There are all kinds of boxes made today, but only some are considered cartons. There are two main differences between cartons and boxes. While they are both technically boxes, a folding carton is box made from solid board, like SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate) board. This board is a solid board, as compared to corrugated which is made up of multiple layers with a wavy fluted layer in the middle.

Cartons

Folding cartons can be made in many common styles, and quite a few custom styles. We make common carton styles such as; Straight Tuck End Carton, Reverse Tuck End Carton, Tuck Tab Auto Bottom, Tuck Tab Snap Lock Bottom (or 1-2-3 Bottom), Full Overlap Seal End, Partial Overlap End Seal, Mailer Lock, Tuck Tab with Tongue, Edge Lock, Infold Bottom, Glued Simplex Tray, Infold Tray, Outfold Tray, Hinged Tray with Cover, Full Telescope, Partial Telescope, Slip Case and Tray Binder, Bellows Style Top and Bottom, Four Corner Beer Tray, Four Corner Beers with Tuck, Six Corner Beers, Stripper Lock Tray, Hinged Stripper Lock Tray, Pillow Pack, Frame View Tray, and Sleeve. Additionally, we can add window openings, and windows with acetate glued in.

Boxes

We make corrugated boxes in some of the same styles listed above, as long as the size of the box and the thickness of the corrugate is suitable. Usually however, we make corrugated boxes when larger boxes are needed, or when more product protection is required. The fluted corrugated materials have a somewhat cushioning effect due to the multiple layers, with air space in between. Some corrugated box styles are Regular Slotted Container (RSC), Half Slotted Container (HSC), Full Overlap Slotted Container (FOL), Overlap Slotted Container, Central Special Slotted Container, Rolled End Lock Tray, Five Panel Folder, One Piece Folder, Stadium Tray, Integral Slotted Container, Tube, and Partition. Corrugated boxes can be printed either by Flexography (Flexo), Litho Label, Silk Screen, or Digital UV inks. Corrugated board comes in kraft (brown standard, and also in white on one side, or both sides. Use white, black, or various combinations of specialty boards when the design and budget allows. Cartons often make use of higher quality printing techniques, with specialty finishes. We use spot gloss UV and embossing more often on cartons, than we do on boxes.

Set Up Boxes

A last style of box to mention here is Rigid set up box. These boxes, while being the most expensive to produce, are made by wrapping a glued printed label over a thick chipboard, usually 40pt., 60pt., or 80pt. thick. This process is done by applying wet glue with a Potdevin machine, and hand wrapping in small quantities. We make larger quantities of set up boxes using specialized wrapping and molding machines.

Create It Packaging employs dieline creation, graphic design, printing, die cutting, and assembly of all listed box styles, point of purchase displays , floor displays, counter top displays, signage, and trade show graphics. Create It Packaging also designs and cuts custom box inserts, in either foam or board. We are a full service custom box manufacturer, not limited to small quantities. Our company specializes in one off, production quality, mock ups, samples, and prototypes. Sample runs are typically produced in several days, and quick turn around times are typical of production runs in small to medium quantities.