Corrugated Trays
Transport your product to the store shelf safely and efficiently, while promoting your brand
Trays
Sustainable corrugated trays provide versatile packaging solutions for fresh produce, cans, bottles, and pouches on both automatic and manual packing lines. With the right print and structural design, both packaging styles can help boost sales in store, create visual disruption and support your brand.
As a leading corrugated tray manufacturer, International Paper delivers packaging that performs dual functions: protecting products throughout the supply chain while serving as effective retail merchandising tools. Our corrugated trays combine structural integrity with printability, transforming functional packaging into brand-building assets at the point of purchase. Whether you need produce trays for agricultural distribution, beverage trays for multi-pack promotion, or display-ready trays for retail shelves, our solutions optimize both logistics and sales performance.
Trays as effective advertisers
The functions of trays are often underestimated. First and foremost, trays should fulfil the basic requirements of transit packaging, such as stackability and product protection. In addition, trays can also be used to promote your brand and increase sales in the retail environment.
Industries using trays have highly demanding filling and erecting machinery, meaning the tray must be optimized to meet demanding processes. With or without printing, from small to large formats, we offer standard or tailor-made solutions to suit you.
High-quality flexographic printing on corrugated trays creates shelf-level advertising that captures consumer attention. Unlike generic packaging, branded trays communicate product benefits, nutritional information, and promotional messaging directly at the moment of purchase decision. This dual-purpose approach eliminates the need for separate display materials while ensuring consistent brand presentation from distribution center to retail shelf.
Our design team engineers trays that balance structural performance with visual impact. Strategic color placement, bold graphics, and clear product windows work together to differentiate your products in crowded retail environments. Whether displaying fresh produce, organizing beverage multipacks, or presenting snack foods, corrugated trays turn functional packaging into active sales drivers.
Corrugated Tray Solutions Across Industries
Our corrugated trays serve diverse market segments with specialized design requirements:
Fresh Produce & Agriculture: Ventilated produce trays for fruits, vegetables, and berries with moisture-resistant treatments. Designed for field packing, cold storage, and retail display with optimal air circulation to maintain freshness.
Beverage Industry: Multi-pack trays for cans, bottles, and cartons that create promotional bundles while providing structural support. Designs accommodate standard configurations (4-pack, 6-pack, 12-pack, 24-pack) with integrated carry handles and retail-ready graphics.
Food Manufacturing: Trays for pouches, jars, and packaged goods that organize products on retail shelves while protecting during distribution. Custom configurations for variety packs, meal kits, and promotional bundles.
Bakery & Prepared Foods:
Food-safe trays for bread, pastries, and prepared meals with grease-resistant coatings. Designs support both in-store bakery operations and packaged goods distribution.
Dairy & Refrigerated: Cold-chain compatible trays for yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products with moisture resistance for refrigerated storage and display environments.
Custom Tray Designs for Your Packing Operations
We manufacture corrugated trays optimized for various filling and erecting systems:
Standard Rectangular Trays: Classic four-corner design with straight walls for maximum product capacity and efficient packing line performance. Available in single-wall and double-wall constructions.
Half-Slotted Containers (HSC): Open-top trays with one set of flaps, ideal for manual or automated filling operations. Easy access for loading and stackable for stable palletization.
Die-Cut Display Trays: Ventilated designs with corner post construction for superior stacking strength and air circulation. Moisture-resistant treatments withstand field conditions and cold storage.
Produce Trays (Agricultural Trays): Custom die-cut dunnage, dividers, and cushioning designed around exact part geometry to prevent movement and contact damage during transport.
Wraparound Trays: Efficient design that wraps around product bundles, minimizing material use while providing structural support and branding surface.
Handled Trays: Consumer-friendly trays with die-cut or rope handles for easy carrying, converting retail displays into take-home convenience.
Nested Trays: Space-efficient designs that nest when empty for reduced return shipping costs and warehouse storage requirements.
Optimized for High-Speed Packaging Lines
Modern food and beverage operations demand packaging that performs flawlessly on automated equipment:
Our tray designs undergo rigorous testing to ensure consistent performance on automatic erecting, filling, and sealing machinery. We work directly with equipment manufacturers to validate compatibility and optimize tray specifications for your specific production line requirements.
Key automation features include precise dimensional tolerances, consistent board caliper, proper score depth for reliable folding, and glue panel configurations that work with your adhesive application systems.
Whether you're running manual packing operations or high-speed automated lines processing thousands of trays per hour, we engineer solutions that minimize downtime, reduce waste, and maintain production efficiency. Our technical support team provides on-site troubleshooting and optimization services to ensure seamless integration into your packaging operations.
Sustainable Packaging That Drives Sales
Corrugated trays deliver environmental and merchandising advantages:
100% Recyclable: Corrugated trays integrate seamlessly into retail and consumer recycling programs. Made from renewable fiber with high recycled content options available.
Reduced Plastic Use:Replaces plastic clamshells and shrink-wrapped multipacks, helping brands meet sustainability commitments and retailer requirements for reduced plastic packaging.
Shelf-Ready Performance: Trays designed to go directly from shipping case to retail shelf eliminate double-handling and reduce labor costs in store. Perforated tear strips and easy-open features facilitate quick shelf stocking.
Brand Visibility: Full-color printing creates shelf-level advertising that communicates brand messaging, product benefits, and promotional offers directly to consumers at the point of purchase.
Space Efficiency: Stackable designs maximize warehouse and truck utilization while maintaining product protection throughout the distribution chain.
Corrugated Tray FAQ
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What's the difference between trays and standard corrugated boxes?
Trays feature open-top designs that provide easy product access for filling operations and consumer visibility for retail display. Unlike fully enclosed boxes, trays optimize for quick loading, stackability, and shelf presentation while still providing structural support and product protection during shipping.
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Can corrugated trays handle refrigerated and frozen environments?
Yes, we offer moisture-resistant and wet-strength corrugated grades specifically designed for cold chain applications. These materials maintain structural integrity in refrigerated storage, freezer environments, and during temperature fluctuations throughout distribution.
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What printing capabilities are available for corrugated trays?
We provide high-quality flexographic printing up to 4-colors for branding, product information, and promotional graphics. White-top linerboard options deliver superior print quality for photographic images and fine detail. Pre-print and post-print options available depending on volume and design requirements.
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How do you optimize tray designs for automated packing lines?
Our engineering team works with your packaging line specifications to ensure dimensional accuracy, proper score depth, consistent board caliper, and glue panel configurations compatible with your erecting and filling equipment. We can provide sample trays for line testing before full production.
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What minimum order quantities are typical for custom corrugated trays?
Minimums vary based on design complexity, printing requirements, and customization level. Standard designs with minimal printing can have lower minimums, while fully custom die-cut trays with multi-color graphics typically require larger order quantities. Contact our team to discuss your specific volume needs.
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Can trays be designed to nest or collapse for return shipping?
Yes, we design collapsible and nestable tray configurations that reduce empty return shipping costs and warehouse storage space. These designs maintain structural performance when loaded while compacting efficiently when empty.
Let’s Solve Your Packaging Challenges Together
Struggling with packaging inefficiencies or sustainability goals? Our experts are ready to offer a free consultation to explore custom corrugated solutions tailored to your business.