Rigid presentation boxes are hugely popular packaging options in the retail and manufacturing sector. They are made up of die cut and glued card that is then coated in a huge choice of plain or printed paper. Rigid box styles include:
- Drawer box
- Shoulder box
- Clamshell hinged box
- Two-part box and lid
Shoulder boxes are boxes where the lids sit completely flush with the base and are held in place by a shoulder situated on the base.
Shoulder boxes have become an increasingly popular choice as they are great looking and convenient, premium packaging option. I’ve included a couple of photos below to show you what is possible with shoulder boxes. Some of the variants leave a small gap between the lid and the base, which makes the opening of the box more convenient. It’s also a striking design feature offering a strong colour contrast.
Board grades
Board grades are commonly 1mm, 1.5mm or 2mm – different board grades are appropriate for different sized boxes and can impact the look and rigidity of the box. 1mm boards can be quite flimsy and are best suited to small boxes but is the most cost-effective solution. 1.5mm offers better strength for medium to larger boxes such as the one you proposed but doesn’t provide the premium feel of a 2mm board.
Paper stock
The box is coated with a paper stock. The top sheet is printed separately and is adhered to the board producing the finished construct.
Paper grades for the top sheet typically range from 120gsm – 150gsm. We can use any type of coated or uncoated paper stock. The coated paper stock offers a matte or glossy finish and is usually very smooth with a slight shine, they also make colours appear brighter. Coated stocks are more resistant to wear and tear, water and dirt compared to uncoated stocks. Uncoated paper allows more ink to be absorbed and is not as smooth as coated paper but is favoured for its elegant and more natural feel. It also provides a higher contrast when using printing techniques such as foil stamping.
Textured paper stocks are also available, adding a luxury and sophisticated feel to your box. Internal and external paper coating is possible, in different coloured stocks if required. Should you wish not to coat the inside of the box, the finish will be plain white.
Lamination and coating options
Varnishes and laminates can be applied to the finished box to provide differing appearances and finishes. Lamination involves adhering a separate film sheet to the surface of the box, whereas varnishes are usually a liquid which is applied to the top sheet in a similar way to ink.
Coatings on your box include matt and gloss varnishes, matt and gloss laminates, UV laminates and high-gloss finishes. Soft touch laminates are also available, which are an easy way of adding to the premium feel to the box by providing a velvet-like quality. Your box can also be coated with an anti-scuff laminate, adding an extra level of protection to the text and print.
Your box can be printed with hot and cold foil blocking and can be embossed and debossed. Regarding colour prints, we can offer up to 6-colour print on all our rigid presentation boxes including PMS colour matching and standard CMYK format.
Inserts
Inserts can be constructed from folding boxboard or foam. The best way to approach inserts is to provide us with an image and dimensions of the item you are packaging, our designers can then mock up how the insert should look to offer maximum protection and stability of your product in the box.
Minimum order quantities
MOQs for rigid boxes depends on a number of factors, from the board grade being used to the size of the box. Our MOQs for rigid boxes falls at 500 pieces, as anything below this leads to a cost-prohibitive solution.
Tooling and origination
In order to produce any bespoke box, we would be required to produce a die form which is a metal form used to score, crease and cut paper or board to form the box. The cost of this will depend on the size and complexity of the box but is only paid once and the forme can be used again on subsequent orders.
If the box is printed printing plates are required to apply the ink to the top sheet. These plates are usually made of thin sheets of metal but plates can be plastic or rubber. Printed plates are charged at cost per colour and in a similar to the die forming, only need to be paid on the initial production run.