The cutting die
A steel rule die cuts the board or the wrap to shape. It is made once, from your drawing, and it is what makes every box in the run identical.
The die belongs to your job. If you reorder the same box, the same die is used and there is nothing to make again.
The deboss or foil die
A brass or magnesium die carries your logo. Brass holds fine detail and stands up to long runs; magnesium is quicker to make and suits simpler marks.
Change the logo and you need a new die. Change only the colour of the foil and you do not.
Injection moulds
Where a part is moulded — a hinge, a clip, a moulded insert — a steel mould is cut. This is the most substantial tool involved and it is the one that most shapes whether a design is sensible for the quantity you have in mind.
We will say plainly when a design needs a mould and when the same result can be reached without one.
What you keep
Tools made for your job are held for your job. Nothing made from your artwork is used on anyone else's work.
Getting the tooling right the first time
The tool is cut from the drawing, not from the sample. An error in the drawing becomes an error in every box. That is why we ask for a physical pre-production sample to be approved before the run starts.
At a glance
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Cutting die | Cuts board and wrap to shape |
| Deboss or foil die | Carries the logo |
| Injection mould | Forms moulded parts |
| Screen | Prints flat colour |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for tooling again on a reorder?
Not if the box and the artwork are unchanged. The same tools are used.
What happens if I change my logo?
A new deboss or foil die is needed. The cutting die is unaffected.
Do you keep my tools?
Yes, held for your job. Nothing made from your artwork is used on other work.
Can a design avoid needing a mould?
Often. We will tell you when a moulded part is doing something a die-cut or fabricated part could do instead.
Tell us what you need
Tell us what you are making and what it has to hold. We’ll tell you what it takes and send one clear, all-in quote.