Is your packaging bottom and lid right for your product?

Is your packaging bottom and lid the right fit for your product? You’d be mistaken in thinking that all folding cartons are made equal, and all share similar base and lid structures.

How it all began

Before we get onto packaging bottoms and lids let’s understand what a folding carton is first. Did you know the term folding carton has been used since the 19th century? Now, we’ve not been producing folding cartons since the 1800’s, we have however since 1938. You could say we know our stuff.

When we’re talking about a folding carton, we’re referring to a box made from paperboard AKA box board AKA solidboard, a heavier weight paper. The most common folding cartons are: a straight tuck, a reverse tuck and a crash lock or lock bottom box (also known as envelope base in the UK).

Let’s talk bottoms

A crash lock bottom for your packaging has many benefits. It offers quick and easy auto assembly. Ideal for heavier objects as it is strong and stable. Plus, a secure and tamper evident base. However, not commonly used in conjunction with machine-automated packing processes. That’s where a classic straight tuck comes into its own (or even a skillet, but that’s a conversation for another day!).

To really stand out on the shelf, why not give your packaging feet. Yes, feet. This will enhance the stability of your packaging, especially when stored on the shelf. Not only this, it helps capture attention as a non-standard packaging structure. Despite, it being more unusual the setup is effortless.

Put a lid on it

We’re going to talk about box closures. Now, you may think, you just open and close a box lid. No! There is so much more to it than that. Subtle considerations surrounding your product and its packaging journey. 

One of the most common locking systems for the tuck-flap on a folding carton lid is the ‘slit-lock’. What is slit-lock? It is when there are tiny slits either side of the tuck-flap. You would have definitely seen this in action. So, why would you use this type of lock for your closure? It is ideal if you want your box to gently lock and not easily reopen without some effort from the consumer.

An alternative to slit-lock is the friction lock. This differs, as it does not have the slits either side of the tuck-flap. Perfect, if you want your consumer to be able to experience the primary product in retail and then re-close the carton (think smelling a beautiful candle) or keep the packaging to house multiple products in that need to be accessed time and time again.

But, that’s not all

All of these types of folding carton can be produced at our site in Leeds, UK. And more… We love to think outside of the box and can structurally engineer variations that will work for your product. Get in contact if you’re ready to package different.