Jargon Made Easy

To help you to understand the different styles and designs available that can be manufacture.  Have a look at our handy guide below. We hope this will help you to make the right choice in terms of your requirements.

If you're still not sure, if you have any queries or are interested in purchasing from our product range, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team who will be happy to assist you.

Contact Us

Glossary of Styles and Terms

• Artboard
  

  Artboard is a solid board made from 100% primary fibre, for extra strength, with the same finish on both sides. It is predominantly used in the printing industry for book covers or business cards.

• Ballotin Box
  

  A two-piece, lift-off cover box, with base sides that slant outward at an angle and a regular straight-angled cover.

• Base
  

  The lower or receptacle portion of a paper box.

• Buckram-Embossed Papers
  

  A very popular covering paper with a textured finish, available in a wide range of colours.

• Bundling
  

  Wrapping several finished boxes in paper or plastic for shipment or storage.

• Caliper
  

  This describes the thickness of material and is measured in microns (mic) which are equal to 1/1000 of a millimetre. For rigid boxes with flat faces, 1000-3000mic board would normally be used depending on the size of the box. Cartons would be made from a maximum of 900mic board. Transparent items would normally be made from 240mu PVC.

• Carton
  

  A pack which is cut from one piece of material, generally has one glue seam and can be supplied flat-packed.

• Castcoated Board
  

  A high quality folding boxboard coated to produce a high mirror gloss finish, available in a variety of colours.

• Chipboard
  

  The basic recycled paperboard material used for the super structure of rigid boxes.

• Clamshell
  

  A one-piece container consisting of two halves joined by a hinge area which allows the structure to come together to close.

• Cut Card Platform/ Plinth / Insert
  

  An insert made of a piece of card or Foam, usually with a hole of a particular shape cut out of it to support the object to be put in the box. Card platforms can be lined or unlined and can also serve as a shoulder. Alternatively, to make it more decorative, the platform could be covered in printed paper or satin.

• Cutting Tools
  

  Die-cutting tools are required for the cutting and creasing of box components.

• Easels
  

  Supports attached to box to sustain upright position for display purposes.

• Embossing
  

  Process of imprinting paper to create a raised pattern or design.

• Finishes
  

  Printed paper or board can be coated using machine varnish (matt or gloss), UV varnish (high gloss) or film laminate (high gloss or matt).  Please note this is not the full range of finishes available - there are many different types of print finishes and we are happy to discuss all with you. 

• Flange
  

  A flat piece of covered card which would normally be 10-15mm bigger than the base or lid size and is fixed on to the base or lid of the box. It creates a more classical feel to the box and is usually intended as a decorative feature.

• Flap Lid
  

  Lid having no sides or ends and hinged to base.

• Flock
  

  A velvet-like finish which can be produced on paper for box covering or on PVC for use in vacuum-forming.

• Foilboard
  

  Refers to any base board laminated with a metallic foil.

• Folded Card Divider
  

  A simple, attractive and cost effective way of presenting products in a carton or rigid box without the expense of a vacuum-formed insert.

• Folding Carton
  

  A generic term for any style of pack which can be supplied flat.

• Folding Boxboard
  

  A high quality board made which is stiffer and smoother than white lined chipboard. Folding boxboard is normally used where direct contact with food is involved.

• Grain
  

  The direction of the majority of the fibres in the board. The significance of the grain direction is that board can only be curved in one direction and not the other.

• GSM
  

  This stands for Grams per Square Metre and gives the density of the board or paper.

• Hinge
  

  A method of attaching a lid to a base.

• Hot Foil Stamping
  

  Process using heat and pressure to apply thin pieces of metal foil to a printed wrap to create a shiny area of design or print. Leaf stamping is often combined with embossing to make a logo or design “pop”.

• Insert (platform)
  

  Any construction of paperboard or other material placed or sometimes glued in a box to locate and secure product.

