Packaging Basics | An Overview of Plastic Box Products Fundamentals

Packaging Basics | Essential Guide to Plastic Box Products

Plastic Boxes are a type of packaging container manufactured from materials like PPC, PVC, PET, or APET through processes including printing, die-cutting, and gluing. Compared to traditional paper boxes, plastic boxes offer eco-friendliness (excluding PVC), non-toxicity, high transparency, and superior product visibility, effectively elevating packaging quality.

 

1. Classification of Plastic Boxes

 

By Material:
PP boxes, PVC boxes, PET boxes

 

By Structure:
Cylindrical boxes, square boxes, custom-shaped boxes, soft plastic boxes, molded plastic sheets.

 

 

2. Manufacturing Process

• Plate Making:
  Modern production primarily uses CTP (Computer-to-Plate) technology.

 

• Material Selection:
  Common materials: PET, PVC, PP. Thickness ranges:

  • PVC/PET: 0.10–0.55mm

  • PP: Up to 0.75mm (excessive thickness causes rigidity and visual dullness).

 

• Printing:
  Limited to surface printing (e.g., silk screening) due to high aesthetic standards. Avoids color deviations, ink spots, or fading.

 

• Surface Treatment:
  Gloss/matte lamination, UV coating, varnishing (offset printing techniques).

 

• Die-Cutting:
  Precision-critical phase; inaccuracies affect subsequent steps.

 

• Lamination:
  Unique post-die-cutting sequence to prevent scratches and ensure aesthetics (handcrafted for premium finish).

 

• Gluing:
  Automated or manual assembly with material-specific adhesives.

 

3. Material Properties & Print Quality

 

▶ Smoothness & Color Rendering

• Smoothness (measured in seconds) indicates surface uniformity. Higher smoothness = better ink transfer = vibrant, consistent colors.

• Low smoothness causes uneven ink absorption, resulting in patchy/faded prints.

• Recommendation: Use high-smoothness materials for fine halftone prints.

 

▶ Gloss & Visual Impact

• Gloss (reflectivity %) enhances color brilliance. High-gloss materials (PVC/PET/PP) deliver vivid, eye-catching results.

• Critical Note: Gloss ≠ smoothness; select based on application:

  • Text-heavy content: Moderate-gloss materials reduce glare.

  • Graphics-rich designs: High-gloss PVC/PET/PP for intense colors.

 

 

4. Applications

 

Despite higher costs than paper packaging, plastic boxes dominate eco-sensitive industries due to their advantages:

Infant Products、Cosmetics、Electronics & Digital Goods