Manufacturing a perfect box takes skill and attention to detail: one can say it’s a true work of art! Having the right box can help you to reach the potential audience.
Let’s take a deeper dive and explore what lies in the manufacturing process of the packaging industry.
Packaging Manufacturing Process
Here are the following steps which take place in the packaging manufacturing process:
- Artwork File
- CTP Plates
- Stock Selection
- Printing
- Lamination
- Die-making & Die-Cutting
- Binding
Artwork File:
The process starts with designing an artwork file for custom boxes, and it is the foremost step.
The artwork needs to be carefully crafted to ensure a seamless transition from client vision to finished product. It is necessary to make all the necessary changes to ensure accuracy and a perfect fit.
CTP Plates:
Upon the completion of the artwork, the next step is to create CTP plates, which help in the printing process.
Plates are imaged with designs or artwork, which are then transferred to packaging material by printing.
Stock Selection
The next step after the creation of CTP plates is to determine what type of stock will be used by the packaging companies in order to begin the manufacturing process.
There are two things that determine the stock selection: what the client desires and how much the product weighs.
Packaging materials are the most important part of any custom box creation, so they deserve a little more attention to detail when selecting the right stock.
Printing
Printing processes vary based on the specific requirements of customers when manufacturing custom boxes.
There are a number of printing techniques available to imprint artwork on your packaging, depending on the design you want to incorporate.
Here are the printing option from which you can select
- Offset Printing
- Digital Printing
- Screen Printing
Lamination
Lamination is the next step that takes place during the packaging process. Adding lamination to packaging materials enhances durability, strength, and appearance.
Mainly, three laminations are used in the manufacturing process based on the client’s requirements.
- Matte Lamination
- Gloss Lamination
- Soft Touch Lamination
Please note that each lamination comes with its own unique characteristics. And the selection of lamination depends on the client’s needs.
Lamination involves applying pressure to the packaged material and the lamination sheet to bond them together. In this way, a strong and durable laminate is created.
Once, your packaging is laminated, it may undergo add-on processing if required, such as embossing, foiling, spot UV, and more!
Die-making & Die Cutting
The die-making process is an integral part of the whole box design process. It indicates the folds, cuts, or scores that need to be made on a box or package using a template or outline. Once the die is ready, the next step is die-cutting.
Die-cutting refers to the process which creates desired shape and design of the box. Die-cutting utilizes specialized tools called dies to produce desired shapes or designs.
A die-cutting machine cuts the design by pressing a die against the packaging material to create a desired box. The die-cutting machine can be adjusted to control the depth and precision of the cut.
Binding
The binding process involves the construction of boxes at the end of manufacturing. As part of the manufacturing process, the box will be folded appropriately, and adhesives will be applied if necessary.
I am a marketing copywriter and strategist working with CBM (Custom Box Makers). In my role, I manage their social media platforms and curate engaging content for their blog pages.