• Knock-down Box
  

  A two-piece telescoping box with a rigid cover and a base (also in rigid-weight board) that folds down flat for easy shipping. The base can be constructed in several styles with folding tabs and collapsing corners. The assembled box looks and feels like a rigid box and can be used to protect delicate items.

• Label
  

  A plain or printed piece of paper attached to a box, distinct from top or bottom wrap.

• Leatherette
  

  An embossed paper which is made to look similar to leather.

• Lid (cover)
  

  The upper or covering portion of a rigid box.

• Lid Support (ribbon stop)
  

  Tape or ribbon to hold hinge lid in position when box is open.

• Lifts
  

  Pieces of ribbon, cloth, tape, or paper attached to trays for convenience in removing from base.

• Lining
  

  Lining is the term applied when the inside of a box or platform is laminated with paper or other material.

• Loose Wrapping
  

  Process of covering a lid with paper on a wrapping machine or by hand, with the adhesive applied so as to adhere the edges only.

• Machine-Made
  

  This term describes a box where all the manufacturing processes are performed by machines such as cutting and creasing presses. Cartons and flat-packed ballotins would fall into this category.

• Metal Clasp
  

  A metal clasp is a decorative method of securing a lid.

• Metal Hinge
  

  As the name suggests, this is a small brass hinge mechanism designed for use with rigid boxes and lids. Hinges generally allow lids to open either through 180 or 90 degrees.

• Neck
  

  A tray inserted in a base to form a shoulder box, attached by adhesive, and extending above the base into the lid when box is closed.

• Nesting
  

  Placing trays or covers of the same size, or boxes of varying sizes, one within another.

• Padded Top
  

  Tops covered with paper or cloth with one or more layers of wadding or other padding material underneath.

• Papers
  

  Various sorts of paper commonly used as wraps in the manufacture of set-up rigid boxes include: book, label, manila, and kraft, and can be finished with UV or aqueous coatings, foils, brush finish, embossing, printing and drum or cast coating.

• Partitions (dividers)
  

  Slotted pieces of chipboard fitted together to form a series of compartments, and placed in a base without being attached thereto.

• Pantone Reference (PMS)
  

  The Pantone Matching System is a universally accepted colour matching guide offering a very extensive range of colour shades, each of which has a specific ink recipe and can be reproduced accurately.

• Paper/Fabric Hinge
  

  A paper hinge is made up of two pieces of card joined on both faces by covering paper. A small gap of a few millimetres is left between the card pieces, which then acts like a hinge along the line of the join. A fabric hinge works in the same way and provides added strength. Paper or fabric hinges would normally be found in boxes with flat hinged lids or in the spine assembly of a book box.

• Piping
  

  This is an effect which highlights the edges of a box. It is created by first covering a box in a base paper, say a gold chamois, and then applying the main covering paper in the form of patches and bands rather than full covers. This allows the base paper to show through at the edges of the box giving the appearance of piping. Any colour can be used as piping.

• Plates
  

  Plates are used in the printing process to transfer an ink image onto the board or paper. Printing plates are sheets of treated aluminium alloy on which the print image is chemically etched and one plate is required for each colour required to be printed.

• Projection Edge
  

  A narrow, shelf-like protrusion around the base of a box, either round or rectangular, designed to give a unique look or increase the box’s stability.

• Pulls
  

  Metal handles or pieces of tape or ribbon attached to a tray that is to function as a drawer.

• PVC Window
  

  PVC windows are normally found in cartons where it is important that the product is visible. They can be positioned on a single face or can be wrapped around two or three faces of the box. They can also be designed such that they simply slot into place rather than having to be glued in. PVC windows can also be very effective in the lids of rigid boxes.

• Ribbon Stays
  

  These are customarily used with hinged boxes and lids to limit the extent to which the lid can open. Their purpose is to ensure that the hinge mechanism is not subjected to any unnecessary strain, as this might otherwise result in the hinge being gradually worked loose and thereby affecting the way the lid closes.

