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EVC41152

Center-Locking Split-Lid 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.
Widest machinery capability in America via 30+ specialist partner plants.

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Product details

Top highlights

Tape-free central tongue-and-slot lock
Wide top opening for presentation and easy loading
Delivered flat for manual assembly

About this product

The EVC41152 is a corrugated presentation tray featuring a two-panel lid that meets exactly in the center. Instead of relying on tape or glue, the lid panels fold downward into the tray cavity and secure themselves with a mechanical tongue-and-slot lock, forming a rigid central spine.

This design provides a wide, unobstructed opening for loading and a distinctive center-reveal unboxing experience. Because the central lock relies on precise board folding, it is better suited for manual assembly and retail or catering environments rather than rough parcel transit.

Common uses

Catering and bakery transport
Retail presentation kits
Direct-to-consumer unboxing (when placed inside a master shipper)

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Retail Presentation and Catering Trays

Catering and Bakery Transport

The wide top opening allows delicate items like pastries or catered meals to be loaded and unloaded without sliding them through narrow ends. The mechanical lock keeps the lid secure during hand delivery.

Retail Presentation Kits

The center-meeting lid creates a natural reveal when opened, making it a strong choice for gift kits, promotional mailers, or retail displays where the unboxing experience matters.

Subscription Box Inner Trays

When placed inside a protective master carton, this tray acts as a premium presentation layer. The split lid provides a clean, tape-free opening experience for the subscriber.

Apparel and Soft Goods

Folded garments, scarves, and accessories fit well within the wide rectangular base. The tape-free closure prevents adhesive from snagging or damaging delicate fabrics during unboxing.

Food Service, Bakery, and Direct-to-Consumer Kits

Food Service Operations

Packers can assemble the tray and lock the lid quickly without needing tape dispensers or gluing stations, keeping the presentation clean for the end customer.

E-commerce and Subscription Brands

When used as an inner presentation box inside a protective outer shipper, the split lid provides a premium opening experience while the master carton handles the transit wear.

Corporate Gifting and Event Swag

Event staff can manually assemble these trays on-site without specialized equipment. The mechanical lock provides a finished, professional look for VIP handouts or welcome kits.

Alternatives for Heavy Transit and Automation

Heavy Stacking or Parcel Shipping

If the package will travel through mixed-carrier courier networks without an outer shipper, the central lock can snag or pop open. Standard RSCs or roll-end tuck-top trays offer better transit security.

High-Speed Automated Packing

This tray requires manual folding to engage the central tongue and lock hole. If your packing line relies on automated folder-gluers or case erectors, a machine-erected tray is a better fit.

Board Thickness, Assembly Labor, and Route Choices

Board Flute and Lock Clearance

The central lock requires the board to fold sharply and interlock. Thinner profiles like E or F flute provide crisp folds and secure locking. Thicker boards can cause the tongue and hole to bind, requiring careful adjustment of the cut clearances.

Manual Assembly Planning

The tray is delivered flat. Packers must fold the corner dust flaps, raise the walls, fold the lid panels over, and manually push the tongue through the lock hole. This labor should be factored into the packing line setup.

Outer Shipper Requirements

Because the central lock is vulnerable to snagging in rough transit, decide early if this tray will act as the primary shipping container or if it will be placed inside a master carton for courier delivery.

Print Surface Allocation

The split lid design means the interior of the lid panels and the inside of the tray are fully exposed upon opening. Decide whether to invest in two-sided printing to maximize the unboxing presentation.

Lid Alignment, Top Flaps, and Lock Dimensions

Short-Wall Top Flaps

The short ends of the tray feature inward-folding flaps that stiffen the walls and provide a resting ledge for the lid. The depth of these flaps can be adjusted based on the product clearance needed inside the tray.

Lid Side Tabs

Small tabs on the edges of the lid panels fold down beside the tray walls to keep the lid aligned and minimize side gaps. These can be adjusted to match the specific board thickness being used.

Central Lock Dimensions

The length of the tongue and the size of the receiving hole can be modified. A tighter fit increases closure security but requires more effort from the packer to engage the lock.

Packing details

Die-Cutting and Blank Shape

The protruding lid panels, side tabs, and intricate central lock require flatbed die-cutting. The irregular shape of the flat blank may result in lower nesting efficiency on the corrugated sheet compared to a simple rectangular box.

Two-Sided Print Visibility

Because the lid panels fold outward from the center, their interior surfaces become clearly visible during unboxing. This makes the tray an excellent candidate for inside printing or branded messaging.

Additional notes

Physical prototyping for the lock

Because the tongue and lock hole rely on precise friction, it is strongly suggested to cut a physical sample in the exact chosen board grade to verify the closure tension before a full production run.

Print panel placement

The two lid panels offer a split canvas for top graphics, while the interior of the tray and the underside of the lid panels are fully exposed when the package is opened.

FAQs

Does the central lock require tape?

No. The lid panels fold down into the tray, and a mechanical tongue on one flap pushes through a lock hole on the other. This holds the tray closed without tape or adhesive.

Can this tray be shipped through parcel networks?

It is rarely used as a standalone parcel shipper. The central lock can catch on sorting equipment or pop open under heavy top loads. For courier delivery, it should be placed inside a master shipping carton.

Which board thicknesses support the central lock?

Thinner corrugated profiles, such as E-flute or F-flute, are generally more effective. They allow the tuck flaps to fold cleanly and the tongue to engage the lock hole without binding.

Can the lid panels overlap instead of meeting in the center?

The template is designed so the two lid panels meet exactly in the middle to form the downward locking spine. Overlapping them would require changing the fundamental locking mechanism.

How is the tray assembled?

It is assembled manually. The packer folds the corner dust flaps inward, raises the short and long walls, folds the lid panels toward the center, and engages the tongue-and-slot lock.

What keeps the lid panels from shifting side to side?

The lid panels feature small side tabs that fold down along the exterior of the tray walls, guiding the lid into place and preventing lateral movement.

Can I print on the inside of the lid panels?

Yes. Because the lid panels fold outward from the center, their interior surfaces become clearly visible during unboxing, making them a strong location for branding or instructions.

Is this tray suitable for heavy products?

Because the closure relies on a central friction lock, heavy items that shift during transit can push against the walls and pop the lock. It is better suited for lightweight or well-secured items.