What is a Corrugated Box?
A corrugated box is created using the corrugated board featuring two main components; the liner and the medium. The liner is the flat material that can be seen on the external surface of the board or the external and internal sides for heavier configurations. In contrast, the medium is found between the liners. The medium creates the curved shave or ‘flutes’ between the liners. The flutes are what impart strength to the corrugated boxes. Owing to its strength, it is the obvious choice when it comes to shipping materials because it can withstand the impacts and wear and tear without causing any damage to the item being shipped.
Common Types Of Boards Used For Corrugated Boxes
There are four commonly used kinds of the board for corrugated boxes;
- Single-Face
- Single-Wall
- Double-Wall
- Triple-Wall
Out of these four, the most used ones are the single and double wall.
Single-Face
A single sheet of the liner is affixed to a single sheet of the medium. This kind of board is generally sold in the form of rolls and is used to wrap the products, thus offering cushion against bumps or falls.
Single-Wall
A single sheet of the medium is glued between two liner sheets. It is the most commonly used kind of board that is utilized for everything ranging from shipping boxes to retail displays.
Double-Wall
This board has two sheets of medium glued between three sheets of the liner. It is utilized for heavier products or products that demand a sturdier box for shipping.
Triple-Wall
This is the strongest kind of board that is available for corrugated boxes. It employs three sheets of the medium that are glued between four sheets of the liner. It is used for industrial parts or produce-bins.
Popular Styles Of Corrugated Boxes
There’s a wide variety of styles that GoTo Packaging offers under the banner of corrugated boxes; however, the following four styles have proven to be favored time and time again. The design style of corrugated boxes is dictated by the kind of product that you are manufacturing.
Regular Slotted Container (RSC)
This is the kind of corrugated box that pops up in your head when you think of shipping boxes. All flaps are of the same length except for the outer length flaps that are half the container’s width. The box is designed while ensuring that the outer length flaps come together at the center of the box upon closing.
Full Overlap Container (FOL)
This particular kind of corrugated box is the same as an RSC with the only distinction between the outer flaps – these outer flaps completely overlap one another to cover the entire width of the container. The design allows it to offer extra protection with an added thickness on top and bottom to the products contained within it.
One Piece Folder (OPF)
This corrugated is crafted from a single piece of board that has been creased and slotted. It can then be folded into a box that features an unbroken and flat bottom. It is a good choice if you want to store or ship books and printed materials.
Full Telescope Design (FTD)
This type has an individual bottom and top piece that come together with flaps joining on the side or end panels. Once these components are taken apart, the box transforms into two scored and slotted trays featuring flat bottoms. The full-depth cover runs along the body of the carton and offers higher strength around the sides, thus making this style ideal for fragile products or when high stacking strength is needed.
Classification Of Corrugated Boxes
Among the flutes commonly used are A, B, C, E, and F. The flute size will ascertain the thickness of your corrugated box’s walls apart from its stacking strength.
- A flute (5mm) – It is an excellent option for products that require cushioning or when stacking strength is needed.
- B flute (3mm) – It is a popular choice for die-cut designs and products that are self-supporting.
- C flute (4mm) – It is considered as an all-purpose flute utilized for a variety of applications.
- E flute (1.5mm) – It is used for retail packaging since it offers superior image clarity.
- F flute (0.6mm) – Same as E, thanks to crisp images; it is employed for retail packaging.
Common Industries That Rely On Corrugated Boxes
Corrugated boxes are the go-to-option for a variety of businesses dealing with consumer goods such as;
- Food And Beverage
- Office Supplies
- Books
- Electronics
- Clothing
- Construction Materials
- Tools Etc.
These industries depend on corrugated boxes because of the many benefits that they offer; customizability, strength, and printing options.
What You Need To Know Before Opting For Custom Corrugated Boxes?
Custom corrugated boxes can prove to be really beneficial for your business on account of helping you save costs in terms of material used and the degree to which you can execute your marketing techniques. The key thing to remember when deciding on the packaging is to fit the box to the product instead of fitting the product within the box. The former helps you cut down on excess waste material while offering the secure placement. You’ll have to consider the following questions before you opt for custom corrugated boxes. You’re also free to reach out to us, and our expert can walk you through this process.
Can Your Product Survive Wear & Tear During Shipping?
Put simply, is it fragile? Because if it is, you want to opt for a heavier board that offers added padding to your product; otherwise, your product might not survive in case of a fall. When you are opting for custom corrugated boxes, you have the option of opting between single-walled or double-walled boxes, thus offering a higher degree of protection to your items being shipped.
How Are You Shipping Your Product?
You will have to adjust your custom corrugated box packaging depending upon the kind of carrier you’re using and the mode of transportation being employed. Let’s say that your products are going to be stacked and then shipped; you have to ensure that your packaging is capable of withstanding the stacking load without compromising the safety of the product.
What’s The Weight Of Your Product?
This will be among the list of decisive factors when you’re getting your custom corrugated boxes designed. The kind of flute and liner thickness depends greatly on the weight of your product.
What’s The Number Of Products In A Box?
The design of your custom corrugated box will have to be drastically changed if you’re planning on shipping more than one product in the box. It will have to be optimized for the total weight that has to be shipped while making sure that it remains safe and keeps the material wastage to a bare minimum.
Where Will You Be Storing Your Product?
This can help you in creating better packaging that has been optimized for the environment. Will your product be shipped directly to its final destination, or will it be subjected to different temperature changes while it waits it out in the warehouse for months?
Answering these questions can help you gain a better understanding of what you need and the kind of corrugated box that can cater to your needs.
Want To Learn More?
If you want to inquire more about corrugated boxes and learn about printing options, finishing techniques, and add-ons that GoTo Packaging offers, you’re more than welcome to reach out to us, and our experts will gladly answer all of your questions.
