What is a Straight Tuck End Folding Carton?
Straight Tuck End (STE) folding cartons are a popular type of packaging solution widely used across various industries. These cartons are characterized by their straightforward design, featuring flaps that tuck into the same panel whether front or back of the carton without any additional locking mechanisms. This simple yet effective construction ensures easy assembly and secure closure, making STE folding cartons an ideal choice for packaging a wide range of products.
STE folding cartons are highly customizable in terms of size, shape, and printing, allowing businesses to create packaging that aligns with their branding and product presentation goals. Whether used for retail products, cosmetics, food items, or electronics, these cartons provide a cost-effective and visually appealing way to showcase products on store shelves while maintaining their safety during storage and transportation.
Custom Straight Tuck End Folding Carton Option & Features
Print Options
Flexography (also known as flexo) is a printing process that uses flexible relief plates made of rubber or photopolymer to transfer ink onto various substrates, such as corrugated, plastic films, and paper. It is a high-speed, cost-effective printing method that is suitable for printing on rough, porous, and irregular surfaces.
Digital print refers to a printing method that uses digital files such as PDFs, JPEGs, or TIFFs as a source for printing images or text. Digital print technology has revolutionized the printing industry by offering faster turnaround times, lower production costs, and the ability to produce high-quality prints
Lithography is a printing technique that uses a flat printing plate, a special kind of ink, and oil-based or water-based liquids to transfer an image onto a substrate. It produces high-quality, sharp and clear prints that are suitable for printing high-resolution graphics and text.
Graphic Design
Finishes can be applied with various techniques to enhance their appeal. Gloss finishes give a shiny, eye-catching look; matte finishes offer a subdued, elegant appearance; spot UV highlights specific areas with gloss; and litho lamination provides high-quality, detailed graphics. Additionally, numerous other finishes are available to cater to diverse packaging requirements, adding distinctiveness and brand-specific character to the cartons.
Graphic design must reflect the brand identity and effectively communicate the brand’s message to customers.
Maximize product visibility by apply graphics with contrasting colors, bold text, and high-quality images.
The text used in the graphic design must be legible, both from a distance and close up. The font size, color, and style must be carefully selected to ensure that the text is easily readable
Have your graphics effectively utilize the space available on the display, including the sides and back, to maximize impact and exposure to the product.
Display relevant product information, such as product name, benefits, and features. This information should be presented in a clear and concise manner.
Create a design consistent with the brand’s overall design and marketing materials, ensuring a cohesive look and feel across all channels.
Flexible designing, allowing for the display to be easily updated as needed, without requiring a complete redesign.
View your product with a realistic 3-D rendering that is easily sharable. Renderings are ideal for reviewing display prototypes and enabling quick and cost effective edits and changes.
Features
Structural design customization allows for tailoring the size, shape, and fold of folding cartons to precisely fit the product and branding needs. This includes creating unique shapes or sizes that stand out on shelves, and choosing folds that best suit the product’s security and display requirements. This level of customization is crucial for enhancing user experience and ensuring product protection while maintaining brand consistency.
Locking tabs are a customizable feature that enhances the security and integrity of folding cartons. They provide a secure closure without the need for adhesives, making the package tamper-evident and consumer-friendly. This feature is particularly useful for products that require extra security during transportation and retail display.
Hanging tabs are an added feature that allows folding cartons to be displayed on hanging racks, increasing visibility and accessibility in retail environments. They are ideal for lightweight products and can be custom designed to fit various retail display systems. This customization is beneficial for maximizing product exposure and optimizing retail space efficiency.
Cutout windows offer a glimpse of the product inside, enhancing consumer appeal and trust. They can be customized in various shapes and sizes, and are often covered with clear plastic to protect the product while allowing visibility. This feature is particularly effective for products where visual inspection prior to purchase is advantageous.
Customizing the strength and thickness of folding cartons, with options ranging from 10pt to 30pt, ensures optimal protection for different types of products. The most popular thicknesses – 18pt, 20pt, and 24pt – provide a balance between durability and ease of handling. Selecting the appropriate material thickness is essential for product safety, especially for items that are heavy or require extra protection during transport and handling.
Material Options
SUS/CUK material is known for its strength and durability, making it ideal for heavy-duty packaging needs. It’s made from unbleached wood pulp, giving it a natural, rustic appearance, and is often coated for added moisture resistance and printability. This material is commonly used for packaging items that require robust protection, like electronics and hardware.
SBS is a high-quality, premium paperboard material, known for its bright, clean appearance and excellent printing surface. It is made from bleached virgin wood pulp, making it ideal for high-end packaging applications where a strong visual impact is desired. Common uses include cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food packaging, where both aesthetics and product protection are key.
CCNB, Clay Coated News Back, is a cost-effective and eco-friendly material option for folding cartons, made from recycled newsprint and covered with a clay coating. This coating provides a smooth, white surface ideal for high-quality printing and vibrant graphics, making it a popular choice for consumer goods packaging. CCNB is not only durable but also sustainable, appealing to environmentally conscious brands and consumers looking for responsible packaging solutions.
CRB is an eco-friendly packaging option made from recycled materials. It’s a sturdy, cost-effective choice suitable for a wide range of packaging applications. The recycled content makes it a preferred choice for brands focused on sustainability, and it’s often used for everyday consumer goods packaging.
Micro-flute corrugated is a lightweight yet sturdy material, offering excellent protection with a thinner profile than traditional corrugated cardboard. It’s ideal for delicate items needing extra cushioning and is easily customizable for various packaging shapes and sizes. This material is often chosen for its balance of protective qualities and ease of handling, suitable for items like glassware and electronics.
UKB, or uncoated kraft boxboard, is a robust and versatile material known for its natural, organic appearance. Made from unbleached kraft paper, it provides a sturdy and eco-friendly packaging option, often favored for its recyclability and compostability. This material is commonly used for products where a rustic, earthy aesthetic is desired, such as organic or artisanal goods, and is valued for its simplicity and strength.
Markets We Serve
Food
- Snacks
- Frozen Foods
- Cheese
- Pet Food
- Nuts
- Jerky
- Candy
- And More
Beverage
- Coffee
- Tea
- Juice
- Sports Drinks
- Dairy
- And More
Other Markets
- Cosmetics & Beauty
- Personal Care
- Electronics
- Medical
- Automotive
- Clothing
- Cleaning Products
- And More
Interested In Custom STE Folding Cartons?
Frequently Asked Questions
STE folding cartons are a budget friendly solution best used to package lightweight, small, inexpensive and non-fragile items. This type of packaging is recommended for products that do not require a whole lot of protection, but require high customization and design for branding and product marketability.
Yes, we do offer recyclable and compostable material’s for folding cartons. Contact us and we can go over sustainable options with you that best fit your project.
Order minimums vary from project to project, it usually depends on folding carton style, design, size and desired materials. Contact us and we will evaluate the best options for your packaging needs.
Lead times can vary depending on your folding carton style, design, quantity, materials and other factors. To get an accurate lead time for your project, contact us and a packaging expert will assist you.
Alternative folding cartons we offer: reverse tuck end (RTE), roll end tuck top (RETT), full seal, auto bottom and shelf box in addition to all the variations of features and product options.
Shipping is free to all Southern California businesses. Fees are generally added to orders outside of Southern California or if you need a rush order.
