To ensure safe storage and transportation, the folding carton must be square and stable.

Single wall or double wall? Kraft liner or test liner? FEFCO 0201 or 0202? These are just a few of the questions to ask yourself when looking for the perfect folding carton.
Regardless of what goods you want to pack or transport, the right packaging will determine whether it succeeds. The selection is huge and getting an overview is not easy. In the following, you will learn what to look for when choosing a folding carton and how to optimally protect your goods.

Corrugation type, paper grade and co.: these are the properties of a folded shipping carton

Square shipping cartons can be folded to save space, making them easier to transport or deliver. Once at the place of use, they are unfolded in no time and serve as a box. Folding cartons are mainly made of corrugated cardboard, one of the most widely used materials in the packaging industry. Its stability combined with its light weight makes it the ideal material for packaging of all kinds.

Square cartons come in large and small folding carton sizes.

Square boxes also have dimensions, which are given in length, width and height. The height refers to the distance from the bottom of the box to its top. In square folding cartons, the length and width are the same, the height can vary and does not have to have the same measurement. For rectangular folding cartons, the length is always the longer side and the width the shorter. Normally, the dimensions given are the inside dimensions. Some folding boxes can be varied in size. In such a case, the minimum and maximum length, width and height are given. For easier orientation the folding cartons in the store of verpacking.com are categorized as follows: Folding cartons from 200, from 300, from 400, from 500, from 600, from 700 and from 800mm length.

The carton box can be designed according to your own requirements.

Mostly square shipping cartons are brown, sometimes white. However, they can be printed individually, for example, with your company logo. Since photo quality cannot be achieved when printing on cardboard, clear motifs without many details are best suited. Strong contrasts should be taken into account when coloring. Simple logos are particularly suitable for this. To ensure successful printing, an image file with at least 300 dpi is required. For companies, printed cardboard boxes are a good advertising option, but this is precisely why you should pay attention to a high-quality print. Of course, it also needs the right carton, because the wrong packaging does not leave a good impression. Auxiliary materials such as adhesive tape can also be printed according to one's own ideas.

The structure of corrugated board

Although there are many different types of corrugated board, the principle is always the same: straight paper webs are glued together with corrugated paper webs. This combination makes corrugated board extremely strong and lightweight at the same time. Much of the paper used in its manufacture is waste paper.
In Germany, corrugated base papers are almost exclusively produced from waste paper. These may be called "recycled paper". Other papers, however, are mostly imported. Nevertheless, all papers are recyclable, even those made from virgin fibers, since both the raw material of the paper (wood) and that of the glue (corn, potato or wheat starch) are renewable. The Packaging Act stipulates a 90% return rate for packaging made of paper, cardboard and carton from January 1, 2022. One label that can be used as a guide is the RESY recycling symbol. The RESY symbol guarantees that all corrugated board, cardboard and paper packaging is recycled.

Corrugated board is manufactured in corrugators

Before processing in the corrugator (corrugator), the fibrous materials are first floated in water and combined with fillers and glue. In the corrugator, the paper is formed with the aid of hot steam and under pressure. In the hot, moist state, the paper is elastic enough to be shaped. The corrugating rolls of the machine finally provide the desired corrugated shape. The corrugated and cover paper are then bonded together with adhesive. Starch-based adhesives are usually used for this purpose. Once the corrugated board is finished, it can be cut to the desired size.
If a shipping carton is square, the cutting pattern must be planned with care, as the characteristics and behavior of the carton must be taken into account. Folds, creases, cuts and windows are placed so that the folding carton does not lose any resistance. In addition, handling, i.e. unfolding and closing, must be as simple and fast as possible.

