Folding carton packaging

What’s in a box? If you’re talking paperboard boxes, there are really two types of boxes: folding cartons, and setup boxes, also known as rigid boxes. A folding carton can be characterized as a one piece box, one that folds flat when not in use. Whereas a setup box is typically a two piece box comprised of a rigid body with a separate lid. Both have their advantages in the packaging world.

Custom folding cartons

Used extensively in retail, custom folding cartons are the go-to product box for most packaged goods. Think about a box for a deck of playing cards — remove the cards, open the top and bottom of the box, and the box folds flat. This box is known as a tuck end box, and is a classic folding carton style box. All the boxes you see on this website are paperboard folding cartons.

The virtues of paperboard folding cartons are many:

• Environmentally friendly using sustainable paper materials
• Cartons fold flat for storage
• Boxes are easily and quickly assembled when needed
• Folding carton boxes are strong, yet lightweight
• Excellent print qualities
• Carton panels leave plenty of room for advertising
• Easy to customize with special die cuts, embossing, metallic foils, and UV glosses
• Consumers like them because folding carton boxes are so familiar and user friendly
• Unlike sealed plastic packaging, consumers don’t dread removing products from folding carton packaging

Setup boxes syle (also known as rigid boxes)

In contrast to folding cartons, setup boxes are a rigid box; they don’t fold flat. Most board games such as a Monopoly box, or a traditional, two-piece shoe box, are setup boxes — the boxes are already erected, or “set up”, and they usually consist of the box with a separate top. These boxes use much thicker paperboard, and the paperboard is laminated, or wrapped, with a high quality printed, or metallic foiled sheet. The result is a very sturdy box. The downside to a setup box is they are difficult to store in large volumes because they don’t fold down, and they can get very expensive in smaller quantities because of the extra printing/laminating operations that go into making the box.

One last note . . .

The Box Co-op is a leader in manufacturing paperboard folding cartons (well, not really, but it sounded good. In fact, there are many excellent folding carton manufacturers out there). However, we are a different sort of box company. We specialize in custom finishing coatings that add polish and pop to your retail packaging. Print quality is pretty standard between box manufacturers, but it is the finishing coatings that provide the texture and highlights that result in printed boxes that stand out from the competition.

Furthermore, many box companies make folding cartons on the side; we are true specialists — we do not make anything but folding cartons — so when you want that dedicated experience on your side, the Box Co-op is your best choice.