Service

CAD Design and Prototyping

In-house structural design and digital flatbed sampling, so every format is engineered, tested and approved before tooling.

Structural packaging design and prototyping at Tradepack

CAD design and structural development

Our CAD design team develops packaging formats around product fit, postal limits and corrugated board performance. Designs are engineered to protect products while keeping board usage efficient and ensuring cartons run reliably through packing operations.

Digital flatbed cutting

Digital flatbed cutting is used for rapid prototype development, sampling and low-volume custom runs before tooling investment. Designs are tested and refined before committing to large production runs.

Board efficiency and value engineering

Typical improvements include reducing blank size to lower board consumption, improving pack strength while using lighter flute grades, and adjusting designs to run faster through fulfilment operations.

Specification documentation

Every approved design is recorded as a specification covering style, dimensions, board grade, print and closure, so that repeat orders are manufactured to exactly the same standard.

Every packaging project we manufacture begins with structural design. Our in-house CAD team develops formats that protect the product, reduce material use and run efficiently on automated production lines, and every design is sampled before any tooling is ordered.

How a design comes together

  1. Brief. We take the product dimensions, weight and fragility, the shipping route and carrier limits, and any print or closure requirements.
  2. Structure. The team selects a FEFCO base style or develops a bespoke die-cut, laying the blank out for board efficiency.
  3. Sample. The design is cut on our digital flatbed as a white sample for fit, assembly and drop testing.
  4. Approval and tooling. Once signed off, production tooling is ordered and the specification is locked for repeat supply.

Value engineering

Design is where the biggest savings sit. Typical improvements on the programmes we take on include reducing blank size to lower board consumption, holding pack strength while moving to a lighter flute, and simplifying assembly so packs run faster on the bench.

Low-volume and custom runs

The digital flatbed also produces short custom runs where a production die is not justified, which lets a distributor trial a format with an end customer before committing to volume.

FAQ

CAD design & prototyping: questions

Do I need to supply a drawing to get a quote?

No. A description of the product, its dimensions and how it ships is enough to start. Our CAD team develops the structure and produces a drawing and sample for approval as part of the quotation.

Can you improve an existing packaging design?

Yes. Send us the current specification or a sample and we will review board grade, blank size and construction for savings and performance improvements before quoting.

Start your packaging project

Send us the format, dimensions, quantities and print you need and our team will come back with a drawing, a board recommendation and a trade price.