As primary packaging, Gable Top allows the product to benefit from properties such as naturalness and freshness, typical of this material.
For these properties to remain unaltered from the plant through to distribution and end consumers, the same attention must be paid to choosing and developing the most suitable secondary packaging for Gable Top cartons.
In this article, we will share some tips on how to select the right packaging material and end-of-line packaging solution.
Secondary packaging options for gable top
Choosing the most suitable end-of-line solution for Gable Top mostly depends on industry practices (e.g. dairy, flour, dry food, etc.), local preferences and budget.
The main secondary packaging options for Gable Top are:
Wrap-around packaging
It is the ideal solution for foods packaged in Gable Top cartons. While ensuring high safety levels, it is widely perceived as eco-friendly. In addition, the design of wrap-around packages can be fully customized, hence strengthening the premium reputation of the products (for instance, using bespoke die-cuts) and meeting specific technical requirements (e.g. adding handles on products usually sold in packs of twelve).
Heath-shrink film packaging
It is the cheapest solution for the packaging and distribution of Gable Top cartons.
Thanks to its innate features (self-bearing capacity, protection from external elements and impact resistance), Gable Top is suitable for heat-shrink film packages. However, in terms of safety and design, this solution is not usually recommended for Gable Top.
American Box
American box offers adequate protection for Gable Top carton packaging and allows the box to be reused. However, it is a less common choice compared to wrap-around, mostly for its costs.
Indeed, the investment required by the Pick & Place system, the cost of the carton and the loose space inside the boxes make it less competitive compared to wrap-around.
Which type of carton to choose?
In addition to the packaging method, choosing the type of secondary packaging carton must consider technical requirements, budget and commercial objectives.
The ideal package is the combination of various customization options, which include:
Type of paper – Additional value and differentiation for secondary packaging of high-end products may be attained using, for example, glossy paper.
Thickness – Packaging for the transport and distribution of Gable Top products is usually composed of a 3mm, type B, single-wave carton. Greater protection may be ensured with thicker, more expensive cardboard. On the other hand, containing the investment using thin cardboard could prove detrimental because of the risks of breakage during transport and eventually damage the brand image.
Closing – For Gable Top carton packaging, we recommend choosing a secondary packaging with caps. At a higher cost, a closed package provides higher protection and greater palletizing capacity, making the use of layers unnecessary.
Design – The design of the secondary packaging for Gable Top meets both technical and marketing needs. For example, packages with windows or particularly sophisticated designs are very common in retail as they allow the product to be displayed in an attractive and functional way. The same applies to packaging with handles, which allows the end customer to transport the product safely and comfortably, and to perforated tear strips for easy opening.
