Printed Honeycomb Boxes: Branded Packaging That Protects Heavy Goods
A plain brown carton protects the product and says nothing about the brand. A printed honeycomb box does both, and it stays rigid when the product inside is heavy.
Printed honeycomb boxes are boxes and cases made from paper honeycomb panels with a branded outer surface, printed directly on the kraft face, laminated with a printed sheet, or finished with printed labels and sleeves. They suit heavy, fragile or high-value goods where a thin corrugated carton would crush or look cheap: premium gift and hamper boxes, heavy e-commerce items, export cases with shipping marks, and retail-ready packs that turn into a display in the store.
This article covers the three ways branding goes onto a honeycomb box, where printed honeycomb packaging pays for itself, how a brand owner or print shop specifies it, and where corrugated or another material is the better choice. It applies to standard kraft honeycomb board of the kind phb manufactures in Balakong, Selangor, Malaysia.
Three ways to brand a honeycomb box
Direct UV printing onto the kraft face gives a natural, understated look: logos, handling marks and single-colour artwork on the brown surface. A printed sheet laminated to the face before the box is cut and folded gives a white base and full-colour, photographic print, which suits gift and retail packaging. Printed labels, sleeves and belly bands are the third route and the most flexible for short runs, seasonal editions or several products sharing one plain box.
Whichever route you choose, confirm with your supplier what is available for your run length and board thickness before the artwork is final.
Where printed honeycomb packaging pays for itself
Heavy goods: honeycomb walls stay rigid under weight and stack loads that would bulge a corrugated carton, and engineered honeycomb reaches a compression strength of around 12kN. Premium presentation: a thick, flat, crisply printed box feels more substantial than a thin carton, which matters for corporate gifts and festive hampers. Export: printed shipping marks go straight onto the box, and because paper honeycomb is exempt from ISPM-15, the box needs no heat treatment, fumigation or stamp.
Retail-ready packs are the fourth case. As an illustrative example, a brand shipping bottled sauces might use a printed honeycomb case that arrives at the store, has its lid removed, and stands on the shelf or the floor as a branded display without repacking.
How to specify a printed honeycomb box
Start with the product: weight, dimensions, fragility and how the box will be stacked in transit and in the store. Wall thickness follows from that, usually in the 10–20mm range for boxes and heavier for large cases; sheets run from 10mm to 50mm and up to 2.4m x 1.2m. Then choose the print route and the finish on the edges, which can be left open to show the cells, taped with kraft or capped with a printed strip.
At the end of its life, the box goes into ordinary paper and cardboard recycling because it is mono-material kraft paper, a point worth printing on the box itself for customers and for brands reporting on packaging under rules such as the EU PPWR, which is now in force.
Where corrugated or another material is the better choice
For small, light products, corrugated is cheaper and entirely adequate. For very long, high-volume runs, printed corrugated usually costs less per unit. Standard honeycomb is not waterproof, so cold-chain, wet or iced products need a different pack or a laminated build. And for direct food contact, the box needs a suitable food-grade liner and the relevant approvals; ask before you specify it for food.
Frequently asked questions
Can you print on honeycomb boxes?
Yes. There are three common routes: direct UV printing onto the kraft face for logos and single-colour artwork, a printed sheet laminated to the face for full-colour photographic print, and printed labels or sleeves for short runs. Check with your supplier which route suits your run length and board thickness before finalising artwork.
Is a honeycomb box stronger than a corrugated box?
For heavy products and stacking, a honeycomb box is usually much stiffer at the same weight, because its upright cells resist crushing; engineered honeycomb reaches around 12kN in compression. For small, light items, corrugated is cheaper and strong enough, so the right choice depends on product weight, size and how the box is stacked.
Where can I get printed honeycomb packaging in Malaysia?
phb manufactures honeycomb board and packaging in Balakong, Selangor, in sheets from 10mm to 50mm thick and up to 2.4m x 1.2m. Send your product size, weight and artwork idea by WhatsApp on +6016-891 6381 or to [email protected], and ask for a sample to check print and fit before ordering.
Put your brand on a box that holds its shape
Send us the product, its weight and size, and how you want the box branded. We will suggest a construction and print route and send a sample to check the fit.