One of the biggest challenges for brands and packaging providers is consumers increasingly put more value into experiences. As a result, they want packaging to be more personalised and premium. There is a lot to think about here, including using foiling services. It’s also essential to consider processes like carton converting. We want to have a closer look at it here.
What is it?
Cartons are arguably the most popular type of packaging in the world. They are used to package various types of goods, from health and beauty products to food. Often there are multiple cartons, including heavier duty ones for shipping and lighter ones with more detail for the individual retail products.
Carton converting is a key process involving turning sheet materials into the final cartons, ready to fill with products. It generally involves several stages, including folding, gluing, filling, and sealing.
Key fundamentals
Businesses are demanding more and more from carton converting to help them satisfy customers. This includes things like demand for shorter, personalised runs. At the same time, there are bigger demands than ever to maximise sustainability, reduce waste, and manage costs.
If you want to be successful with carton converting, there are several fundamentals to keep in mind. Firstly, it’s vital to maximise the quality of the flat sheet materials that will become cartons. Printing and foiling services need to be on point, ensuring high quality artwork and designs. Critically, they must be orientated correctly, considering where cuts and folds will be.
Another key fundamental is to choose the right options for die cutting and creasing. They make it possible to efficiently fold cartons, ultimately creating the 3D shape from the flat sheet substrate. There are different methods to consider here, including flatbed die cutting, rotary solid die systems, or rotary flexible die systems. Think about what you need, such as set up times, budgets, and packaging volume. Also, factor in details like the kind of substrate you are using.
Next, make sure you consider folder-gluers. It’s their job to effectively bring the cartons to life, folding and gluing them to suit the specifications, including things like crash-lock or straight line cartons. Businesses increasingly want zero-fault production today, ensuring each carton is right every time. So, it puts more pressure on folder-gluers to be accurate and efficient.
Finally, it is vital to think about different factors that could have an impact on carton converting and the final products. This includes fibre direction and alignment. Beyond that, it is important to think about the temperature and humidity in a facility; this can address flaws like wrinkles and warping.
Speak to us about foiling services
Adding decorative elements to packaging, particularly cartons, is a great way to enhance them and ensure they get the attention of consumers. It’s something the majority of brands need to think about. We’re happy to help, providing recommendations for hot foil stamping and other processes. Even better, we have access to fantastic foils, including a huge range of colours and effects.
So, get in touch and let’s talk about foiling services today.