Cardboard boxes can be made in many different shapes and sizes. The most common shaped cardboard box is known as fefco code 0201. FEFCO is regarded as the international standard guide to cardboard box designs. FEFCO stands for Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Carton[Carton?:carton box sample cutting machine] Ondule which in English means Europeon Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers. Fefco was established in 1952 and represents the interests of the Europeon Corrugated Board Manufacturers. With its headquarters in Brussels, FEFCO has 24 active members, all Europeon national corrugated packaging[packaging?:DCP-H series packaging sample cutter plotter] organisations. The role of the federation is to investigate economic, financial, technical and marketing issues of interest to the corrugated packaging industry, to analyse all factors which may influence the industry and to promote and develop its image.
Fefco 02 styles are slotted type boxes. Slotted type boxes are one piece of cardboard glued, stitched or taped at the manufactures joint and top and bottom flaps. They are shipped flat and need the bottom taping before use.
Fefco code 0200 is a cardboard box that is open at the top with flaps at the bottom that can be sealed with packing tape to provide a bottom for storage. This fefco style can be brought along with fefco code 0422 for use as a lid.
Fefco code 0203 is the same as fefco code 0201 but with flaps that cover the base and top completely. This gives extra strength to the cardboard box when assembled.
Fefco 03 styles are telescope type boxes that consist of more than one piece and are characterised by a lid and bottom telescoping over the body of the box.
Fefco code 0301 combines a bottom tray and a matching lid. The 0301 is often used for packing shallow products.
Other 03 fefco styles include 0300, 0301, 0302, 0303, 0304, 0306, 0307, 0308, 0309, 0310, 0312, 0313, 0314, 0320, 0321, 0322, 0323, 0325, 0330, 0331, 0350, 0351, 0352.
Fefco 04 styles are folder type boxes and trays that normally are made from one piece of cardboard. The box is folded at the bottom to make two or all side walls and top. Handles, tabs etc are also added in some styles.
Fefco code 0411 is ideal for wrapping flat products and is often used for flat packed furniture.
Fefco code 0422 can be made up from flat without using tape. It has tabs which tuck into the bottom of the box but requires tooling for manufacture.
Fefco code 0427 has 3 sheets of cardboard on the side walls for added downward strength and durability.
Fefco code 0471 is very similar to 0427 but can be cheaper with large volumes do to a higher board utilisation percentage.
Other 04 fefco styles include 0400, 0401, 0402, 0403, 0404, 0405, 0406, 0409, 0410, 0411, 0412, 0413, 0415, 0416, 0420, 0421, 0422, 0423, 0424, 0425, 0426, 0427, 0428, 0429, 0430, 0431, 0432, 0433, 0434, 0435, 0436, 0437, 0440, 0441, 0442, 0443, 0444, 0445, 0446, 0447, 0448, 0449, 0450, 0451, 0452, 0453, 0454, 0455, 0456, 0457, 0458, 0459, 0460, 0470, 0471, 0472, 0473.
Fefco 05 styles are slide type boxes are several pieces of liners and sleeves sliding in different directions into each other. Outside sleeves for other cases are also in this group.
Fefco code 0509 is the code for the more commonly named postal pack. Postal packs are ideal for posting books and media though the post safely and well protected.
Other 05 fefco styles include 0501, 0502, 0503, 0504, 0505, 0507, 0509, 0510, 0511, 0512.
Fefco 06 styles are rigid type boxes consisting of two different end pieces and a body. They require gluing or stitching before they can be used.
Other 06 fefco styles include 0601, 0602, 0605, 0606, 0607, 0608, 0610, 0615, 0616, 0620, 0621.
Fefco 07 styles are dy-glued cases are made from one piece of cardboard and are shipped flat. Simple folding is all that is required to ready the boxes for use.
Fefco code 0759 is similar to 0427 and 0471 apart from the downward strength which is less. The advantages are the speedy erection and its health and safety conscious design and the minimal potential for repetitive strain injury although it is a bit more expensive than 0427 or 0471.
Other 07 fefco styles include 0700, 0701, 0703, 0711, 0712, 0713, 0714, 0715, 0716, 0717, 0718, 0747, 0748, 0751, 0752, 0759, 0761, 0770, 0771, 0772, 0773, 0774.
Fefco 09 styles are Interior fitments like inside liners, pads, dividers, partitions etc.
Other 09 fefco styles are 0900, 0901, 0902, 0903, 0904, 0905, 0906, 0907, 0908, 0909, 0910, 0911, 0913, 0914, 0920, 0921, 0929, 0930, 0931, 0932, 0933, 0934, 0935, 0940, 0941, 0942, 0943, 0944, 0945, 0946, 0947, 0948, 0949, 0950, 0951, 0965, 0966, 0967, 0970, 0971, 0972, 0973, 0974, 0975, 0976.
There are also a range of interior fitments that are coded depending on the number of panels used, these include fefco codes 0982, 0983, 0984, 0985, 0986, 0987, 0988, 0989, 0990, 0991, 0992, 0993, 0994, 0995, 0996, 0997, 0998, 0999.
Recently out is the ability to have coloured custom made cardboard boxes made in a multitude of colours. Black, Blue, Green and Red are all now available to make your custom made cardboard boxes in. These coloured cardboard boxes can add value to your product, therefore increasing the price you can sell your product for and also the amount of sales you can make.
