Personalised / Custom Printed Boxes
Add logos, branding and full colour print to transit, ecommerce, or retail packaging
If your business uses or requires custom printed boxes, there is a suitable option that can improve the performance of transit, retail, ecommerce, or consumer packaging.
From simple branding and logos all the way up to photographic quality imagery for product packaging applications, your business can source the widest range of printed corrugated boxes – in terms of styles, sizes, and designs – from a single UK supplier. And this includes completely bespoke options tailored to your exact requirements.
Please see below for a range of printed packaging options that can make a tangible difference to your business / brand success.
Complementary POS
Corrugated cardboard point of sale units for retail
Besides the wide range of high quality, printed retail packaging you can source from GWP, you can also enhance sales further through the use of cardboard POS.
Please see below for the full range of custom FSDU, CTU, dump bins and other retail displays that can be developed alongside your retail packaging.
Print Methods for Cardboard Packaging
Ways in which corrugated boxes can be printed
There are a number of ways in which your corrugated packaging, boxes and even point of sale displays can be printed.
Cardboard offers a suitable surface for a range of print methods, which ensures that regardless of the intended use of your packaging, there is a print option perfect for any budget, application, or target market.
Please continue below for the 4 main types of printed packaging options available.
Screen Printed Boxes
Screen printing is a fairly basic printing technique, whereby ink is forced through a screen to create the imagery on the material.
The process is typically quite labour intensive, so tends to be used for very low volumes only. It is also only suitable for single colour artwork (more than one colour adds additional processes – posing challenges for registration and accuracy).
As a result, screen printing tends to be used for Correx® packaging and items such as protective cases, where the volumes and branding requirements lend itself to this method.
Flexographic Printing (1 – 2 Colours)
Whilst flexographic printing can achieve good results with up to 4 colours, it is typically used for applying 1, 2 and 3 colour logos and simple graphics to branded boxes or secondary packaging such as shelf ready packs.
It creates striking, bold graphics which can be accurately matched to specific colours and pantone references.
It can also be done “inline” on many packaging manufacturing equipment, making it a cost-effective option for adding branding to transit packaging and printed mailer boxes (although printing plate costs will be a consideration).
Flexographic print can also make use of white ink – printing this colour onto Kraft (brown) material to give an interesting, eco effect.
Litho Printed Boxes
Litho printed packaging – also known as lithographic or litho laminated – is a process where a full colour design (using CMYK inks – although spot colours can be added too) is added to sheet of paper. This paper is then laminated onto the corrugated material.
The advantages of doing this means that the print is of a very high quality (as the fluting of the corrugated material does not affect the ink being laid down onto the surface) and that photographic quality images can be easily achieved.
The processes involved and the requirement for multiple printing plates does however mean that litho printing tends to be used for high volume applications (such as retail or product packaging)
Digitally Printed Packaging
Digital printed packaging can achieve a similar result to litho printing, but in much lower volumes.
Printing straight onto the corrugated material, digital printing also requires no printing plates, making it cost effective for lower volumes where a high-quality print is required (for example when producing cardboard sleeves with specific offers / promotions on them).
However, the speed of the printing means that is a relatively slow process (when compared with litho) and would not be suitable / cost effective for higher volumes. The other main drawback is that not many digital printers are able to include specialist inks or spot colours (although this is changing with the latest equipment).
Digitally printed boxes are also perfect for limited product launches and high value items that require luxury or high-end packaging.
Printed Boxes Video
Key details in under 2 minutes
Please watch the below video for a brief overview of the methods, options and finishes available when sourcing printed boxes for your buisness.
Printed Packaging FAQs
Commonly asked question concerning branded boxes
Whilst the below list of questions aims to cover the most common FAQs regarding printed packaging, it may be the case that you have a specific query not covered. If that is you, please feel free to get in touch on 01793 754 444 or email packaging@gwp.co.uk for further assistance.
Why should I use printed boxes?
Using printed boxes makes sense for virtually all businesses. Boxes with custom print can help grab consumer attention in store. Aid brand recognition. Carry important information, instructions and health and safety info. Even feature promotional info. At the very least, printed boxes offer your business an opportunity for free advertising and promotion.
What type of print is suitable for my application?
Product packaging for example – such as hanging tab boxes, tuck end, cardboard window boxes or even outer sleeves – benefit massively from full colour graphics to grab consumer attention in store. Ecommerce packaging and subscription boxes may require more simple designs but that does not make the print any less important. Bold colours, logos and a memorable “unboxing” experience all play a huge part in driving brand recognition and customer loyalty.
Is printing really necessary for postal or industrial transit packaging?
For relatively little additional costs, simple branding can even make your postal mailers and / or transit and industrial packaging work harder for your business. This could be a simple as logos displaying your company name and branding as they pass through the supply chains and various touch points of your transport network.
Does printing my boxes affect their recyclability?
The short answer is no. By printing your corrugated packaging, it does not affect the recyclability of the material at the end of its life. During the recycling process, inks will be leached from the pulp created and disposed of safely.
Can my brand colour be matched accurately?
The vast majority of printing methods allow for your brand colours – be they pantones, CMYK references or other spot colours – to be accurately reproduced. This is important for consistency of your packaging’s appearance, which in turn can help to foster brand recognition and loyalty.
Can both the inside and outside of my packaging be printed?
It is possible to have both the interior and exterior surfaces of your packaging printed – and this used to great effect with many ecommerce packs (where the outside contains simple, functional print, with the inside being bright, fully branded and with a raft of information / graphics etc.
Buy Printed Packaging / Boxes
Free quotes, impartial advice, and options to suit any application and / or budget
GWP Packaging have a long history of working with a diverse range of businesses – including some of the biggest retailers in the UK, large scale manufacturers and small independent companies alike.
This success – over 25 years and counting – has been achieved by providing a level of service and quality far in excess of our competitors.
A such, all of your printed packaging will be designed by an in-house team to your exact requirements, manufactured to the highest standards, and consistently supplied on short lead times to ensure you can meet any peaks in demand.
So, if you need branded or printed boxes of any kind, let GWP show you just how much of a positive impact it could have on your business.
Buying Info

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products available on request...
All Printed Packaging
POS / Retail Display
Ecommerce
Transit / Shipping

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Contact a member of our sales & support team directly

Bill Chapman
Product Adviser
packaging@gwp.co.uk
01793 754 444

Jay Daggar
Sales Manager
jay.daggar@gwp.co.uk
01793 754 444

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ian.heskins@gwp.co.uk
01793 754 444

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