Process
How a custom packaging order runs
From first enquiry to delivered pallet, here is what actually happens, what we need at each stage, and where projects usually lose time.
The six stages
Every order follows the same route. The only variable is how long each stage takes, and that depends almost entirely on how complete the information is at the start.
Requirement
You send product dimensions, weight, quantity, deadline and destination. If you have a material or finish in mind, say so. If not, say that too — a guess is less useful than an honest blank.
Specification and quote
We return a board grade, structure, print method, finishing list, lead time and written price. Where a cheaper route exists, it appears in the same document.
Dieline
Once the quote is approved we send a dieline template sized to your product. Artwork is built on this template, not on a guessed rectangle.
Prepress and proof
Our team checks bleed, resolution, fonts, colour build and cut lines, then issues a digital proof. Physical samples are available where fit or colour is critical.
Production
Printing, die-cutting, finishing and assembly. Most formats complete in 3 to 5 business days after proof approval.
Delivery
Shipped flat or assembled depending on format, to one address or split across fulfilment sites. Freight is quoted separately.
The proofing stage is the one worth understanding in detail before you reach it, which is covered in our dieline and artwork guide.
Where projects lose time
Three things account for most delay, and none of them are production. The first is incomplete measurements, which stalls the dieline. The second is regulated panel content arriving after the layout is finished, which forces a redesign. The third is proof approval sitting with someone who is on leave.
None of those are fixable at the press. Settling all three before artwork begins removes most of the schedule risk from a first order.
Most of that lost time is artwork coming back for rework, which the artwork guidelines set out to prevent.
What a good brief contains
The information below produces an accurate quote first time.
- Product dimensions at the widest point, in the state it will be packed
- Product weight
- Quantity you realistically need, and the next quantity up if you are unsure
- Deadline, and whether it is fixed or flexible
- Destination, including whether it goes to a 3PL with receiving rules
- Any regulated panel content that must fit
- Whether the item is fragile enough to need an insert
If you are unsure what dimensions to quote, the packaging size guide explains how to measure a product for its pack.
Stage one
Start the process with a specification
The six stages begin with your dimensions and quantity. Send those and we will come back with the specification that stage two prices.
No obligation
Request a quote
Send us the product details and quantity. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.
Answers
Questions about the ordering process
How long does the whole process take?
For a straightforward first order, allow four to six weeks from enquiry to delivery. Production is 3 to 5 business days; the rest is specification, artwork and proofing.
What slows an order down most?
Incomplete product measurements, regulated panel content arriving late, and proof approvals waiting on an absent decision-maker. Production itself is rarely the bottleneck.
Can I get a physical sample?
Yes. A plain structural sample tests fit; a printed prototype tests colour and finish. Sample costs are normally credited against the production order.
What happens if the proof is wrong?
We correct it and reissue. Nothing goes to press without your written approval, and changes at proof stage cost nothing beyond a short delay.
Do I need artwork before requesting a quote?
No. Quoting depends on dimensions, material, print method and quantity, not on finished artwork. Artwork comes after the specification is agreed.
Who checks my artwork?
Our prepress team reviews bleed, safety margins, resolution, embedded fonts, colour build and cut lines before anything is committed to plate.
Can I change the quantity after quoting?
Yes, before production starts. Quantity changes affect the unit price because setup costs spread differently, so we reissue the quote.
How is tooling handled on reorders?
The structural die is made once. Reorders at the same size reuse it at no further tooling cost. A dimensional change means a new die.
Can delivery be staged?
Yes. Production runs once at the volume price, and stock is released to you in agreed instalments. Agree this at quoting, as storage terms form part of it.
What payment terms apply?
First orders typically run on payment before production. Established accounts can discuss terms. Full detail is confirmed with your quote.
Next step
Tell us what you are packing
Send the product dimensions and the quantity you need. We come back with a specification, a lead time and a written price.