Corrugated box style is also called fefco box styles,before starting your corrugated boxes business, you should ensure that you have choose the right corrugated box style for your product. The corrugated box styles are different bewteen products and industry, here is the a corrugated box style guide for beginners to help them choose the right corrugated boxes.

1. What is Fefco

Why the corrugated box style is also called fefco box style? FEFCO is the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers, a non-profit organisation. It represents the corrugated cardboard industry across the United Kingdom and Europe who devised a simple, yet effective system to replace long winded and complicated descriptions of various styles of corrugated cartons which are by nature extremely customisable.

In the fefco style system, we use fefco box style code to distinguish the corrugated boxes. A FEFCO box style code is a four-digit code, where the first two digits comprise of the styles category and the second two digits represent the unique box style within the category. For example, 0403 is the 03 style of box from the 04 category.

2. Common Corrugated Boxes Style

Corrugated box can be designed to meet different product requirements, such as product protection, shelf space and inner packaging that prevents shifting. There are thousands of possible combination corrugated offers to its consumers, here Aopack introduce serveral common corrugated box styles.

  • 0110 Commercial rolls & sheets

Commercial rolls and sheets are typically used to protect glass in transport and whilst in storage for additional safety and security.

 

  • 0201 Slotted-type boxes

All flaps have the same length, and the two outer flaps (normally the lengthwise flaps) are one-half the container’s width, so that they meet at the center of the box when folded. If the product requires a flat, even bottom surface, or the protection of two full layers, a fill-in pad can be placed between the two inner flaps. This is a highly efficient design for many applications. There is very little manufacturing waste.

This box style is most commonly used as it is ideal for shipping small singular items, for example crockery, books and small electronic items. The identification of this box is its same length flaps from score to edge.

0301 Telescope-type boxes

Telescope boxes usually consist of a separate top, or top and bottom that fit over each other or a separate body. The International Fibreboard Case Code calls these boxes Telescope-Style. The truck and rail classifications call them Telescope Boxes if the cover extends over at least two-thirds of the depth, and Boxes with Covers if the cover extends over less than two-thirds of the depth.

There are a number of derivatives of the Design Style Container including a Tray, Partial Telescope, HSC with Design Style cover (example: copy paper boxes), and HSC with a full depth cover (example: orange and apple boxes). This types of box packaging can be used in many applications and variety of industries.

  • 0406 Wrap Around Blank

A wrap-around blank is formed into a box by folding it tightly around a rigid product. The positioning of the product, folding and sealing are performed by automatic equipment. The finished box is essentially an RSC, turned on its side so that the bottom and top are unbroken. The joint, however, is not formed until the final closure.

  • 0410 Five Panel Folder (FPF)

A single cut and scored piece features a fifth panel used as the closing flap, completely covering a side panel. The closed box has several layers of combined board on each end, providing stacking strength and protection for long articles of small diameter which might be damaged, or damage the box, if pushed through the ends.

  • 0427 Roll End Tray with Locking Cover

Formed from a single piece of combined board on a die cutter, the design features an unbroken bottom, several layers of corrugated in the end panels and a locking cover. It is a ideal packing box for shipping purpose, commonly used for electronics.

  • 0501 Slide-type boxes

Slide-type boxes consist of several pieces of liners and sleeves sliding in different directions into each other. This group also includes outside sleeves for other cases.

  • 0711 Pre-glued Auto Bottom with RSC Top Flaps

The top panels of the box are usually those of a regular slotted container. For a telescope-style box, two self-erecting pieces can be used (International Fibreboard Case Code: 0714). This style would be produced on a die-cutter

  • 0933 Interior Fitment

Interior fitments such as inside liners, pads, partitions, dividers etc., whether tied to Case Design or as singular items. Any shown number of panels is arbitrary and may be increased or decreased as required.

 

Note:

a. You can check all the fefco styles here: http://www.fefco.org/technical-information/fefco-code

b. If you want to know what corrugated box style are available for aopack box making machine, download our common corrugated box style.

 

3. Why doesn’t the FEFCO code mention box dimensions?

The FEFCO system only represents styles of boxes, no dimensions which need to be specified separately to the box style, for example you may wish to commission a corrugated box manufacturer to manufacture an 0427 style box with a completely customised set of dimensions to suit your requirement. When specifying dimensions for a FEFCO style box, be sure to detail the Length (L), Width (W) and Height (H) of the box

  • Length (L) = the longer dimension at the opening
  • Width (W) = the shorter dimension at the opening
  • Height (H) = the dimension from the top of the opening to the base

 

4. FEFCO advice on closure of boxes

FEFCO advises that the closure of boxes is just as important as the construction of the box style itself. The advisable methods of box closure on FEFCO box styles either individually or combined are:

  • Gluing
  • Taping (adhesive tapes for example)
  • Interlocking
  • Stitching

These methods of closure are either already performed on the box or may require closure during assembly, for example adhesive taping.