• Ribbon Tabs
  

  Ribbon tabs are most commonly used in boxes with hinged lids to help lift the lid.

• Rigid Box
  

  This term is used to describe any box which cannot be supplied flat-packed. As a result, a rigid box would normally be stronger and often more elaborate than a carton of a similar size. A paperboard box that is constructed already- formed or "set-up" for use, as distinguished from a folding carton or a corrugated shipping container. Rigid boxes are made of heavier-weight board than folding cartons, giving them more strength.

• Satin Covered Insert
  

  Expanded polystyrene, die-cut foam, or a vacuum-formed insert can be covered with satin to provide an attractive yet robust and protective bed for any fragile product.

• Satin Covered Platform
  

  A cut card platform can be covered with satin to act as an attractive locating device for a specific product.

• Satin Ring
  

  This is intended as a flexible insert for a rigid box where one standard box may be used for a number of different items such as crystal decanters or porcelain figures. The insert is made by constructing a band of card and stapling a generous piece of satin around the outside. Usually, a quantity of expanded polystyrene beads would be put into the base of the box and the satin ring would then be placed over them. When an object is placed on the satin, the beads will then mould themselves to the shape of the object. It is particularly useful if the same box is required to hold a range of different products.

• Scoring
  

  Making knife cuts on chipboard (score marks) for the purpose of forming a bending line.

• Shoulder
  

  A shoulder sits proud of the base of the box and is designed to allow the lid to locate flush with the base, such as with a hinged box and lid.

• Shoulder Box
  

  Box having glued neck so inserted that ends and sides of base form shoulder upon which lid rests. Neck can be exposed or completely covered by lid.

• Sifter Screen
  

  A mesh screen bordered by rigid-weight board used to filter powder in a cosmetics box. Can be made round or rectangular.

• Sleeve
  

  A sleeve is a very versatile and useful accessory with applications ranging from the protection of a delicate item to an alternative for a lid. A sleeve can be made from card or PVC.

• Slide Box
  

  Box in which a tray is inserted into a sleeve (Like a traditional match box).

• Sustainable
  

  All our boxes are made using sustainable techniques and materials. To this end we are working towards net zero. If you wish to have copies of our rsustanability report please let us know.

• Stay
  

  Material used for reinforcing corners of base, lid, or tray. Material may be paper or milar or a combination of each.

• Tassels
  

  Tassels are used as a decorative feature and can be very effective with elaborate boxes such as caskets.

• Telescope Box
  

  A box in which the sides and ends of the lid are cut the same depth as the sides and ends of the base and the lid fits over base is known as a "full" telescope. When the depth of the lid is more or less than the height of the base, lid depth should be stated separately.

• Thumbholes
  

  Thumbholes are most commonly used on boxes with full depth lids to make it easier to lift the lid.

• Tight Wrapping
  

  Process of covering base, lid or tray with paper on wrapping machine, or by hand, wraps being in one piece and with the entire surface covered with adhesive.

• Turn-In
  

  When a rigid box is covered with any covering paper or material, the turn-in is the strip of covering paper visible on the inside of the box where it has been folded in over the top edge of the box. The turn-in would normally only extend about 10mm below the top edge of the box but, where boxes are fitted with lined platforms, often the turn-in comes down below the level of the platform so that there is no white card visible at all. This is referred to as a deep turn-in.

• Tray
  

  A receptacle for which no lid is made.

• Vacuum-Formed Insert
  

  These inserts are most commonly used in chocolate boxes but are just as effective for a variety of other products, such as cosmetics. Vac-form materials are available in different thicknesses and in many colours such as gold, white, brown or clear as well as smooth or flocked finishes.

• White Lined Chipboard
  

  This is the standard grade of board used in the manufacture of rigid boxes and many cartons. It is made from 75% or more recycled fibre.