How Production Works in Packaging?

The production department in any company often goes unnoticed, but it’s one of the most important parts of the business. The production department includes anyone who puts together and assembles different products.

It’s made up of workers who do everything from working on the factory floor putting together boxes to running machines that make bags to designing artwork used on packaging.

In this behind-the-scenes look at how a packaging company’s production department works, you’ll learn more about what jobs are in this department and what they do to help keep the business running smoothly!

A Behind-the-Scenes Overview of How We Proceed with Your Order

You might be familiar with the different departments of a business, such as the sales and marketing departments or perhaps even the human resources department, but did you know that it all starts in the production department?

You see, if no one were making any products, there would be no one to sell them to! In this behind-the-scenes look at how a packaging company’s production department works, we’ll explore the manufacturing process and outline how the packaging design and production teams work together to make your product ideas become a reality.

Various Steps in the Production Process

As a Packaging company, we are responsible for producing containers containing food, drinks, pharmaceuticals, and other types of merchandise.

Our company’s production department is responsible for all the above-mentioned steps in bringing a product to market.

These departments can vary from company to company and even from project to project, but some departments you may find in a packaging company include production planning, printing, finishing, logistics, and shipping. Let’s take a closer look at these different departments below.

• Pre-Production
• Stock Selection
• Plate Making
• Printing
• Lamination
• Add-ons
• Die Making/Cutting
• Binding
• Packing/Shipping

1. Pre-Production

In the production department of our company, pre-production is the most time-consuming and important aspect of the process. Once orders are received from customers, our production staffers get to work on them from start to finish.

They first determine what kind of package best suits each customer’s needs. For example, do they need more of an eco-friendly packaging option or something that can withstand cold temperatures?

After this decision is made, they will then go on to create the design for the package following those specifications. Sometimes this includes updating old designs or creating new ones altogether.

Finally, they will order all necessary materials and send them off to be printed and assembled by other departments to complete the package.

2. Stock Selection

The stuff or material that is used to make different types of boxes is called “stock.” We use mainly Kraft paper, art cards, and cardboard. These materials come in various grammage that is shortly known as GSM. The Normal GSM we use may comprise 210”, 230”,250”,270”, 300, and 350”.

The thickness is different for different materials. Normally a corrugated stock is 210-250” GSM. In the case of a large box, it can go up to 350 GSM-card.

We can make the stock further heavy depending on the product’s weight. For instance, to make the thickness up to 500 GSM, we would glue two cards of 230 grammage up to 460 GSM. All that also depends upon the printing choice of the client.

3. Plate Making

You cannot use a plain box in the field. It must have some branding information and your company’s whereabouts.

For that purpose, we make use of the printing process. However, it is not possible without the plate-making process.

Following modern technology and for accuracy, we make use of the Computer to Plate (CTP) procedure.

For that, we make use of individual plates for each color. For instance, we would use four different plates for a four-color job. Normally these are CMYK, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Kala).

4. Printing

We have the facility of below 2 printing technologies that depend upon your needs and budget limitations. For instance:

• Screen Printing
• Offset Printing

5. Lamination

In that step, we would apply a finishing touch to the printed stock. That is to save the printed stuff from various external elements and wear and tear. The process has the following three types we can apply according to your needs and demands:

• Shine
• Matte or Gloss
• Soft Touch (relatively costly)

6. Add-Ons

Depending on your further choice and box styles, we can apply various add-ons. These are used to add to the grace of your packaging and make it stand out in the crowd.

• UV
• Foiling
• Emboss/Deboss
• Gross Lamination ( first a foil is applied and then lamination)

6. Die Making/Cutting

The printed and laminated stock then undergoes the die-making section. In that, we cut various parts of it to shape it like an unfolded box. Then the box is shaped according to these die marks and cut-outs.

7. Binding

That’s the last part of the production process in which the box is properly folded and then glued into a proper box. You can ask for a shipment either in the folded or unfolded state.