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EVF41167

Ear-Hook Lock Tray with Lid

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.
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Product details

Top highlights

100% glue-free construction
Ships flat for maximum storage efficiency
Relies on manual corner-hook assembly

About this product

This single-piece folding carton forms a rigid tray and attached lid without any glue. The corners secure using hook-shaped tabs that snap into side-wall slits, creating a clean, unglued presentation well-suited for bakery, apparel, and lightweight retail goods.

Because it bypasses the folder-gluer, it ships entirely flat and reduces manufacturing steps, shifting the effort to manual assembly at the packing station.

Common uses

Retail and boutique packaging
Bakery and confectionery
Apparel and soft goods
Kitting and subscription boxes

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Retail and Presentation Packing

Retail and boutique packaging

The unglued corners and clean lid flaps provide a premium unboxing experience without visible adhesive seams.

Bakery and confectionery

Often used for lightweight baked goods where a flat-storing, easily erected box is needed on demand.

Apparel and soft goods

Lightweight clothing and accessories fit well in this clean, unglued presentation format, keeping the focus on the product.

Kitting and subscription boxes

Useful for lightweight curated sets where the unboxing experience benefits from a glue-free, folded aesthetic.

Fulfillment and Assembly Realities

Manual fulfillment stations

Because the four corner hooks must be manually guided into their slits, this tray takes longer to erect than a pre-glued auto-bottom or a typical snap-lock tray. It makes sense when labor time is available or volume is low to medium.

On-demand packing environments

Because it stores completely flat, it works well for retail counters or bakeries that need to assemble boxes as orders arrive.

Low-volume trial runs

The lack of gluing setup makes this an accessible choice for early-stage product launches or limited-edition runs.

When to Compare Glued or Roll-End Trays

Heavy or dense products

The side walls are interrupted by the horizontal locking slits. Heavy items can cause the walls to splay and the hooks to tear out. A roll-end tray (RETT) may be a better choice for double-wall strength.

High-speed packing lines

If volume dictates fast assembly, the manual hook-and-slit process will become a bottleneck. A glued four-corner tray is usually a better fit.

Direct parcel shipping

The friction tucks and hook locks may open under rough courier handling. If shipping direct, an outer mailer or secure taping is usually necessary.

Board Caliper and Lid Closure Choices

Board thickness and slit width

The width of the side-wall slits must precisely match the chosen board thickness. If the board changes, the CAD file must be adjusted, or the hooks will either bind and tear or fit too loosely.

Lid closure style

Decide whether the lid should tuck cleanly inside the front wall or fold over the outside to lock into a front slit.

Print surface and interior visibility

Since the tray uses single-ply walls, the inside will show the unprinted side of the board unless two-sided printing is specified.

Assembly labor capacity

The manual hook-and-slit process takes more time per unit than a pre-glued auto-bottom, which should be factored into packing costs.

Adjusting the Lock Fit

Hook bevel and offset

The angle and depth of the ear hooks can be tuned to balance secure locking with ease of manual insertion.

Window patching

A display window can be added to the lid, provided it stays clear of the main structural creases.

Dust flap clearance

The curved relief on the lid's side flaps can be adjusted to balance friction retention with ease of closing.

Packing details

Grain direction and hook strength

Grain direction should run parallel to the vertical creases to prevent cracking when the ear hooks are folded and inserted into the side walls.

Lid Closure Variants

EVF41167 (Internal Friction Tuck)

The base lid features a front tongue that tucks inside the front wall, offering a clean exterior look.

EVF41167_1 (External Slit-Lock Tongue)

The lid's front flap folds over the outside of the tray, and a central tongue locks into a dedicated slit on the front wall, providing a more positive closure against accidental opening.

Additional notes

Micro-flute corrugated board

While possible, using E-flute or F-flute makes the ear hooks bulky and harder to insert. Paperboard (SBS or FBB) is the natural fit for this locking mechanism.

FAQs

Can this tray be erected on automated packaging machinery?

The motion of folding the ear hooks and guiding them into the side-wall slits is designed for manual assembly. Automated tray-forming equipment typically cannot execute this specific hook-and-slit lock.

How does the assembly time compare to other trays?

Engaging the four corner hooks by hand takes more time than opening a glued auto-bottom or folding a common roll-end tray. This makes it a better fit for lower-volume or on-demand packing stations.

Can I switch board materials later without changing the design?

The side-wall slits are sized to match a specific board thickness. If you move to a thicker or thinner board, the CAD file must be adjusted so the hooks lock securely without tearing.

Is this box secure enough for ecommerce shipping?

The mechanical locks and friction lid may open during rough transit. For parcel delivery, it usually needs to be placed inside a corrugated outer shipper.

Which lid style makes more sense?

The internal friction tuck (EVF41167) provides a clean, uninterrupted front panel, while the external slit-lock (EVF41167_1) offers a more positive hold that resists opening during retail handling.

Does this design require gluing?

The entire structure is cut and creased in a single pass, bypassing the folder-gluer entirely. This keeps manufacturing simple and allows the blanks to ship completely flat.

Can this tray hold heavy jars or glass bottles?

The single-ply walls and horizontal locking slits are designed for lightweight goods. Heavy items can cause the walls to splay and the corner hooks to tear out.

Does the tray ship flat or pre-assembled?

The entire structure is delivered flat. Because it bypasses the folder-gluer, it maximizes pallet density and requires manual assembly at the packing station.