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ECMA B20.01.00.00

Unglued Self-Locking 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

  • Unglued mechanical friction locks
  • Clean double-wall ends for retail display
  • Delivered completely flat for maximum storage efficiency

About this product

The ECMA B20.01.00.00 is an open-top folding carton tray that secures itself without adhesive. Two of the walls fold over 180 degrees, trapping the adjacent side tabs and locking into the base with small friction nibs. This creates a clean, rigid corner that works well for retail display and grouped product presentation.

Because it requires no gluing during conversion, it ships completely flat to maximize pallet density. The tradeoff is that the erection burden shifts to the packing facility, requiring either manual folding or an automated tray former.

Common uses

  • Retail shelf-ready packaging (RRP)
  • Grouped product presentation (jars, bottles, cosmetics)
  • Inner kitting trays for master shippers
  • Work-in-progress (WIP) manufacturing trays

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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Retail Display And Grouped Product Presentation

Retail shelf-ready packaging (RRP)

The open top provides unobstructed visibility for product labels, while the double-wall ends present a clean, finished edge to the consumer. It works well for holding jars, bottles, or canned goods securely on the shelf.

Inner kitting and organization

When paired with a master shipper or a telescopic lid, this tray acts as a rigid base to keep multiple components organized during transit and unboxing.

Grouped cosmetics and premium food

The lack of visible glue seams and the clean folded edges make this tray suitable for high-end presentation, provided the board grade is chosen to prevent cracking on the tight folds.

Work-in-progress (WIP) manufacturing trays

For internal plant use, the quick manual setup and flat storage make it an efficient temporary carrier for parts moving between assembly stations.

Shelf-Ready And Inner-Carton Applications

High-volume automated fulfillment

While often folded by hand for short runs, this tray is compatible with conventional plunger-style tray forming equipment, allowing it to scale into automated packing lines.

Hand-packed short runs and trials

Because it requires no gluing during conversion, it is highly cost-effective for short runs, prototypes, and seasonal promotions where manual assembly is acceptable.

Retailers requiring glue-free packaging

Some retail or sustainability guidelines prefer single-material, unglued packaging to simplify recycling streams at the store level.

When To Compare Glued Or Covered Packaging

High-volume manual packing

If operators must erect thousands of trays by hand, the repetitive motion of folding and locking the ends can cause fatigue. A pre-glued crash-lock tray or a four-corner glued tray may be a faster, more ergonomic choice.

Standalone parcel delivery

This tray has an open top and relies on friction locks. It requires an outer shipping box for parcel delivery, as the open top leaves products exposed.

Board Thickness, Grain Direction, And Packing Route

Board thickness and lock clearance

The fold-over panels must accommodate the exact thickness of the board. If the material is changed later, the die must be adjusted, or the double walls will bulge and the nibs will fail to reach their locking slots.

Grain direction for fold-over panels

The 180-degree fold on the end walls places heavy tension on the board. Specifying the grain direction to run parallel to these folds reduces the risk of the outer liner cracking.

Hand folding versus tray-forming equipment

Knowing whether the tray will be formed by hand or by a machine helps determine the necessary tolerances for the locking nibs and side tabs.

Outer shipping requirements

Because this is an open-top display tray, buyers must plan for a master carton or shrink wrap to secure the trays during palletized transit.

Adjusting Lock Tolerances And Wall Heights

Locking nib dimensions

The length and height of the locking nibs can be adjusted. Larger nibs provide a more secure hold but require more force to seat, while smaller nibs are easier to assemble but may pop out under pressure.

Wall height and base proportions

The height of the tray can be modified, but it must remain proportional to the base width to ensure the fold-over panels do not overlap or interfere with each other during assembly.

Side tab bevel angles

The angle of the side tabs can be adjusted to ensure they clear the fold-over panels smoothly during assembly, especially for thicker board grades.

Board and packing details

Friction lock sensitivity

Surface finishes, such as heavy UV coatings or laminations, can reduce the friction between the panels. This may cause the locks to slip if the tray is subjected to outward pressure.

Variant Tray Styles

B20.01.00.00.a (Modified side tabs)

Adjusts the horizontal taper of the side tabs to change how they clear the fold-over panels during assembly.

B20.01.00.00.b (Modified lock offset)

Uses a different panel correction logic for the tongue offset, altering the exact positioning of the locking nibs along the base crease.

Additional notes

Surface coatings and lock retention

Slippery interior coatings can reduce the effectiveness of the friction locks. If a heavy coating is required, the lock dimensions may need to be tightened.

Related Tray Styles

B40.22.00.00: 4-Corner Glued Tray

Review this alternative if you want to eliminate the manual folding and locking steps in favor of a tray that arrives pre-glued and pops open quickly.

B20.04.00.00: Webbed corner tray

Review this alternative if you need a liquid-tight or sift-proof corner, as webbed corners fold continuously without unattached tabs.

FAQs

Assembly and Packing

Does this tray use glue or tape?

The tray relies entirely on mechanical friction locks. The end walls fold over the side tabs and lock into slots on the base without adhesive.

Can this tray run on automated packing lines?

The design is compatible with conventional automated tray formers that use a plunger and die system to fold and lock the walls in one motion.

Materials and Fit

How does board thickness affect the tray?

The fold-over panels are cut to wrap exactly around the side tabs. If the board is thicker than specified, the panels will bind and the locks will not seat. If it is thinner, the locks may be too loose and pop open.

Does this design work with corrugated board?

It is generally designed for folding carton board. Using micro-flute corrugated requires heavy adjustments to the fold allowances and increases the risk of the board cracking on the 180-degree folds.

Shipping and Route

How does the tray handle heavy products?

It can hold grouped heavy items like jars if the base is supported, but lifting a heavily loaded tray by its ends can cause the base to sag or the friction locks to dislodge.

Can this tray be used for parcel shipping?

The open top and friction locks require it to be placed inside a master shipper or mailer for parcel delivery.

Materials and Fit

What happens if the locking nibs are too small?

If the nibs are reduced too much, the friction lock becomes weak, and the fold-over panels may pop open under the outward pressure of the packed products.

Assembly and Packing

How is the tray delivered?

Because it requires no gluing during manufacturing, it is delivered completely flat, which maximizes pallet density and reduces shipping space.