Issue 2 · Summer 2026
HomeGlossaryPackaging

Print Products

Packaging

Definition

Custom printed boxes, cartons, sleeves, and packaging materials used for product presentation, protection, and branding.

Context

Packaging encompasses custom printed boxes, cartons, sleeves, and packaging materials used for product presentation, protection, branding, and shipping. The category spans folding cartons, corrugated shipping boxes, rigid presentation boxes, paper bags, pouches, and sleeve wraps across industries including retail, food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce. The growth of direct-to-consumer brands has driven significant demand for short-run custom packaging, making it accessible to small businesses that previously could not meet the minimum order quantities required by traditional packaging manufacturers.

Types and Specifications

Folding cartons are the most common packaging format, produced from 300 to 600 gsm coated or uncoated paperboard with custom dieline cuts, creasing, and glue tabs. Corrugated boxes use fluted board (E-flute, B-flute, or combinations) for shipping and mailer applications, offering structural strength at low weight. Rigid (set-up) boxes consist of thick chipboard wrapped in printed paper or fabric, used for luxury and premium product packaging. Sleeve wraps and belly bands provide an economical branding layer over plain containers. Common finishing options include matt or gloss lamination, spot UV, foil stamping, embossing, debossing, and soft-touch coatings. Files must include precise dieline specifications with bleed, safe zones, and fold/crease marks to ensure accurate cutting and assembly.

Web to Print Context

Packaging is one of the fastest-growing segments in web to print, driven by the need for short-run, customized solutions that traditional long-run offset packaging could not economically serve. Online platforms use 3D product configurators that let customers select box styles, enter dimensions, choose materials and finishes, and visualize the finished package rotating in real time before ordering. Structural design tools generate accurate dielines based on the chosen box style and dimensions, eliminating the need for specialist packaging engineers for standard formats. Automated preflighting checks artwork against the dieline template to verify that critical elements like barcodes and regulatory text fall within safe zones. Integration with digital printing presses enables economical runs from as few as 50 units, opening custom packaging to startups and small brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a dieline in packaging design?

A dieline is a technical template showing the flat layout of a package with all cut lines, fold lines, and glue tabs marked. It serves as the blueprint for how the printed sheet will be cut and assembled into the final three-dimensional box or container.

What is the minimum order quantity for custom packaging?

With digital printing, minimum orders can be as low as 50 to 100 units on many web to print platforms. Traditional offset and flexographic packaging typically requires minimums of 1,000 to 5,000 units to be cost-effective.

Can I order custom packaging online through web to print?

Yes. Web to print packaging platforms offer online configurators where you select the box style, enter dimensions, choose materials, upload artwork onto a dieline template, and order with instant pricing, all without contacting a sales team.

Related Terms

Large Format Printing

Printing technology for producing output wider than standard press formats, typically 18 inches (457mm) and above, used for signage, banners, vehicle wraps, and wall graphics.

Labels & Stickers

Adhesive-backed printed products used for product labelling, branding, packaging, and decorative purposes.

Publicly Listed

A company whose shares are traded on a public stock exchange, providing transparency through regulated financial reporting.

Promotional Products

Branded merchandise and giveaway items used for marketing, events, and corporate gifting, including pens, bags, drinkware, tech accessories, and novelty items.

Product Configurator

An interactive tool that allows customers to customize product specifications (size, material, quantity, finishing) and see real-time pricing and 3D previews.

Print-on-Demand Fulfillment

Print-on-demand fulfillment is a business model where print products are produced and shipped only after an order is received, eliminating the need for pre-printed inventory. Orders are routed to the nearest production facility, printed, finished, and shipped directly to the end customer, often within days.

Print on Demand

Print on Demand (POD) is a business and fulfillment model where products are manufactured and printed only after a customer places an order, eliminating the need for inventory investment and enabling the sale of customized, low-quantity, or niche products economically.

Print MIS/ERP

Print MIS/ERP (Management Information System / Enterprise Resource Planning) refers to specialized software that manages the core business operations of a print company, including estimating, order management, production scheduling, inventory, invoicing, and business intelligence. These systems serve as the operational backbone connecting sales, production, and finance.

Category

Print Products
Back to Glossary
Related Companies
View all

B2C Web to Print

360imprimir

VC-backed Portuguese online print leader with ~60% market share in Portugal. Founded 2013, raised $27.7M in funding, serving 1M+ customers and expanded to 20+ markets including EU, LatAm, and USA.

View Profile SME

B2C Web to Print

360imprimir Brasil (Bizay)

360imprimir is the Brazilian arm of Bizay S.A. (formerly 360imprimir), a Portuguese online printing and product customization platform founded in 2013 by Jose Salgado and Sergio Vieira in Torres Vedras. The parent company operates across 21 countries in Europe and the Americas with 50,000+ customizable products, 200+ employees, and production hubs in Iberia, Brazil, and Dallas (US). Total funding exceeds EUR 72M including an EUR 18M Series C2 in Dec 2023 led by Indico Capital Partners. The 360imprimir brand is used in Portuguese/Spanish-speaking markets while Bizay is used internationally. The company pioneered a 4-day work week (36 hours) in 2022, reporting 50% lower absenteeism and 8x more job applications.

View Profile SME

B2C Web to Print

360imprimir Mexico (Bizay)

360imprimir Mexico is the Mexican arm of Bizay S.A. (formerly 360imprimir), a Portuguese online printing and customization platform. Mexico is one of 21 countries served by Bizay's multi-hub production network. The parent company has raised EUR 72M+ in total funding and operates with 200+ employees across production hubs in Iberia, Brazil, and Dallas (US). Revenue is consolidated at parent level (see 360imprimir-brazil entry for group financials). The Mexican entity shares the 360imprimir brand used in Portuguese/Spanish-speaking markets.

View Profile Startup