We Are Experts in Custom Corrugated Design, Manufacturing, and Distribution
When obtaining prices for custom corrugated shipping boxes, there are many specifications to keep in mind. Having all this information will make the process easier and, more importantly, accurate.
- Dimensions. For quoting purposes, corrugated box dimensions are inside dimensions. For RSC style shipping boxes (Regular Slotted Container), dimensions are ordered length x width x height.
- Style. The RSC is the most common corrugated box style, but there are many others, including FOL (Full Overlap Container), OPF (One Piece Folder) and FPF (Five Panel Folder).
- Board Strength. There are two standards in the corrugated industry for measuring board strength: the Edge Crush Test (ECT) and the Mullen Test. Common constructions conforming to either standard are roughly equivalent, the most common being 32 ECT / 200# Test.
- Board Construction. Single wall corrugated consists of one layer of fluting between two layers of linerboard. Doublewall and triplewall material is also used for very large boxes and/or to contain extremely heavy or fragile materials.
- Flute. Fluting comes in various standard sizes, the most common being B, C, E, and F flute. The main difference is the height from peak to valley of the flutes. B flute has the greatest height; F flute has the smallest. As a result, corrugated board comprised of B flute has superior cushioning characteristics, while F flute board provides a better printing surface and more rigidity.
- Color. Common color options for corrugated boxes are kraft color (brown) and mottled white. Bleached white board is also widely used for consumer product packaging.
- Printing. Just about anything is possible when it comes to printing. For quoting purposes, it’s important to know the number of colors being used, how many panels are to be printed, the approximate percentage of ink coverage on a given box panel, and the complexity and detail of the printing itself.
- Bundling. Boxes are generally bundled with plastic strapping before being unitized, often having 10 to 25 boxes per bundle. If you have special requirements in this area, they should be noted, as they may involve an upcharge.
- Unitizing. Custom corrugated boxes are generally strapped together in a unit of a size convenient to the manufacturer. Again, if you have special requirements, such as palletization or height restrictions, they should be noted.
- Labeling. Unit tags that identify the box can be modified to include your part number or other product identification. If you have complex labeling requirements, again, they should be noted
Custom corrugated can get very complicated, especially when you’re dealing with diecut boxes with intricate design and printing. It’s important to provide accurate information – otherwise glitches can come up later that force an increase in price or a compromise on the box construction.
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