If you are in the packaging business, you will need to use folding boxes or folding cartons to package materials. Folding boxes can be customized with respect to size, color and shape according to your customer’s needs. Folding boxes are made with a single layer of paper, making them more flexible during transportation. Manufacturing folding boxes is an intensive procedure. It involves converting the raw material into the required design and then printing and folding it before it is ready for use. If you want to enter the folding box manufacturing industry, here are some key terms for your reference.

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Chipboards

Chipboards are the raw materials that you will need for manufacturing folding boxes. You can derive chipboards from recycled thick paperboards and other waste that you get during the paper-manufacturing process. Chipboards are low-cost materials.

I recommend: You can get basic information on chipboards at the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Folding box board

To make flexible folding boxes, you can use a folding box board for many custom packaging solutions.

I recommend: Find more information on folding box board at Magellan Packaging, a provider of custom packaging solutions.

Folding box gluing

In order to keep the folded boxes intact, you will need to glue the edges together. You can use an automatic or a semi-automatic gluer machine for this purpose.

I recommend: You can learn about the folding carton gluing process at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, a manufacturer of folding carton gluer machines.

Lamination

Lamination gives folding boxes a matt or glossy effect by coating them with a plastic film. This makes the folding box durable and less prone to damage in transit.

I recommend: At American Printer you can learn about lamination. In addition, you can refer to information at the International Paper Company, a manufacturer of industrial paper products.

Die cutting

Die cutting is the process of cutting packaging material using dies, in order to cut out boxes from sheets of paper. Die-cutting machines are useful for simple cutting of paper sheets or in other complex operations in manufacturing folding boxes.

I recommend: To learn more about the die-cutting process for folding boxes, visit Thomas Net.

Sheeting

When the paperboard is received in a box-making plant, it must be converted to sheets before processing it further.

I recommend: You can visit Pulp and Paper Technology for detailed information about the various types of sheeting machines.

Many different industries use folding boxes and cartons to pack their products in. However, you don't want to choose just any folding box or carton to hand over to your customers. You want to provide them with a custom box that displays your business name and logo. Many companies provide custom-made design packaging. When researching companies to order your folding boxes and cartons from, you'll want to know what type you're looking for, what sizes you'll need, if you want a custom design on them and how many you'll need to order at a time.

Once you do your research, you'll be ready to find companies to order your folding boxes and cartons from. Your company can use a folding boxes list, a folding boxes directory, or search the Internet to find folding boxes information and folding cartons information, and select a company to order your folding boxes and cartons from. You can also find suppliers of folding shipping boxes to ship your items in.

1. Search the Internet or a folding boxes list to find folding boxes for your company.

2. Search the Internet or a folding cartons list to find folding cartons for your company.

3. Search the Internet for a manufacturer of folding boxes that you can mail.

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Find folding boxes

Folding boxes can be used to wrap your products in for gift-giving. They can be custom-made, feature your business name and logo, and assemble and disassemble easily. Your customers will appreciate this added bonus of shopping from your company.

I recommend: Economy Folding Box manufactures folding boxes that can be opened in different ways. Mineralogical Research manufactures white folding boxes in a variety of sizes.

Find shipping folding boxes

If your company offers shipping, you'll want to use shipping folding boxes. These boxes should fit the items securely and be neat and clean. They need to be a representative of your company, the first some customers may see, and therefore should have a clean look to them.

I recommend: Paper Mart offers a line of shipping folding boxes. Go Packaging lets you design your own shipping folding boxes.

Find folding cartons

Folding cartons can also be used to ship your products to your customers who are ordering from out-of-town, or sending them to someone out-of-town. You can design them with your company name and logo, and provide a safe way for your customers to send or receive your products safely and securely.

I recommend: J&J Packaging designs and creates your folding cartons in-house, from start to finish. Universal Packaging provides Chipboard Folding Cartons in several popular designs and custom designs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Bring the exact look you want for your folding boxes and cartons to a folding boxes provider.

As a folding box manufacturer, you will need to understand the carton design techniques for manufacturing folding boxes. Education and training will help you make customized folding boxes for your customers by experimenting with the color, shape and design of folding boxes. Folding box suppliers rely on the design of the box, as it is a very important functional feature of a folding box.

You can provide your customers value-for-money if you know how to use eco-friendly and cost-effective manufacturing techniques. All you need to do is gain some elementary knowledge about the folding box industry. If you are already a folding box manufacturer, you can learn about the latest industry trends in order to stand apart from the rest of the industry.

To learn more about folding boxes education and training, you can:

1. Take a course on designing folding cartons for different industries
2. Read through articles and magazines that give information on folding boxes
3. Join associations of packing companies
4. Learn about folding carton making machines

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Find folding box education and training resources

A complete training on folding boxes will teach you design, printing and other aspects of the folding box business, amongst other things. Some basic courses on folding box design are available online, whereas packaging institutions offer detailed education on industrial folding boxes.

I recommend: At the Institute of Packaging Professionals, you can register for a full time course in packaging technology that will help you become a successful packaging professional. You can also learn to design an industrial folding box and cartons with modules available at SkillsOnline. You can additionally opt for an advanced online course with Sessions Online School of Design and learn to create folding box designs for various products and understand the key elements of packaging composition.

Join associations for further folding box education and training

By registering as a member of carton making company associations, you can easily share ideas and learn new concepts from other member companies.

I recommend: The Independent Carton Group is an association of independently owned folding boxes making companies that aim at providing uninterrupted supply and competitive pricing to their customers. The North American Packaging Association is a trade association for manufacturers of paperboard boxes.

Subscribe to articles and magazines on folding boxes

Technology and market conditions make it imperative for you to keep yourself updated on folding boxes. Education and training is easily available through technical journals.

I recommend: You can subscribe to the Folding Carton magazine for the latest information on manufacturing folding boxes. You can also find newsletters or articles related to folding boxes at PackagePrinting. At Wiley InterScience, you can learn techniques to optimize manufacturing of folding boxes. Pro Carton is a useful website for understanding the basics of folding cartons and boxes.