrugated cardboard boxes stacked one upon another. They’re constructed so that the layers of boxes cover one another, creating a sturdy covering for any product. Stacking boxes are the ideal solution for storing and shipping large, heavy, bulk products, and many packaging companies use stacked boxes for the transportation of frozen food products and for storing chemical products at various businesses. Many manufacturers and distributors of food and beverages have used folding cartons or corrugated boxes for decades as part of the distribution process.
The traditional materials used to build corrugated boards were wooden boards that had been tightly wrapped with corrugated foam strips. The wrapping provided a smooth surface for the product to be packed away, but the foam often showed dust and dirt when it was removed, which presented a challenge to those who handled the packaging itself. Over the years, corrugated boards developed paperboard coatings that avoided the dusty appearance of previous foams, allowing for a sleeker and cleaner surface for the packaging itself. In addition, these papers often had printed designs on them that made the boards more attractive to customers and gave them a colorful component for marketing purposes.
There are a number of advantages to using rigid boxes and corrugated boards, and these benefits make these materials highly desirable for packaging products. For one thing, they provide greater protection to the product during shipping because the packaging itself is much more durable than traditional packaging materials. Rigid boxes are also lighter than corrugated boxes, which makes them easier to ship, which saves both time and money. Finally, folding cartons are flexible, and they do not take up significant room when stacked or stored upright on a shelf, which makes them perfect for use in shipping situations.
While there are many different types of custom packaging available on the market today, there are a few standards that remain prominent. These include the size and shape of the boxes, the paperboard coating, and the type of corrugation used. Because many cartons are stackable, manufacturers may require that the boxes be pre-cut to the specific sizes they require, which further ensures the quality of the products that are shipped. And although plastic has replaced paperboard in recent years, it is still widely used because it is more durable, lightweight, and convenient to use. Overall, the carton packaging industry is one that has little compromise, providing all of the quality standards and functionality required for the best product available on the market.
