Usually about two weeks from approved artwork to delivery. Here is where that time goes, what can slow a job down, and how to keep your launch date safe.
If you are planning a launch, the first question is usually the simplest one: how long will the cartons take? For most printed folding carton jobs, we typically take about two weeks from approved artwork to delivery.
That is a fair number to plan around. But the two weeks only start once the artwork is signed off, and on most packaging projects the time that slips away tends to go before a sheet is ever printed. Here is where the time goes, what can slow things down, and how to keep your launch date safe.
Where the two weeks go
Once the artwork is approved, the job moves through the factory in a set order:
- Repro: getting the files ready for the press, done in-house.
- Printing: on our seven-colour Koenig & Bauer Rapida 105 litho press.
- Die cutting: cutting and creasing each printed sheet into flat carton blanks.
- Finishing: embossing and window patching, if your pack needs them.
- Folding and gluing: on our Allpro 110 folder gluer, so your cartons arrive ready to fill.
- Delivery: on our own lorries, across the UK, with Ireland and Europe served too.
All of this happens under one roof in Peterborough. Your job is not sitting in a queue at another firm between steps, and it is not waiting for a courier slot at the end. That is a big part of why the timeline holds, and why you can speak to the people who are actually running the job if you need an update.
You can see more about how we make our folding cartons, from board to finished pack.
What happens before the clock starts
Because the two weeks run from approved artwork, the real question for a launch is how long it takes to get to that point. That part depends mostly on how ready you are, and it is worth being honest about it when you plan.
- A new pack shape. If the carton is a new structure, it needs to be drawn up and checked before anything is printed.
- Plain samples. We can make plain, unprinted samples so you can check the fit with your actual product first. It is the cheapest way to avoid a reprint.
- Artwork. Our in-house design team can help with artwork, or check that yours is ready for print.
- Sign-off. Someone on your side needs to approve the final artwork. If several people need to see it, allow for that.
For a brand new pack, add time for samples and sign-off on top of the production time. For a repeat order with no changes, the artwork is already approved and the job can go straight in.
What can slow a job down
Most delays are avoidable if they are spotted early. The common ones are:
- Changes after sign-off. Even a small text change means going back a step.
- Too many approvers. Agree who has the final say before the proof goes round.
- Something new. A board weight, finish or window you have not used before is rarely a problem, but mention it at the start so it is part of the plan rather than a surprise.
- Busy seasons. Christmas and seasonal launches mean a lot of brands are ordering at the same time. If your date sits in a busy period, talk to us earlier than usual.
Does order size change the lead time?
We have no minimum run, so you never have to order more than you need just to clear a minimum. That helps with timing too. A smaller first run lets you launch, see how the pack performs, then reorder with any changes, rather than waiting for a large order you are not yet sure about.
If you are a growing brand working out quantities for the first time, our page on custom printed boxes is a good place to start.
What about paper cups?
The same two-week rule of thumb applies to our printed paper cups. We make 12oz and 16oz cups, single and double wall, with a water-based coating instead of a plastic lining. As with cartons, the clock starts once the artwork is approved. There is more detail on our paper cups page.
How to keep your launch date safe
A few simple habits make the biggest difference:
- Tell us your launch date at the very start, not just the date you would like the cartons.
- Get a plain sample early and test it with the real product.
- Agree one person who signs off the final artwork.
- Send final artwork once, rather than in instalments.
- Think about where the stock will go. If space is tight on your side, ask about our warehousing.
Talk to the people who run the job
Lead times are easier to plan when you can ask a real person a straight question and get a straight answer. That is how we like to work: big-press quality, small-firm service.
If you have a launch coming up and want to know whether the timing works, send us a message with your date, quantity and what the pack needs to do. We will tell you honestly what is realistic.