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EVC41007

Columned Stacking Tray

Available in a wide range of custom configurations & material selection.
Order 1 sample. Or order 100K+ units. Or anything in between.
Affordable delivery across North America.
Design support, warehousing, testing, assembly available.
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Product details

Top highlights

Diagonal corner columns for high vertical stacking strength
Interlocking tabs align and secure trays on pallets
100% glue-free manual assembly

About this product

The Columned Stacking Tray is a heavy-duty, open-top corrugated design built for demanding pallet loads and retail-ready displays. It features diagonal corner columns formed by roll-over end walls, providing vertical compression strength without requiring glue or tape.

Because it relies on a complex die-cut blank and manual assembly, this tray is a strong fit for operations where stacking stability, product visibility, and interlocking pallet alignment are more important than high-speed automated packing.

Common uses

Agricultural produce
Retail-ready packaging (SRP)
Heavy industrial parts kitting

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Pallet Stacking and Retail Display Roles

High-Weight Pallet Stacking

The diagonal corner columns transfer vertical weight efficiently, allowing these trays to be stacked high on pallets without crushing the contents. The interlocking tabs keep the stack aligned during transit.

Retail-Ready Presentation

With an open top and clean interior walls, the tray transitions easily from the pallet to the retail shelf, providing immediate product access for shoppers.

Line-Side Parts Kitting

For internal manufacturing routes, the trays can be erected on demand, loaded with heavy components, and stacked securely next to the assembly line.

Cold Chain and Produce Transport

When cut from moisture-resistant board, the columned structure resists buckling even when handling heavy, moisture-sensitive agricultural goods.

Produce, Kitting, and Retail Environments

Agricultural and Produce Packing

Growers and packers rely on the corner columns to support heavy loads of fruit or vegetables, maintaining integrity through temperature changes and pallet movement.

Industrial Manufacturing

Facilities handling dense metal or plastic parts use this tray for internal transport, taking advantage of the glue-free assembly and high stacking strength.

Big-Box Retail and Club Stores

Brands supplying club stores use the open-top design to display products directly from the pallet, reducing store labor while keeping the stack stable.

When a Simpler Tray May Be Better

Automated Packing Lines

This tray is designed for manual assembly. If the operation relies on high-speed automated tray formers or folder-gluers, a machine-erected tray or four-corner glued design is often a better choice.

Individual Parcel Shipping

The open-top design offers no protection against inversion or rough courier handling. For parcel networks, the loaded tray typically requires an outer master carton, or a fully enclosed mailer should be evaluated instead.

Board, Flute, and Blank Size Choices

Board Grade and Flute Profile

While E-flute works for lighter retail goods, heavy produce or industrial parts often use B, C, or double-wall board. Thicker flutes increase stacking strength but require precise double-crease profiling to ensure the 45-degree columns fold without cracking.

Maximum Tray Size and Blank Complexity

The extended roll-over panels and corner flaps create a wide, irregular blank. This complexity can limit the maximum tray size depending on the production equipment used.

Manual Assembly Labor

The tray requires a specific folding sequence: long walls fold inward, short walls fold up, and the inner panels roll over to form the columns and lock into the base. This labor should be factored into the packing station workflow.

Stacking Tab Compatibility

The interlocking tabs and base slots must be sized to match the exact pallet pattern and any existing trays in the supply chain to ensure secure stacking.

Adjusting Columns and Stacking Tabs

Stacking Tab Configuration

The interlocking tabs on the short walls can be adjusted in height or removed entirely if the trays do not need to register with one another on a pallet.

Hand Hole Additions

Hand holes can be added to the short walls for easier lifting, provided they are placed centrally to avoid interfering with the roll-over locking mechanism.

Column Width Adjustments

The width of the 45-degree corner faces can be modified to increase the load-bearing surface area, though this changes the internal clearance and blank size.

Packing details

Blank Sprawl and Material Efficiency

Because of the complex corner structures, this tray uses more square footage of corrugated board than a standard roll-end tray and does not nest efficiently on the sheet. The tradeoff is exceptional strength without the need for adhesive.

Additional notes

Double Crease Allowances for Heavy Board

When specifying thicker flutes for maximum strength, the double creases must be carefully calculated so the roll-over panels wrap the corners without tearing the liner.

FAQs

Does this tray require glue or tape to stay assembled?

The tray relies entirely on mechanical locks. The short wall panels roll over the straight backing flaps and tuck securely into base slots, requiring no adhesive.

Can this tray be erected by machine?

It is primarily designed for manual assembly at the packing station. While specialized plunge-forming equipment exists for columned trays, it cannot be run on basic folding equipment.

How do the diagonal columns improve stacking?

The 45-degree corner faces create a triangular post that transfers vertical weight directly through the corners, increasing the tray's resistance to buckling under heavy pallet loads.

What keeps the stacked trays from sliding?

Exposed tabs on the top edges of the short walls interlock with corresponding slots in the base of the tray above, locking the pallet stack together.

How does the complex blank affect production?

The angled cuts for the columns and specific double-crease rules require flatbed cutting. This means the tray is produced like a shaped die-cut package rather than a simple slotted box.

Can I ship this tray through a parcel courier?

Not on its own. The open top leaves the product exposed. For courier networks, the loaded tray must be packed inside a fully enclosed master shipper.

How does board thickness affect the corner folds?

Thicker flutes require wider double-crease allowances. If the creases are not profiled correctly for the board grade, the 45-degree column faces can crack during manual assembly.

Can hand holes be added without weakening the tray?

Hand holes can be cut into the short walls, provided they are positioned carefully to avoid the roll-over locking tabs and base slots.