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Packaging boxes are an integral part of the shipping and transportation industry which help deliver goods all over the world. In fact, there isn’t a single industry in which packaging boxes are not used. Since the invention of these boxes over a hundred years ago, their popularity has only increased over the years. Right from electronics to fast moving consumer goods to perishable products, packaging boxes have heralded the growth and success of almost every industry.
Packaging boxes are made of paperboard or fiberboard and come in every shape and size depending on their utility. You can customize the packaging boxes as per your needs and requirements. For e.g. some packaging boxes have windows installed to let a peek inside the contents of the box. A few others are customized to have in-built locking mechanisms. Let us look into the different types of packaging boxes, so that you may be able to decide on the correct category which suits your business needs.
As the name suggests, paperboard boxes are paper-based packaging boxes which are lightweight yet robust. Paperboard or carton boxes come in different grades as per its usability. They can be easily printed with rich and vibrant colours and are used extensively in the retail industry. Solid bleached sulfate paperboard is used in the production of packaging boxes used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, frozen food, and many other industries. Another kind of paperboard material packaging box are the kraft boxes. These have moisture-resistant properties and make them ideal for packing for food products.
Corrugated Packaging Boxes
Corrugated packaging boxes are what we commonly call as cardboard boxes. These are the most common types of boxes in which so many of our products are shipped like footwear. Corrugated boxes are lightweight yet sturdy which can also be easily folded and customized. Consisting of three layers – upper, lower and the middle-fluted layer. A sheet of paper is sandwiched between the other 2 layers (this process is called fluting) forming a S-shaped layer. This intelligent design lends higher malleability and resistance against shocks and impacts to the boxes. Depending on the utility of corrugated boxes, different varieties with varying flute density and board thickness are available in the market. These can be broadly classified under the following:
Single Wall Cardboard – Consisting of only one fluted inner layer which is fixed between the other 2 layers. This type of corrugated cardboard is preferred mostly in the form of rolls so that it can be wrapped around oddly shaped objects to provide a layer of protection and secure the goods.
Double Wall Cardboard – As the name suggests, there is a double wall along with the double compressed fluted layer between them. The dual layers of inner and outer liner offer an extra layer of added protection from the dings and bump. These are widely used in retail and FMCG industries.
Triple Wall Cardboard – This is the strongest of all the corrugated types of cardboard packaging boxes. Consists of a three-layered corrugated medium and a 3 or 4 layer inner and outer cardboard sheets. Mostly used in the packaging and transporting of heavy industrial products and spare parts due to its strength and robustness.
The kind of packaging box you need depends on your requirements and scale of business. If your business involves shipping of heavy products and goods, then corrugated cardboard boxes are ideal for you. If in case you are in the cosmetic or pharmaceutical industry, paperboard boxes would be the best solution. At times it might happen that you might be needing both the major types of packaging boxes. For e.g. your brand-new smartphone is packed using a paperboard packaging box but is shipped to you directly in a corrugated box. Hence, we see that depending on your requirements, you can choose either of them or integrate both to pack and protect your precious cargo.
