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ECMA B40.22.00.00

4-Corner Glued 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

  • Ships flat and opens for fast manual packing
  • Relies on pre-glued corners during production
  • Open top usually needs an outer shipper for parcel transit

About this product

The 4-corner glued tray is a classic folding carton that ships flat and opens with a single pull. By moving the assembly work to the converter, this tray eliminates manual folding on the packing line, making it a strong choice for fast-paced fulfillment.

Also known as a collapsible tray or beers tray, it features single-thickness walls and an open top. It is a practical choice for bakery items, fast food, gift sets, and medical kitting where rapid manual setup is a priority.

Common uses

  • Bakery and food service
  • Gift sets and retail presentation
  • Base component for two-piece packaging
  • Medical kitting

Get a quote

Share what you know. We'll take it from there. Or email us at info@herculeindustrial.com

Best Price Guarantee

Already have a packaging quote? Let us beat it.

Send us the quote you have. We will beat it for the same specifications, quantity, and delivery requirements.

Upload a competing quote

Free quote review. No obligation.

30+specialist partner plants

We supply through the plant best suited to your price, material, production, and delivery requirements.

Why we can beat a lower quote

30+ plants give us more ways to lower the price.

Each plant has different machinery, material costs, order minimums, and freight rates. Our buying volume helps us secure better pricing. We then quote through the plant that gives you the lowest total price for your requirements.

Send us your current quote. Watch us beat it.

Attach it to the quote form or email it to us. We'll review it free and send you our price.

Upload a competing quoteinfo@herculeindustrial.com
Best Price Guarantee terms

To qualify, send a written supplier quote dated within the past 30 days and addressed to your company. It must cover the same dimensions, construction, material, print, finish, quantity, tooling, freight, delivery date, and delivery location. The guarantee does not cover taxes, expired quotes, liquidation or clearance sales, or obvious pricing errors.

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High-throughput manual packing and presentation

High-throughput manual packing

Because the tray is pre-glued, operators simply pull the opposing walls outward to erect it quickly. This makes it a strong fit for packing lines where manual folding time should be minimized.

Base component for two-piece packaging

The open tray often serves as the base for a telescopic box or a sleeve-wrapped package, providing a rigid floor and walls for product presentation.

Open presentation for retail shelves

The single-thickness walls and open top allow full product visibility, making it useful for displaying grouped items or bakery goods directly on the shelf.

Medical kitting and assembly

For multi-part kits, the fast opening action allows workers to quickly set up the tray and begin loading components without wrestling with friction locks or tabs.

Retail, food service, and kitting

Food service and bakery

The fast setup fits counter service and bakery lines. When used for food contact, the board and adhesive should be specified for the exact temperature and moisture environment.

Gift sets and retail presentation

The open top allows full product visibility, while the clean, single-ply walls provide an uninterrupted surface for high-quality graphics.

Medical and cosmetic kitting

Clean lines and lack of internal locking tabs make this tray useful for organizing small bottles, vials, or cosmetic components before they are sealed in an outer sleeve.

When to compare unglued or lidded trays

Short runs and prototypes

This tray relies on specific pre-glued production routing. For very short runs or prototype testing, the initial preparation may outweigh the packing labor savings, making an unglued friction-lock tray worth comparing.

Need for a closed box

If the product needs top protection without a separate sleeve or outer carton, compare this to a glued tray with an integrated lid.

Production route, board thickness, and print zones

Board caliper and folding behavior

Standard folding carton grades fold cleanly and ship flat. If you specify a thicker micro-flute, the converter often needs to adjust the layer step creases so the tray still folds flat without binding.

Print-free zones for gluing

The inside of the short walls needs unvarnished, unprinted areas where the corner flaps are glued. Artwork should be planned around these zones to ensure a strong adhesive bond.

Order volume and production route

Because the glued corners involve specific production preparation, this tray makes the most sense for repeat programs or larger runs where the labor savings offset the initial preparation.

Outer shipping and parcel transit

As an open tray, it provides no top containment. If the product will ship through mixed courier routes, plan for a separate outer shipper or a sealed wrap.

Flap tapers and production clearances

Flap tapers and clearances

The diagonal webs and glue flaps can be tapered to prevent catching during production folding. These small adjustments help the tray run smoothly through the gluing process.

Layer step crease adjustments

When moving from standard paperboard to thicker micro-flutes, the crease offsets can be modified to accommodate the extra material thickness when the tray is folded flat.

Trapezium bevels

Specific parameter controls allow finer adjustment of the corner flap angles, ensuring the glue flaps do not bind against the adjacent walls during erection.

Board and packing details

Grain direction and wall bowing

Grain should typically run parallel to the long walls to prevent bowing, but this should be balanced against the risk of cracking on the diagonal creases.

Template variants

B40.22.00.00.a

Includes specific parameter controls for trapezium bevels and flap tapers, allowing finer adjustment for production clearances.

Additional notes

Repeated collapsing and board fatigue

If the tray is flattened and re-erected multiple times, the diagonal creases can suffer board fatigue and cracking. It is designed for a single erection cycle.

Related packaging

B40.22.00.50: 4-Corner Glued Tray with Lid

Adds a tuck-in cover to the same fast-erecting base.

FAQs

Packing and assembly

Does this tray need manual gluing?

No. The tray is glued by the converter during manufacturing. It arrives flat and pre-glued, so the packer only needs to pull it open.

Shipping and route

Can this tray be shipped through parcel networks?

Not on its own. Because it has an open top and single-thickness walls, parcel transit usually demands an outer shipping box or a sealed wrap.

Packing and assembly

Is this tray suitable for automated packing lines?

It is primarily designed for fast manual erection. Automated packing lines often form trays from unglued flat blanks around a mandrel rather than pulling open pre-glued flat trays.

Materials and board

What happens if I use a thicker corrugated board?

Heavy corrugated board is generally too thick for the inward downfold mechanism. It will not fold flat properly, and the glue flaps may tear away. Micro-flutes can work but often need careful crease adjustments.

Packing and assembly

How does the tray stay open?

When the short walls are pulled upright, the glued corner flaps automatically pull the long walls into a 90-degree position. The geometry of the glued diagonal webs locks the tray open without additional tabs.

Print and finish

Where can I print on this tray?

The entire outside surface is available for printing. However, specific areas on the inside of the short walls should remain free of ink and varnish so the glue can bond properly.

Materials and board

Can I use this tray for heavy industrial parts?

It is generally better suited for lightweight to medium goods. The single-ply walls and glued corners may bow or fail under heavy, dense loads unless supported by an outer sleeve.

Shipping and route

How are these trays delivered to the packing facility?

They are delivered flat. The diagonal creases allow the long walls to collapse inward, meaning the trays stack densely on a pallet.