Plastic Clamshell Packaging

[Tigris]

Hi there,

Anybody here own a packaging company?

I need a plastic clamshell style packaging to hold two small items with a card insert for branding. The items are 45mm in height each and 1cm wide so they don't need to be very big. This will also keep postage costs down as well.

Thanks in advance

 

[jimbof]

There's got to be better options than plastic packs these days? Such a shame to throw away good plastic.
But if you must, there is a good chance you might not really need to design something custom - there are a plethora of off the shelf clamshells available - eg: https://www.plastechgroup.com/clamshells/clamshell-packs

 

[japancool]

Anyone using clamshell packaging should be viciously assaulted by puppies.

 

[jimbof]

Anyone using clamshell packaging should be viciously assaulted by puppies.

At least the off-the-shelf ones that don't get heat sealed are easy to open, and the ones I linked are supposedly made from recycled plastic. But a small cardboard box with perhaps a small cardboard fitment to secure the items within is much better.

 

[Tigris]

At least the off-the-shelf ones that don't get heat sealed are easy to open, and the ones I linked are supposedly made from recycled plastic. But a small cardboard box with perhaps a small cardboard fitment to secure the items within is much better.

That is my other option. I've been quoted £3.50 a box for cardboard with a foam cutout/insert but the RRP is only £16/£17. Could do with packaging £1-2 really. Ile be packaging myself as well as its a low quantity. I couldn't meet the MOQ for custom packaging straight from the manufacturer.

 

[jimbof]

That is my other option. I've been quoted £3.50 a box for cardboard with a foam cutout/insert but the RRP is only £16/£17. Could do with packaging £1-2 really. Ile be packaging myself as well as its a low quantity. I couldn't meet the MOQ for custom packaging straight from the manufacturer.

Are the links above for the standard clamshells useful then, or if a clamshell does it have to be a custom moulding?

The cardboard price sounds very expensive. We must be thinking totally different ends of the spectrum for £3.50 to pack two things the size you're talking about makes any sort of sense, or you're trying to buy boxes 10 at a time

Without trying hard, a local firm in Cambs were making one of the last cardboard box designs I did for an electronics product. Single colour print, ~300x250x90mm, 300k/t weight B flute board, die cut £1.75 each for 250pcs. Stratocell white foam end caps for the sensitive electronics device to fit the box, custom cut and glued assembly, £1.50 a pair for 250 pairs. Some small tool costs for the above (foam press tool £100, carton press tool £160).

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

What sort of quantity are you looking for?

You should be able to get something for nowhere near that £3.50 price. Regarding some of the comments above, I understand the environmental concerns but there's a convenience/cost benefit that's still difficult to get away from. In particular the flexibility they offer across multiple SKU's....we have one clamshell design that's used across perhaps 300 different SKU's, we can change the brand & part number detail by swapping out a 5p insert card, and it doesn't matter if one SKU we sell 500 a year and another we sell 50k. It's a lot more flexible & economical than trying to stock 300 different printed boxes.

 

[jimbof]

Regarding some of the comments above, I understand the environmental concerns but there's a convenience/cost benefit that's still difficult to get away from. In particular the flexibility they offer across multiple SKU's....we have one clamshell design that's used across perhaps 300 different SKU's, we can change the brand & part number detail by swapping out a 5p insert card, and it doesn't matter if one SKU we sell 500 a year and another we sell 50k. It's a lot more flexible & economical than trying to stock 300 different printed boxes.

Business is no different to consumers in being addicted to low costs and convenience. I guess the best you can do when there's no economic alternative is to buy packaging that is as green as possible (like the recycled APET ones linked). I'm sure reasonable arguments can also be made that not having lots of cardboard waste from low volume lines that didn't sell can be the greener option, too.

 

[pentel]

Quantity makes a huge difference to price for custom items.

It would help if the OP could advise quantities.