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Cardboard box manufacturing materials

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Cardboard boxes are widely used today and are essential materials in the packaging and shipping industry. But have you ever wondered what raw materials are used to make cardboard boxes? 

Raw materials used to make cardboard boxes

Does the quality of cardboard boxes depend on the raw materials used? How can you produce high-quality cardboard boxes? If you have the same questions, join Hoang Phuc Pack in exploring this article.

1. What are the raw materials used in making cardboard boxes today?

Cardboard paper is the main and most important raw material in producing the high-quality and popular cardboard box designs seen today. 

The components of cardboard paper in a typical cardboard box are usually:

  • In a regular cardboard box, cardboard paper accounts for about 74%, polyethylene for 22%, and aluminum for 4%.
  • In cardboard boxes used in low-temperature environments, cardboard paper accounts for about 80%, and polyethylene for 20%.

There are many types of cardboard paper, and the right choice depends on the customer's needs and intended use. Let's explore the types of paper used to make cardboard boxes below.

1.1 Cardboard paper rolls – the main raw material for making cardboard boxes

Cardboard paper rolls are made from natural wood fibers or recycled old cardboard boxes to create paper rolls in various colors, such as white, yellow, brown, or colorless.

This layer of paper roll is usually used as the outer surface of the cardboard box because its smooth, glossy finish makes printing easy and creates an attractive appearance. 

In addition, crepe paper is also considered one of the types of paper produced in large rolls, but with a lower basis weight than the yellow, brown, white, or colorless paper rolls mentioned above. 

Crepe paper is quite soft and comes in opaque white or brown. It is usually used as the middle fluted layer to increase the load-bearing capacity of the cardboard box. Crepe paper is always the cheapest of all the types of paper.

Depending on the customer's cardboard box usage needs, the box structure is divided into different paper ratios. You can refer to the following paper ratios:

  • 1 Yellow - 2 Crepe, 2 Yellow - 1 Crepe for a 3-layer box…..
  • 3 Yellow - 2 Crepe for a 5-layer box…

To get a box that meets your desired quality, you should speak directly with a cardboard box manufacturer for advice and to select the most accurate paper basis weight. 

Hoang Phuc Pack specializes in manufacturing and supplying high-quality cardboard box designs in Ho Chi Minh City. You can contact us immediately for advice and support in choosing cardboard paper rolls. Hotline: 028 6685 4143

1.2 Types of cardboard paper used to make premium cardboard boxes

As the demand for cardboard boxes increases, the quality and design requirements for cardboard boxes are becoming higher and higher, especially for premium cardboard boxes that use modern and complex printing technologies.

To meet the demand for premium cardboard box production, the paper raw materials are imported from countries around the world, including Japan, the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, and others, to ensure quality and attractive designs.

5 types of paper used to make premium cardboard boxes with offset printing technology today are: Ford paper, Bristol paper, Couche paper, Duplex paper, and Crystal paper.

  • Ford paper: is a type of paper with a rough surface that has excellent ink receptivity and adhesion. The basis weights of Ford paper are 60g, 70g, 80g, 100g, 120g, 150g, 170g, 220g, 250g, and 300g. The higher the basis weight, the thicker the paper. Depending on your intended use, you can choose a paper with a suitable basis weight.
  • Couche paper: is one of the most popular types of paper with a bright, smooth, and glossy surface that produces very attractive prints.  The basis weight ranges from 80 to 250g/m².
  • Duplex paper: is one of the most widely used types of paper for printing cardboard boxes today because of its white, glossy, and smooth surface, while the other side is usually dark, like kraft paper. The basis weight is usually 250g/m² to 500g/m². It is commonly used to print cardboard boxes in various sizes: shoe boxes, watch boxes… 
  • Bristol paper: is a thicker and more cushioned type of paper than Couche paper, with a slightly glossy, smooth surface. The paper basis weight ranges from 230g/m² to 350g/m². It is commonly used to print cardboard boxes such as: cosmetic boxes, pharmaceutical boxes, functional food boxes, and more.
  • Crystal paper: has one very smooth and glossy side, almost as if coated with glossy glue, while the other side is rough. It is often used as an intermediate option between Bristol paper and Couche paper, depending on the printing requirements of the cardboard box. The paper basis weight ranges from 230g/m² to 350g/m².

So, the main raw materials used to make cardboard boxes are various types of cardboard paper, but each type of paper and basis weight will determine a different box quality. Therefore, you need to clearly define the purpose, usage needs, and product to make the most suitable and effective choices.