The paper grade plays a role in determining stability and weight

The choice of paper grade plays an important role in the final product. Three different types of paper are used for the cover paper: Kraftliner, Testliner and Schrenz.
Kraftliner is the most resistant grade, as it consists mainly of virgin fibers. It offers reliable protection against moisture as well as against tears and other damage. Its disadvantages are its comparatively higher price and poorer environmental performance. This is due to the high proportion of virgin fibers.
The other two paper grades have a high proportion of recovered paper. Testliner is average in terms of stability and consists of several layers. The advantages are that it is more environmentally friendly, cheaper than kraftliner and can still keep up with the latter's resistance. In terms of moisture resistance, however, testliner is clearly behind kraftliner. Adhesive tapes also adhere less effectively to this less expensive paper.
Schrenz is particularly light and is mostly used for false ceilings. It is made entirely from recycled paper and is thus way ahead in terms of environmental friendliness. In addition, Schrenz impresses with its low weight and favorable price, which clearly set it apart from the other types of paper. On the downside, Schrenz is far behind the others in terms of both strength, resilience, moisture resistance, and tape adhesion.
The flute of the corrugated board itself must be both stiff and elastic at the same time - only in this way will it provide optimum protection. Semi-chemical pulp papers, made from wood fibers that have been broken down by half, or corrugating medium, made from waste paper and starch, are used for this purpose.

The structure of corrugated board consists of several layers

Basically, a distinction can be made between single-flute, double-flute and multi-flute paperboard. Single wall board has - as its name implies - a corrugated layer. In most cases, this is enclosed by two smooth layers, the inner and outer layers. In the case of double wall board, there is predominantly a smooth intermediate cover between the two corrugated layers. These two types of corrugated board are the most commonly used. In addition, corrugated board is manufactured with up to 9 layers, although these variants are used rather rarely. Triple wall corrugated board is mainly used for very heavy goods and export by air or sea freight. In general, the more corrugated layers, the more stable.
Single wall corrugated board is cheaper and lighter. It is particularly suitable for smaller items and light to medium-weight goods. In such cases, costs can be saved because a single-flute version is sufficient due to the light weight of the contents. If bulky and heavy goods are involved, double wall corrugated board should be used. For delicate goods, this more robust variant is also the better choice.

The types of corrugation differ in length and height.

Not only the number of layers, but also the type of corrugation used plays a role. The most common types of waves are the A wave or coarse wave, the B wave or fine wave, the C wave or medium wave, and the E wave, also called fine or microwave. In addition, there are many other types of waves, all of which differ in size. The wave pitch refers to the horizontal extension of the wave and the wave height to its upward dimension. The closer together the flutes are, the more stable the corrugated board is. If a corrugated board consists of several layers, different flute types are often combined.
The advantages of the individual flute types are manifold, and their respective use is thus suitable for different requirements. The coarse flute (A) is characterized by its good spring action, the medium flute (C) is an all-rounder and can be used in a variety of ways. The fine flute (B) is particularly suitable for less sensitive packaged goods, and the ultra-fine flute (E) is convincing in that it can be easily printed. When combining different flute types, one also combines their positive properties.

The FEFCO code uniformly designates the construction type of a package.

FEFCO stands for "Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Carton Ondulé" and designates the European Association of Corrugated Board Manufacturers. All cardboard packaging is recorded in the FEFCO code and is assigned a four-digit code. This is valid internationally and facilitates orientation and understanding in international trade. The first two digits indicate the basic type of packaging. For folding cartons, these are the digits beginning with 02 (square folding carton).
Folding cartons differ in their design. Here, the respective FEFCO code provides information. One of the most common models, for example, is that with the code 0201: the folding box whose top and bottom flaps butt together. "0202" designates folding cartons with overlapping top and bottom flaps, and "0203" those with fully overlapping top and bottom flaps. Square shipping cartons are sealed with tape or strapping.

