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ECMA B20.05.00.00

Scissor-Lock Unglued 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

Assembles entirely without glue or tape
Double-wall short ends for added rigidity
Delivered flat to maximize storage space

About this product

This flat-shipped, glue-free tray relies on a mechanical scissor lock to hold its shape. The long side walls feature extended flaps that fold inward and interlock, trapping the short end panels to create rigid, double-thickness walls.

Because it requires no adhesive, it offers a clean, premium presentation for retail, bakery, and apparel applications. The interlocking design requires manual assembly, making it a practical choice for hand-packing operations rather than high-speed automated lines.

Common uses

Bakery and pastry trays
Apparel boxes
Premium retail inserts
In-plant kitting

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Size and quantity

Detailed dimensions

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Width (inside)

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Materials and print

Paperboard preference

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Print and artwork

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Shipping or storage context

Custom changes or unusual needs

What will go inside the tray?

Will you use a custom insert or divider inside the tray?

Do you need printing on the inside of the tray?

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Retail, Food, and Kitting Uses

Retail Presentation and Apparel

The lack of glue seams provides a clean, uninterrupted interior and exterior. This makes it a practical choice for displaying clothing, accessories, or premium goods where the unboxing aesthetic matters.

Bakery and Food Service

When produced with appropriate food-safe boards, the glue-free construction eliminates adhesive concerns, making it a natural fit for pastries, baked goods, and confectioneries.

In-Plant Kitting and Sorting

For internal operations, the tray can be quickly erected at the workstation without tools or tape, providing a simple, organized container for parts or components.

Gift and Promotional Sets

For curated gift boxes or promotional kits, the unglued corners provide a clean backdrop. The double-wall ends also offer a sturdy frame for holding custom inserts or partitions.

Manual Packing and Short-Run Programs

Manual Packing Operations

The scissor-lock mechanism requires human dexterity to align and engage the slits. It is efficient for teams packing by hand, but it cannot be erected by automated cartoning machinery.

Eco-Conscious Packaging Programs

By eliminating adhesives from the construction, this tray simplifies the recycling stream, supporting sustainability goals when paired with widely recyclable paperboard.

Short-Run and Prototype Programs

Because the design bypasses the folder-gluer entirely, it is often easier to produce in small batches or as a quick prototype for testing product fit.

High-Volume Fulfillment and Parcel Shipping

High-Volume Automated Fulfillment

If your packing line uses automated folder-gluers or tray erectors, the manual scissor lock will slow down the process. Compare this with a four-corner glued tray, which arrives pre-glued and opens quickly.

Parcel and Courier Shipping

This is an open tray with no lid. If the package ships through mixed-carrier networks, it usually needs an outer shipper, mailer, or a custom sleeve. Alternatively, consider a variant with an integrated cover.

Board Caliper, Print Surfaces, and Assembly Time

Board Caliper and Lock Friction

The scissor lock relies on the stiffness and thickness of the board to stay engaged. Folding boxboard (FBB) or solid bleached board (SBB) are common choices. Heavy corrugated board is generally a difficult match, as the thick material can bind or crush when the slits interlock.

Two-Sided Printing Needs

The extended locking flaps fold inward to form the inner layer of the short walls. If you want the entire interior of the tray to carry a printed design or color, two-sided printing is worth discussing.

Assembly Time versus Glued Alternatives

Because this tray bypasses the folder-gluer, it arrives as a completely flat blank. The tradeoff is the time spent erecting the tray by hand. For high-volume repeat orders, a pre-glued tray often makes more sense for the packing line.

Insert and Partition Fit

The locking mechanism creates a double wall on the short ends. When planning for custom inserts, dividers, or exact product placement, this extra board thickness should be factored into the internal dimensions.

Slit Offsets, Fillet Radius, and Wall Proportions

Slit Offset and Flap Overlap

The position of the interlocking slits and the length of the locking flaps can be adjusted to ensure a tight, secure fit. These tolerances are matched to your specific board thickness to prevent the lock from tearing or disengaging.

Fillet Radius

The curved edges of the locking flaps guide the flaps together during assembly. This curve can be modified to ease insertion for the packing team.

Wall Height Proportions

The tray depth can be adjusted, but as the walls get taller, the locking flaps must also grow to maintain the correct geometry. This changes the overall footprint of the flat blank and should be checked against material efficiency.

Board and packing details

Flat Delivery and Storage

Because the tray is completely unglued, it ships flat. This maximizes pallet density and reduces inbound freight space requirements compared to pre-glued or nested trays.

Lidded Variants

B20.05.00.50 (Scissor Lock with Tuck-In Cover)

Adds an integrated lid with a tuck-in flap, converting the open tray into a fully enclosed box while maintaining the glue-free base.

B20.05.00.55 (Scissor Lock with Claw Lock Cover)

Adds a cover that secures using a mechanical claw lock, providing a completely glue-free, closed container.

Additional notes

Prototyping the Lock

Because the scissor lock's performance is heavily dependent on board stiffness, testing a physical prototype with your chosen material is a practical step before committing to a full production run.

FAQs

Assembly and Labor

Can this tray be erected by machine?

The scissor-lock mechanism requires manual dexterity to push the opposing slits together. It is designed specifically for hand-packing operations rather than automated erectors.

Material and Fit

Does the scissor lock work with corrugated board?

It is usually a difficult match. The interlocking slits rely on precise tolerances, and the thickness of corrugated flutes often causes the lock to bind or crush. It pairs naturally with folding carton paperboard.

Print and Presentation

Will the inside of the tray be white or brown?

That depends on the board you choose. Keep in mind that the locking flaps fold inward to become the inner short walls. If you want a uniform color or pattern inside the tray, two-sided printing is usually the better approach.

Shipping and Route

Can I ship this tray directly in the mail?

Because this is an open tray without a lid, parcel shipping usually calls for an outer shipping box, mailer, or a variant with an integrated cover.

Customization

Can the tray be made deeper?

The wall height can be adjusted. However, as the tray gets deeper, the locking flaps must also grow to maintain the correct geometry, which changes the overall footprint of the flat blank.

Closure

Do I need tape or glue to keep the tray assembled?

When properly sized for the board thickness, the mechanical scissor lock holds the tray's shape securely without any adhesive or tape.

Internal Dimensions

How does the double-wall end affect product fit?

The locking flaps fold inward to create a second layer of board on the short ends. When sizing the tray for exact product fits or custom inserts, this double thickness should be accounted for.

Strength and Load

Can I use this tray for heavy items?

The long side walls are single-thickness, so heavy top loads or dense products may cause bowing. The board grade and product weight should be checked together to ensure the tray maintains its shape.