Factory Friday: Boxshop

In the run up to this festive period, box manufacturers such as Boxshop are inundated with orders to make sure that our presents get to us in one piece. So, what better time to delve into the manufacturing of the humble corrugated cardboard box?

The basics: How are cardboard boxes made?

Corrugated card board: This material is made by glueing a curved piece of paper called a flute to two sheets of paper called liners. 

Tips:

-Does the box carry something heavy? Bulk it up with two layers of flutes and three liners.

-Does the box carry something fragile? Create more cushioning by varying the thickness of the flutes.

How do corrugated cardboard sheets get made into boxes?

The manufacturer will usually create bespoke tools and cutters needed to convert the corrugated cardboard into the correct size and shape.

Firstly, perforation lines will be added along with handles and flaps using the trimmer. Next, the sheet will go through a rotary die cutter which will trim it to shape, and cut out any sections required. A folding machine then bends the cardboard along the perforated lines, and glue is added to the tabs. These tabs are then folded over by hand or machine to create a finished box.

How do you get your designs onto the box?

Most box manufacturers either use Lithographic or Flexographic printing which will depend on the type of image which you're looking to produce. You can also screen print onto corrugated cardboard boxes.

Need some inspiration? 

Falcon Packaging by Morse Studio:

Puma Clever Little Bag by Fuseproject:

UPACKS by Patrick Sung

Marshall Headphones:

Where can I get cardboard box packaging made in Scotland ?

We're so glad you asked- for cardboard packaging in Scotland, have a look at Boxshop Scotland's largest independent manufacturer of cardboard boxes.

Boxshop are based in East Kilbride and have been around for 30 years. Just last year they manufactured over 40 million items from approximately 20 million m2 of cardboard! They're happy to work with everything from bespoke orders and prototypes through to large orders. 

Click here to check out Boxshop's full listing on Make Works