Reverse Tuck End Boxes.

The top tuck folds toward the back and the bottom tuck folds toward the front. Because the two ends close in opposite directions, the carton squares up predictably from flat, and that's why it is the most-produced folding carton in the world.

High-speed erectors are mostly configured for this geometry. At hundreds of cartons a minute, predictable squaring is what keeps a line from jamming.

Yes, the bottom flap's slit crosses the front panel near the base. That's the visual cost of the structure, and in most designs nobody notices it once the artwork is planned around it.

Keep type and key imagery clear of the bottom edge, or work the slot into the design as a line or band. If the front is a single clean image with nothing to hide the slot, a straight tuck end is the better choice.

The filling operation often decides the structure, and reverse tuck is usually what it already runs. Erectors configured for this carton can jam on a straight tuck, and changing a line's setup costs far more than anything saved on the box.

Ask them which tuck direction and flap locks their equipment expects. We'll build the dieline to match before the artwork is finished.

Every standard carton finish runs on this structure. Gloss lamination suits bright, colour-forward categories. Matte suits a quieter premium look, and spot UV over matte adds contrast at a modest cost. Soft-touch is the choice when the box should feel good in the hand.

Hot foil, embossing and debossing are available too. We keep foil and embossing off the score lines so the tucks still fold cleanly.

SBS from 14 to 24pt covers most retail work, picked by weight and panel size. Folding boxboard gives good stiffness for its weight at a lower cost. Kraft grades carry a natural look, and recycled board with post-consumer content suits brands that print a recycled claim.

Where the contents need a barrier, we can move to a coated barrier stock. The plain SBS, FBB and kraft grades all recycle with household paper.

We quote them by inside length, width and depth, measured from your actual product. The format scales from small bottles and tubes up to boxed accessories and food packs, and every carton here is built to order.

The panel layout leaves room on the back and sides for directions and the required marks. Tell us if customers will reclose the box, and we'll add tuck lock slits so it stays shut on the shelf.

The minimum is 500 cartons, which covers a first placement across a modest number of stores. At six to eight units a store, 500 fills about 50 shops with some left over for damaged stock.

Orders go up to 100,000 as distribution grows. For a product with seasonal turns, order enough to cover a few months, since the die is already cut and reorders only need print.

Standard production is 7 to 10 business days from approved art, or 5 to 7 on rush. Samples take 5 to 7 business days, and we'd send a few to your filler so they can run them through the erector before bulk.

A machine trial catches a flap or crease problem while it is still cheap to fix. We deduct the sample charge when the bulk order is placed.