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EVF31150

Collapsible Tapered Tray

The EVF31150 is a pre-glued folding carton tray that ships flat and opens instantly into an open-top, tapered display. Designed for fast-paced packing environments, the tray features diagonal corner webs that are glued during production, allowing the walls to pull up and lock at a specific outward slant without manual folding.

Because it requires no taping or tab-locking at the packing station, this style reduces labor time for bakeries, catering operations, and retail display rollouts. The tapered walls increase product visibility, though the pre-glued corner mechanism shifts the assembly work to the manufacturing stage, which often makes it a better fit for established, repeat packing programs.

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At a glance

  • Opens instantly from a flat-shipped state
  • Tapered walls improve retail and food-service visibility
  • Pre-glued diagonal corners eliminate manual assembly

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Fast-Paced Packing and Retail Display

High-volume retail and food service

This tray is built for environments where packing speed is the primary bottleneck. Because the corners are pre-glued, operators simply pull the short walls upward, and the entire tray snaps into its tapered shape. It is frequently used for baked goods, catering assortments, and shelf-ready retail products where the open top and slanted walls present the contents clearly to the consumer.

Shelf-ready component trays

When multiple smaller items need to be grouped inside a larger master carton, this tray acts as a quick-loading base. Once removed from the master carton at the retail store, the tapered walls immediately serve as a display without requiring store staff to unpack individual units.

Catering and event assortments

For event preparation, the flat-shipping profile saves counter space, while the instant setup allows staff to build trays as fast as they can fill them. The outward slant of the walls helps display arranged foods more effectively than a deep, straight-walled box.

Apparel and soft-goods presentation

Retailers packing folded apparel or soft goods often use tapered trays to keep items contained while allowing customers to see the fabric and colors. The lack of a top lid encourages interaction on the store floor.

Food Service, Bakery, and Shelf-Ready Rollouts

Operations balancing packing labor against production requirements

The instant-setup mechanism shifts the assembly burden from the packing floor to the manufacturing facility. While this saves packing time per unit during fulfillment, the pre-glued diagonal corners rely on specific folding equipment. Buyers testing a new product line may want to trial a manually erected tray before committing to this pre-glued style for repeat orders.

Brands needing high interior visibility

Because the walls lean outward, the inside panels of the tray are highly visible to the consumer. Brands often use this tray style when they want to print messaging, patterns, or instructions on the interior floor and inner walls of the tray.

Supply chains requiring flat-shipped storage density

Despite opening into a rigid 3D shape, the pre-glued corner webs allow the entire tray to collapse completely flat. This provides excellent pallet density for inbound freight and requires minimal storage space at the packing station before use.

Straight Walls and Parcel Shipping

Straight-walled trays for tight fits

If the tray needs to hold products tightly without shifting, or if you need to maximize internal volume within a strict outer footprint, a straight-walled 4-corner tray may be a better fit. The taper on this tray means the base is always smaller than the top opening.

Closed-top cartons for parcel networks

Because this is an open-top tray, it provides no vertical crush resistance or top protection. If the product will ship through mixed-carrier parcel networks, it must be paired with a protective outer shipper or replaced with a fully enclosed mailer.

Taper Angle, Board Caliper, and Interior Print

Defining the taper angle

The wall offset dictates the slant of the tray. A slight taper allows empty erected trays to nest efficiently on a packing line, while a wider taper maximizes product visibility. Extreme tapers can complicate the folding process and increase the overall blank size, affecting material efficiency.

Board flexibility and grain direction

The diagonal corner webs must fold completely flat for shipping and then open rapidly during erection. Heavy or rigid boards can crack along these diagonal creases or cause the flat tray to spring open prematurely. Grain direction should be discussed to prevent tearing.

Interior print surfaces

Because the walls slant outward, the interior of the tray is highly visible. Buyers should decide early if the inside requires printing, coating, or a specific unprinted finish to match the exterior presentation.

Outer shipping and master carton fit

If these trays will be packed into a larger master carton, the top opening dimensions must be used to calculate the fit, not just the base footprint. The outward slant means the trays will touch at their top edges when placed side-by-side.

Footprint and Wall Slant

Base length and width

The floor of the tray can be sized to fit the exact footprint of the product. Keep in mind that the top opening will be larger than these base dimensions due to the wall slant.

Wall height

The vertical height of the tray can be adjusted to expose more or less of the product. Taller walls provide more containment but require a larger flat blank.

Wall offset (taper)

The horizontal distance the top edge extends past the base edge can be modified. This controls the exact angle of the display walls and affects how well empty trays nest together.

Packing details

Flat delivery and storage

The pre-glued corner webs allow the entire tray to collapse flat. This provides excellent pallet density for inbound freight and requires minimal storage space at the packing station before use.

Additional notes

Packing line nesting

Because the walls are tapered, erected trays can be nested inside one another. This allows operators to pop open a batch of trays in advance and stack them at the loading station without taking up excessive counter space.

Related Trays and Cartons

EVF31101: Standard Lock-Corner Tray

Consider an unglued, manually erected tray if you are running a short trial and want to avoid the equipment requirements associated with pre-glued corners.

FAQs

Can this tray be produced for short trial runs?

The diagonal corner webs rely on specific folding equipment to fold and glue the flaps automatically. For very short digital runs, manual gluing is highly labor-intensive, making unglued, manually erected trays a more practical starting point.

What board types work well for this tapered tray?

Standard folding boxboards or solid bleached boards in moderate calipers work well. Very thick or rigid boards are risky because the diagonal corner creases must fold 180 degrees to ship flat; stiff material can crack at these folds or resist lying flat on the pallet.

Does the taper affect how much product fits inside?

Yes. The base footprint is smaller than the top opening. When sizing the tray, you must ensure the base dimensions accommodate the bottom of your product, while the outward slant provides clearance for the upper portion.

Can I ship this tray directly in the mail?

No. This is an open-top display and handling tray. It offers no top protection and cannot be sealed. For parcel shipping, it must be loaded into a corrugated outer box or mailer.

Should I print on the inside of the tray?

Because the walls slant outward, the interior panels are highly visible to the consumer, especially as the product is removed. Many retail and food-service buyers choose two-sided printing or select a board with a clean, coated interior to maximize presentation.

Does the packer need to apply tape or glue?

No. The converter applies permanent adhesive to the corner webs during manufacturing. The packer only needs to pull the short walls upward, and the tray locks into its 3D shape instantly.

How are these trays delivered?

They are delivered completely flat. The pre-glued corner webs fold inward, allowing the tray to collapse for dense pallet shipping and easy storage at the packing station.

Can the taper angle be adjusted?

Yes. The wall offset can be modified to create a slight slant or a wide, open display. However, extreme tapers can complicate the folding process and increase the amount of board required.

Review your product's footprint and the required display angle to determine the right taper for your packing line.