A rigid box is a box ready for use without any additional assembly

A rigid box is a box ready for use without any additional assembly after receiving it from the manufacturer. Rigid boxes began to be used hundreds of years ago. Still, their attractiveness today is mainly determined by the quality of production (which is highly appreciated by consumers), the ability to store in them slowly and often expensive products, as well as the fact that they provide mechanical protection of the contents.

Given the predominance of conventional folding cardboard boxes and corrugated cardboard boxes among various paper packaging types, the use of rigid boxes may seem to be declining dramatically. Nevertheless, for numerous box manufacturers (both large and small), the market niches occupied by tables and their many varieties are expanding. Long gone are the days when the box was the preferred packaging for those items that are now packaged, for example, in cellophane bags. However, the two main factors that determine a positive attitude towards a rigid box are its quality and its treatment as a "luxury item".

Rigid boxes are not just boxes with a removable or lifting cover (lift-off-lid). It is necessary to consider a wide range of products manufactured by box manufacturing enterprises and equipment for their manufacture. All products have their strengths and weaknesses, their limitations. Still, in a world where packaging waste is a global environmental issue, the environmental friendliness and versatility of rigid boxes can solve many problems.

The advantages of hard boxes include:

• The strength of the structure and the ability to protect the contents.
• The image of a "luxury item" through the ability to combine materials such as cardboard, fabric, metal, polymeric materials, etc.;
• A greater variety of styles, sizes, coating materials and accessories (e.g. loops, etc.).
• The freedom for the designer to combine different types of boxes and cases.
• A wide range of printing and surface finishes compared to plain cardboard boxes.
• Compatibility with other products when displaying in a display case.
• The ability to produce small batches of packaging.
• Possibility of reuse or alternative use of empty boxes.
• More than 80% of the raw materials used to manufacture the rigid box can be recycled.

Shortcomings and limitations in the use of rigid boxes can be attributed:

• The large volume occupied by empty rigid boxes compared to folding flat tables;

Relatively higher cost.

• Unsuitable for automatic processing in mass production.

 

Types of rigid boxes

 

The defining advantage of a rigid box is the freedom with which you can approach its shape, materials, details and appearance. Such plates can be large or small, square, rectangular, round or oval. Some of the purest forms of rigid boxes are based on a design with a removable lid.

Based on a pencil-type box, a box with several drawers was developed, e.g. for candy boxes or surgical instruments.

By combining the bases of boxes with different lids are obtained tables with hinged (hinged) lids and boxes with edges, used for jewellery packaging. Vertical trays produce boxes (cases) of various shapes and designs, and rigid cardboard cases with pockets and plastic fittings are used for DVD packaging.

Rigid box market

In the US, the largest sectors of the rigid box market include packaging for the following products:

• crockery (metal and glass), ceramics and cutlery;
• jewellery and watches;
• perfumes and cosmetics;
• music products and board games (including video games);
• stationery and office equipment;
• premium drinks;
• book products;
• chocolate confectionery and gifts;
• sets of greeting cards;
• photo merchandise;
• household goods and tools;
• medical supplies.

At the current price level, the US market, including imported boxes, is about 80 million pounds sterling. Exports from the US (mainly to the nearest continental European countries) are small. They account for less than 10% of the boxes produced (due to the relatively high transport costs of empty rigid boxes because we occupy them.

In many of the above sectors, belonging to "luxury goods" and using them for gifts leads to significant seasonal fluctuations in demand, which usually increases within 4-5 months before the Christmas holidays, which is a massive challenge for box making companies as production needs to increase dramatically. The output of such boxes usually requires a lot of manual labour, especially in the final finishing phase, and the setting up, operation and maintenance of the wrapping, laminating and material preparation equipment requires the highest level of staff skills.

In value terms, the use of unique boxes is likely to exceed the packaging of standard, repeatable products. Since the delivery time of such packaging is short (for example, in the musical instruments sector - up to 10 days), the company producing rigid boxes, even at the design stage usually works closely with the customer, that is, sales agents are rarely used here. Naturally, box makers must have CAD, electronic communication, digital printing and other modern technologies at their disposal.