Seal end carton
18pt SBS200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA seal end carton is a folding carton with glue flaps at both ends instead of tucks, so once it is filled and sealed it cannot be opened without tearing the board. It is the cereal box style. We produce them on 18pt SBS from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Common sizes run 2 by 1 by 4 to 8 by 3 by 10 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a seal end carton when the pack must show whether it has been opened. Tea bags, cereal, crackers, pasta, over the counter medicine and first aid kits all use it because a glued end is tamper evident and dust tight. It is also the cheapest closure to run on an automatic cartoner, which is why it dominates supermarket shelves. On short runs you seal the ends by hand with a hot melt gun or a glue tab.
Choose a straight tuck end carton if the customer needs to open and close the box more than once, since a seal end is a one-time closure. Choose a hanging tab carton for peg display, or a window carton if the product needs to be seen, though we can combine either with a seal end on request.
Specifications
| Board | 16, 18 or 20pt SBS, food-contact grade SBS available; documentation supplied with the quote |
|---|---|
| Offset CMYK or digital, one color, Pantone match | |
| Finish | Matte or gloss aqueous, gloss lamination, spot UV |
| Closure | Glue flaps both ends, sealed by hand or on a line |
| Insert | Optional paperboard divider or platform |
| Opening | Optional perforated tear strip or thumb notch |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, side seam glued, ends open, in bundles of 50 |
| Sizes we run | 2 x 1 x 4 in 3 x 1.5 x 5 in 5 x 2 x 7 in 8 x 3 x 10 in any size from 1.5 x 1 x 2 to 12 x 6 x 14 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
How do I seal the ends on a small run?
With a hot melt glue gun and about two seconds per end. Fold the inner dust flaps, run a line of glue on the outer flap, fold it down and hold for a count of two. A small bench sealer does the same thing faster. For runs above about 2,000 we can pre-apply a heat activated adhesive so you seal with a hand iron.
Is a seal end carton tamper evident?
Yes. The end flaps are glued to the carton wall, so opening one tears the board and leaves a visible mark. If you want a clean opening for the customer, we add a perforated tear strip on the top flap. The customer pulls the strip, the seal stays intact on the rest of the flap, and the tampering evidence is preserved.
Can I use it for food?
Yes. We run food-contact grade SBS for seal end cartons that hold dry food such as tea, crackers, cereal and pasta. For anything oily or wet the product should be in a liner bag inside the carton. Tell us what goes in and we specify the board and the coating accordingly.
Will it run on my cartoning machine?
Most likely. Seal end cartons are the standard format for horizontal and vertical cartoners. Send us the make and model and the blank size range it takes, and we set the dieline to match. We also supply the flat blanks in the orientation the feeder wants, which saves someone turning 5,000 cartons by hand.
Which board should I choose?
16pt for small cartons under 3 by 1 by 4 inches, such as a single sachet or a small blister pack. 18pt for most cartons up to about 8 inches tall. 20pt when the carton is wide and tall, over about 8 by 3 by 10 inches, because a large panel on thin board will bow on the shelf.
How is a seal end carton different from a straight tuck end carton?
The closure. A seal end carton glues shut at both ends, so it cannot be opened without tearing the board, which makes it tamper evident and suits cartoning lines; it is the cereal box style. A straight tuck end carton closes with tuck flaps that open and reclose, so the customer can take product out and put the rest back. Both run on 16 to 20pt SBS from 200 units; seal end takes 10 to 12 business days after proof and straight tuck 10 to 14 business days. One-time opening means seal end. Repeated opening means a tuck.
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Ready to price your seal end carton?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.