2. Should you invest in opening a cardboard box manufacturing factory?

For any investment or business project, before embarking on it, you need to conduct thorough research to make the best preparations before making a decision. 


Similarly, to find the answer to the question “Should you invest in a cardboard box production line to open a manufacturing factory?” You need to research the factors that contribute to a manufacturing factory as well as how to operate a cardboard box manufacturing factory. 

To operate a cardboard box manufacturing factory, you must fully prepare: a factory, an electrical substation, machinery, labor, raw materials, a sales plan, a contingency fund for unexpected costs, and more…

2.1 Investing in a cardboard box manufacturing factory

Cardboard box production generally goes through the following two stages: 

  1. Producing 3-, 5-, and 7-layer cardboard sheets
  2. Finishing cardboard boxes: Shaping and printing on cardboard boxes

So, the first factor to consider before investing in a factory is to clearly define the investment segment: what type of cardboard box will you produce? Will you invest in the entire production process of finished cardboard boxes or in one of the two stages above?

Option 1: If you only invest in one of the two cardboard box production stages, the investment cost will be lower (around 2 to 3 billion VND or less), and the factory area will be smaller (over 1,000m² is sufficient). However, the disadvantage of this production model is that the production progress and quality are affected by another company. You will not have complete control over the costs, prices, or order quality.

Option 2: Investing in the entire production process, including both stages above, will allow you to control the process, quality, progress, and production conditions. However, the disadvantage of this investment model is the very high initial cost (around 6 billion to 8 billion VND or more) and the large factory size (at least 2,000m² to 3,000m²).

Production quality control is one of the prerequisite requirements and competitive advantages for maintaining long-term customer relationships Therefore, if you want to build and develop a strong company, investing in a cardboard box production line is necessary.

2.2 Investing in a cardboard box production line

A complete cardboard box production line includes the following types of machines:

a) Cardboard corrugator line

  • Corrugator, 
  • Paper roll lifter
  • Glue applicator
  • Drying rack
  • Slitter-scorer
  • Sheet cutter

b) Finishing processing line

  • Flexo printer or Offset printer (you can choose one of the two)
  • Corrugated box die-cutting machine
  • Stapler
  • Cardboard box taping machine
  • Cardboard box laminator
  • Cardboard box bundle packer

In addition to the above machinery system, a cardboard box manufacturing factory also needs a boiler to supply hot steam to the corrugator line, glue application machines, a hot water recovery system, an electrical substation, and more…

2.3 Preparing raw materials for cardboard box production

Raw materials are one of the factors that determine the operation of your cardboard box business. Depending on your needs and customer segment, you can choose the appropriate raw materials.

The initial cost of raw materials usually accounts for about 20 to 30% of your investment capital. One of the factors that can help you reduce this cost is to choose raw material suppliers directly from the factory and agree on a rolling payment arrangement based on orders. 

2.4 Factory operating personnel

To ensure that the factory operates stably and maintains productivity, you must recruit and train a skilled and professional technical operation team. Labor is a fixed monthly cost, which you can offset with the profits from the company's monthly orders. 

2.5 Specific sales plans and strategies

To reach more customers and grow your business, you need a concrete sales plan, clear production directions, and an effective product distribution strategy for carton boxes to ensure your business succeeds.

In addition to the investments mentioned above, you should also budget for potential expenses such as equipment depreciation, utilities, delivery, and more. This will ensure you have sufficient funds and prevent shortages that could disrupt your business plans and factory operations.

Therefore, whether you should invest in a production line or open a carton box factory depends on your capital, plans, business strategy, and chosen market. 

To avoid missing out on business opportunities and make a safe choice, you should gather information from multiple sources or seek advice from experienced industry professionals to help you make the right decision.

3. Where can I find a reputable carton box factory in Ho Chi Minh City?

Producing high-quality carton boxes requires extensive research and the coordinated efforts of many people working at a carton box factory.

As you have seen above, the investment and operating costs for a production factory are extremely high at every stage, including the factory itself, modern production lines and machinery, carefully selected raw materials, labor, a technical team to operate the machinery, and a strategic business plan.

Hoàng Phúc Pack is a carton box factory in Ho Chi Minh City committed to providing every customer with the highest quality products. Even for small orders, we are happy to invest in all the above areas to offer our customers the best possible convenience and support. 

If you need high-quality carton boxes in Ho Chi Minh City or nearby areas such as Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and more, please contact us today for advice and our best prices.

This article has provided information on raw materials for carton box production, as well as advice on opening a mask factory for beginners. We hope you find this information useful.

>> You may also be interested in: 5-layer carton boxes

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