Quality and maximum load capacity can be read from a code

The quality of a folding carton is indicated by a code, for example B1.02 or AAC2.95. If shipping cartons are square, the same scheme is followed. The first letter or letters describe the corrugation type or combination of corrugation types. "AAC" is thus a three-corrugated cardboard with two A-corrugations and one C-corrugation. The first number indicates the number of corrugations: "1" means that it is single corrugated board, if "2" it is double corrugated or triple corrugated board. The last numbers indicate the maximum load capacity of the material in kilograms. In the case of "B1.02", this is 2 kg. The corrugated board "AAC2.95" can be loaded with a maximum of 95 kg.
The maximum load capacity is made up of four factors: the bursting strength or bursting pressure, the pressure surge resistance, the edge crush resistance and the stacking crush resistance. Burst strength is the resistance of paperboard under increasing pressure. The pressure impact resistance indicates how much force must be applied to penetrate the corrugated board. Edge crush resistance (or ECT value) indicates the maximum force that may be applied to a corrugated board sample. The stack crush resistance (or BCT value) indicates how much force may be applied to the packaging before it collapses.
There are precise tests and standards that corrugated board packaging must meet. This means that they are monitored much more strictly than other packaging. In Germany, this is the DIN 55468 standard, which was developed based on the standard of the Association of the Corrugated Board Industry. Whether a package meets cartonboard standards can be recognized by the VDW mark.

A folded, square cartonboard as packaging has many advantages

A folded, square cartonboard has many advantages. As mentioned above, they are mainly convenient to use because they take up little space when folded and can be quickly unfolded into a box. People who type in packaging box square on Google are largely looking for just such a box. It should be stored in a space-saving yet stable manner. Thanks to the sophisticated structure of corrugated cardboard, folding cartons are particularly light and at the same time strong enough to ship goods safely. Folding cartons are also suitable for use as outer packaging. An outer packaging serves as additional packaging for already packed goods. This is characterized by the fact that it is optimally adapted to its respective contents. In addition, folding cartons are inexpensive. The low weight and small size when folded saves emissions during transport. Coupled with recyclability, this makes corrugated folding cartons an environmentally friendly packaging material.
If the folding carton is square, it is very stackable. Storage, shipping or transportation are thus facilitated. Especially when you have goods with uniform sizes, square cartons are great because there are fewer voids and the space in the shipping carton can be used more efficiently. If your carton is square, it can also save on filler material.

How to find the right shipping carton for your needs

If you want your shipping box to be square, consider the following points when choosing your box.
How heavy are the contents? The maximum load capacity of the shipping carton you select must match the weight of the contents. If the weight of the packed goods exceeds the maximum load capacity, the cardboard box may be damaged and the contents will no longer be protected. The other way around - if the load capacity is higher than the contents - nothing will be broken, but unnecessary costs will be incurred.
Not only the weight, but also the shape of the goods plays a role. Bulky or sensitive goods need better protection against the forces acting on them from outside during transport and storage. Multi-wall corrugated board is recommended here.
Another important point is the filling material or padding inside. Sensitive items need more padding. This should also be considered when choosing the size of the shipping box. If more padding is needed, the shipping carton must be correspondingly large. Suitable filling materials include bubble wrap, paper padding or foam padding.
If you want to stack the folding carton on a pallet, it makes sense to choose a size that fits perfectly on it. For example, if your boxes are square, those with the base area of 40 x 40 cm (L x W). This means that if your pallet has these dimensions, your folding carton should also be square. For a shipping carton to be called square, its length and width must be identical. Six pieces of this shipping carton fit exactly on a standard Euro pallet, which measures 120 x 80 cm (L x W). If you want your carton to be square in size and sturdy, you will find it on verpacking.com.
Without proper handling, the best square cardboard box is of little use. This starts with proper assembly. Here, care must be taken to ensure that the shipping carton is assembled exactly according to the manufacturer's specifications. Otherwise, a square cardboard box can lose considerable stability. Furthermore, the folding box must be properly secured. Adhesive tape or strapping tape is suitable for this purpose. The tape must secure the flaps well in the middle and at the edges, even if the cartons are square. It needs an adhesive tape that adheres optimally to the surface and is sufficiently wide. Strapping tape can seal individual cartons as well as hold several cartons together, e.g. on a pallet. Here, care must be taken to ensure that the strapping tape fits tightly.
If you pay attention to a few things in terms of storage, you can extend the life of a folding carton and its contents. Empty cartons should be stored in a dry place when folded, regardless of whether your folding carton is square or rectangular. Ideally, the room temperature should be between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. Damaged shipping cartons must be sorted out, as they no longer offer secure protection. If full boxes are stacked, the heaviest and largest folding carton should go all the way to the bottom. Lighter and smaller boxes can be stacked on top.