Corrugated board is made by laminating paper with starch, there are two components liners and fluting. Liners are laminated (glued) to either side of the fluting, this structure gives the case strength. Corrugated cases can be made as a single wall (one layer of fluting), double wall (two layers of fluting or triple wall (three layers of fluting).

The paper quality used in the board can be virgin material (kraft) or recycled material (test) and the paper weight is measured in grammes per m2 (gsm) ranging from 80-300. The fluting can also vary in thickness, ranging from A-F. These varying combinations allow us to ensure that our corrugated cases are made to suit our customers needs.

FEFCO stands for the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers. In the 1960s FEFCO created a code system to enable the standardisation of corrugated case designs. This enables a single coding system to replace complex descriptions which were being used for standard case styles. Today the FEFCO system is on its 12th version and used throughout the world.

Common FEFCO codes include:
0201

0200

0426

0310

A die is a tool which has blades that are arranged in a specific pattern. The blades themselves will be set and shaped on the die so they can be used in one motion during the case manufacturing process to cut, slot and crease. A die cut is the product that is produced in this method which is utilised when the design required cannot be made by standard case making machinery.

Many of our customers use die cut packaging solutions because

• The case is made specifically to fit the product so reduces the need for voidfill and uses less paper
• Less movement while the product is being transported
• Fewer breakages
• Can be designed so that no Gluing or stitching required
• Supplied flat so reduced transport costs and CO2 emissions
• Reduced storage space required
• Easy to assemble
• They look great with your product

Westpack’s corrugated packaging is manufactured in-house at our sites in Sheffield and Nottingham. We also assemble composite packs at our site in Sheffield. Our raw material supply is from a sustainable forestry source, based in the UK.

EPR is a recent piece of environmental legislation that requires UK businesses to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their packaging throughout its lifecycle. Under this legislation, businesses are required to report data on their packaging and meet their recycling obligations.

Our packaging solutions use sustainable and biodegradable materials, which are recyclable. They also promote reusability and reduce wastage. As such, using a packaging solution from Westpack can support your business in meeting its EPR obligations.

The first step towards creating your bespoke packaging solution with Westpack is to send an initial enquiry. In your message, please let us know what your business does and provide us with an idea of your packaging needs.

One of our dedicated Area Sales Managers will then be in touch to arrange a visit to your site. The purpose of this visit is to:

• Get to know your business – the packaging challenges you currently face and any objectives you have (e.g. reducing damages, lowering your carbon footprint or streamlining your packaging process).
• Understand the project brief – e.g., if you have a timescale in mind, your budget and any service requirements.
• Create a proposal – summarising how Westpack can address your current packaging issues and achieve your objectives, with projected costs included. If you require any samples at this point, these can be provided.