Parts packaging gets judged in a warehouse aisle, not on a shelf. The questions that decide the spec are how heavy the part is, whether it has hard edges that will work through the board, and how fast a picker can read the part number from the end of a stacked row.
Board choice follows the part
Single wall corrugated handles trim, filters, sensors, gaskets, belts and most boxed small parts. Double wall becomes the sensible answer once the part is heavy enough that a dropped box would burst a corner, or once boxes are stacked several high on a pallet for long periods. Hard, sharp-edged castings and brackets need either a heavier board or an internal buffer, because a sharp edge will saw through a liner in transit no matter what the board weight is.
Oily or greasy parts are their own case. A part that is packed with residual oil should be bagged or wrapped before it goes in the box, since oil migrating into corrugated softens the board and stains the print.
The panel that actually gets used
| Element | Where it belongs | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Part number | End panel, large, high contrast | Boxes are shelved end-out and read at arm's length |
| Barcode | Flat area, clear of scores and folds | A code across a crease will not scan reliably |
| Application or fitment note | Side panel | Keeps the end panel clean for identification |
| Brand mark | Front or top | Visible when the box is handed to a customer |
| Orientation arrows | Two adjacent panels | One panel is hidden in half of all stacking patterns |
Print one or two colors directly onto kraft corrugated for the working range, and save full color for retail-facing parts that sit on a counter display.
Kits, sets and multi-part boxes
A kit box is a partition problem before it is a box problem. Interlocking corrugated partitions keep components from grinding against each other, and a die cut tray works when the parts are small and flat. Because the die is included on iBox orders, a partition built to your part layout costs no tooling. See partition boxes for the structures.
Ordering, minimum and lead time
The minimum is 100 boxes per size, which suits a supplier carrying many part numbers in low volumes each. Unit pricing starts at about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes and is confirmed on your written quote, since board grade and box size drive automotive packaging cost more than print does.
Turnaround is stated per product in three lanes: Rush (expedited production plus air freight) for a line that is about to stop, Standard (air), and Cost saver (sea) for planned stock. Production runs from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 days for delivery. Specialty imported constructions can run up to about 12 weeks.
Case packs and pallet fit
Parts move in cases, and cases move on pallets, so a box size that ignores the pallet wastes money on every shipment. Work out how many boxes fill a layer and how many layers reach your maximum stack height, then adjust the box dimensions slightly to fit the footprint cleanly rather than leaving a gap on every layer. Tell us the pallet size you ship on and the case count you want, and the dimensions can be worked backward from there.
Get a parts packaging quote
List your part dimensions, weights and quantities on the quote form and you will get a written price with the board grade named. Related pages: custom hardware boxes and corrugated shipping boxes.
