Description
What Sets Clamshell Boxes Apart?
A clamshell is a thermoformed shell with a hinge, closing around the product so the pack holds its shape and the contents stay put. Formed from a single sheet, it has no seams to fail. The format suits gadgets, accessories, tools, cosmetics and food, on a peg hook or flat on a shelf.
Clear visibility that sells
Clarity is the whole argument for this format. Shoppers see the product itself rather than a photograph, which shortens the decision and cuts returns from mismatched expectations.
We form clamshells in PET, RPET and PP. PET gives the best optical clarity and is the industry standard, with PVC now avoided by most brands and retailers. Anti-fog coating is available for chilled and food applications, anti-scratch for products that sit on shelf for months.
Strong and Reliable Protection
Gauge determines strength. Clamshells run between 10 and 20 mil, or 0.010 to 0.020 inches. Light accessories are fine at 10 to 12 mil. Heavier tools need 15 to 20 mil, since a thin shell cracks at the hinge under repeated handling.
Moulded cavities are formed to your product dimensions so nothing rattles or rubs. Printed paperboard insert cards sit behind the product for branding and information, and fragile items get a secondary cavity or foam pad inside the shell.
Tamper-Proof and Hard to Steal
Three closure types, each for a different level of security.
Full-face seal clamshells are heat-sealed around the entire perimeter using an impulse or RF sealer. They cannot be opened without visibly destroying the seal, which is why they dominate high-theft categories like memory cards and razor blades.
Snap-lock and tab-lock closures need no equipment at all, so you can pack by hand. They show evidence of opening without being destructive.
Ultrasonic and spot sealing sits between the two, bonding at set points rather than the full perimeter. Full-face seals are secure but frustrating to open, so perforated tear strips and easy-open corners give you the security without the complaints.
Easy Assemble, Smarter Display
No glue and no tape. Snap-lock clamshells close by hand, which cuts pack-out time substantially against cartoned alternatives.
Display options are built into the tool: euro slot hang holes, J-hooks, round holes and delta hang tabs for peg walls, or flat bases for counter display. Tell us which retailer you supply and we form the hang feature to their fixture spec.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions
RPET with recycled content is available across our clamshell formats, along with PVC-free construction as standard and PLA for compostable applications.
We would rather be accurate than broad here. PET clamshells are resin code 1, but thermoformed PET is accepted less widely in curbside programs than PET bottles, and acceptance varies by municipality. “Biodegradable” is not a claim any conventional plastic clamshell can support, and the FTC has acted against companies making it. If a genuine environmental claim matters to your brand, RPET content and PVC-free construction are the two that hold up, and we will confirm exactly what your specification supports.
Fully Customizable For Your Brand
Everything is formed by your product. Shape, size, cavity depth, compartment layout, hinge position and hang feature all come off a custom aluminium thermoform tool built from your dieline. Add printed insert cards in full CMYK with Pantone matching, direct screen or UV printing onto the shell, and foil stamping on the card.
Tooling takes around 10 to 15 business days to produce, after which production runs quickly and repeat orders skip that step entirely. Custom-tooled clamshells generally start around 500 units because of that tooling, with low-MOQ runs available on stock cavity sizes. Standard production runs about 7 to 10 business days after proof approval.
Why pick Multiple Packages for your clamshell boxes?
- Clear PET and RPET forming with retail-grade optical clarity
- Gauge specified against your product weight, from 10 to 20 mil
- Full-face heat seal, snap-lock or ultrasonic closures for tamper evidence
- Euro slot, J-hook and delta hang tabs formed to your retailer’s fixture
- PVC-free as standard, with RPET recycled content available
- Free design support and a digital proof before tooling is cut
- Low-MOQ short runs and national distribution volumes from one supplier
Are you ready to improve your packaging?
Send your product dimensions, target retailer and quantity, and we will recommend the gauge, closure and hang feature to match. Get your quotation today.
