Chinese
Started as a pulp-tray mold maker in 2003; cuts its own molds on CNC
Dongguan · Dongguan (other town)Makes in-houseMass production
Packaging & printingPackaging supplierFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Station 08 / 10
Packaging 包装
Retail boxes, inserts, manuals and labels, printed down the road from your factory.
Lead2–4 weeksWhat happens at this stage
You design and produce everything around the product: the retail box, inserts that hold the product in place, manuals, labels and barcodes, and the outer shipping cartons.
Why it matters
Packaging protects the product in shipping, carries legal information (certification marks, recycling symbols, importer details), and is the first thing customers see.
What it costs and how long
Printed boxes usually have minimum orders (often in the hundreds or thousands) and take 2–4 weeks. Ask for a physical sample (a "white sample" without printing) first.
Common mistakes
- Designing packaging last, delaying the whole launch
- Forgetting required labels and marks for your target market
- Not drop-testing the packed product
Who helps
Packaging and printing suppliers around Shenzhen and Dongguan. Many contract manufacturers can also arrange packaging for you.
Related processes
Companies at this station
Cordiality
冠利得Labels, nameplates and membrane switches under one roof
Shenzhen · GuangmingMakes in-houseMass production
Packaging & printingPackaging supplierFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
YUTO
裕同Shenzhen-listed packaging group (002831) with 40+ production bases
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-houseMass production
Packaging & printingPackaging supplierFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Foreign-managed
European founders running custom packaging through partner printers in Guangdong
Hong KongPartner networkLow volumeMass production
Packaging & printingPackaging supplier
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
17,000 m² Guangming plant with Heidelberg Speedmaster XL presses
Shenzhen · GuangmingMakes in-houseLow volumeMass production
Packaging & printingPackaging supplierFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Instant online quotes and ordering for custom boxes
Hong KongPartner networkLow volumeMass production
Packaging & printingPackaging supplierOnline quoting platform
English online orderingSource ↗
Chinese
Family-run Shenzhen print shop since 1999, now second generation
ShenzhenMakes in-houseLow volumeMass production
Packaging & printingPackaging supplierFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Guides
01Basics · 10 minHow custom packaging is made: from dieline to finished box
The custom packaging process explained for hardware founders doing their first retail box. Box structures, printing, finishes, inserts, samples, MOQs and lead times, plus the Chinese words factories use.
02Design · 8 minSymbols and labels on electronics packaging: a beginner's checklist
The common marks and labels on electronics boxes explained: CE, UKCA, FCC, the WEEE bin, recycling symbols, barcodes, country of origin and carton marks. General guidance only; confirm the rules for your market.
03Choosing · 7 minEmbossing vs debossing (and blind emboss) for packaging
The difference between embossing (击凸) and debossing (压凹), what blind and registered embossing mean, which designs and boards work, and what drives the cost on a custom box.
04Choosing · 6 minHot foil vs cold foil stamping: what's the difference?
Hot foil (烫金) and cold foil (冷烫) compared in plain words. How each works, how they look and feel, which suits short or long runs, and what to ask a packaging factory.
05Choosing · 9 minOffset vs digital printing for packaging (and CMYK vs Pantone)
How offset and digital printing differ for custom boxes, when each makes sense, what CMYK and Pantone spot colours mean, and how to get your box colours right with a Chinese printer.
06Design · 8 minSpot UV, soft-touch and lamination: packaging coatings explained
A plain-English guide to box coatings and laminations. Gloss, matte and soft-touch film, spot UV, UV coating, aqueous coating and varnish, what each does, how they combine, and the Chinese terms factories use.
07Choosing · 8 minPackaging inserts for electronics: EVA foam, molded pulp, paperboard or plastic?
The main types of box inserts compared for hardware products. EVA and EPE foam, molded pulp, paperboard, plastic trays and anti-static foam, with tooling, cost drivers and Chinese supplier terms.
08Basics · 11 minProduct development stages: how to make a physical product from idea to finished product
The stages of making a physical product, from first sketch to boxes on a ship, explained for first-timers. What happens at each stage, why it matters, what you get out of it, and who in Shenzhen helps.
09Choosing · 8 minRigid box vs folding carton vs mailer box: which should you choose?
Folding cartons, corrugated mailers and rigid boxes (lid-and-base, magnetic closure, drawer) compared for hardware products. Materials, feel, protection, freight, cost drivers and the Chinese names factories use.
10Design · 8 minWhat is a dieline? Dielines, white samples and printed proofs explained
What a packaging dieline is, how to read its cut, fold and bleed lines, how to put artwork on it, and how proofing works with a Chinese box factory, from PDF proof to white sample (白样) to signed printed sample.
11Basics · 7 minWhat is hot foil stamping? A beginner's guide for packaging
How hot foil stamping (烫金) works, what the die and foil are, which designs foil well, what drives the cost, and how to ask a Shenzhen packaging factory for it.