Cartoning: High-Speed, Custom Packaging for Consumer Goods

Q: Can you handle multiple carton sizes without long changeovers?

Yes. Our cartoning lines are designed for efficient changeovers between carton sizes and formats. This flexibility minimizes downtime and makes it easier to support multiple SKUs, variety packs, and changing retail requirements.

Q: Will my cartons hold up during shipping and look professional at retail?

Yes. We produce retail-ready cartons designed to perform throughout distribution and present well on the shelf. Proper carton forming, sealing, and quality checks help protect products during shipping and ensure a professional retail appearance.

Q: Can you create variety packs or mixed-SKU cartons?

Yes. Variety packs and mixed-SKU cartoning are core capabilities at McNerney. We regularly assemble configurations that combine multiple flavors, product types, or promotional assortments for beverage, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, and club-store programs.

Our automated cartoning solutions provide efficient, flexible packaging for personal care, household products, home test kits, medicine, beauty, confectionery, and office supplies. Whether you need multi-packs, variety packs, or specialty cartons, we ensure precision and quality at every step.

Our Cartoning Capabilities

Multi-Pack Cartoning – We offer custom configurations for various product types.
Variety Pack Assembly – Seamlessly combine multiple SKUs into a single carton.
Custom Carton Designs – Branded packaging, direct printing, and specialty structures.
Tray Packing & Shrink Bundling – Secure, retail-ready packaging for distribution.
Automated Precision & Quality Control – Advanced systems ensure consistency, structural integrity and compliance with industry standards.

Why Choose Us?

Versatility Across Industries – Our cartoning solutions support a wide range of consumer goods.
Speed & Efficiency – High-speed automated lines for fast turnaround times and scalable production.
Custom Solutions – Tailored to fit your specific packaging needs.

Unlock Premium Cartoning Solutions

Ready to elevate your cartoning? Contact us today for a free quote and discover how our innovative solutions can transform your supply chain efficiency.

How does a cartoning machine work?

Beverage packaging is a multi-step process designed to ensure efficiency, quality, and shelf-ready presentation. At McNerney and Associates, we use high-speed automated systems to streamline every stage of the packaging process:

A cartoning machine (or cartoner) forms the cartons that hold your product and are opened by the end user. There are two types of cartoning machines, depending on how the carton is fed through the machine: vertical and horizontal. Along with several other elements, pressurized air is often a component of a cartoner. It can be used to push products into the open carton, push faulty items out of the production line, and more.

The cartoning process starts by taking the flat, printed carton (called a blank) and pulling it apart to form a box. The bottom tabs are folded inward and the bottom and sides are sealed. The box is filled, the top tabs are folded in, and the box is sealed shut. An expiration or “best by” date is laser-printed onto the box before the finished cartons are placed in boxes for shipping.

Many companies rely solely on hand-packing cartons, which is a slow process requiring multiple people working on the same line, which increases personnel and therefore production costs. At McNerney and Associates, we believe in the power and efficiency of well-designed machines. Utilizing one of our numerous customizable cartoners, we can create an automated cartoning and assembly line for your product and get it packaged and shipped out in a fraction of the time.

We would love the opportunity to discuss becoming your full-service contract packaging partner. Contact us today to learn more.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CARTONING SERVICES

Can you handle multiple carton sizes without long changeovers?

Our cartoning lines are designed for efficient changeovers between carton sizes and formats. This flexibility minimizes downtime and makes it easier to support multiple SKUs, variety packs, and changing retail requirements.

How do you prevent carton machine jams and downtime?

Preventive maintenance, experienced operators, and well-maintained automated equipment help minimize downtime and keep production running efficiently. Our focus is on consistent throughput and reliable performance, especially for high-volume retail-ready packaging programs.

Will my cartons hold up during shipping and look professional at retail?

We produce retail-ready cartons designed to perform throughout distribution and present well on the shelf. Proper carton forming, sealing, and quality checks help protect products during shipping and ensure a professional retail appearance.

Can you create variety packs or mixed-SKU cartons?

Variety packs and mixed-SKU cartoning are core capabilities at McNerney. We regularly assemble configurations that combine multiple flavors, product types, or promotional assortments for beverage, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, and club-store programs.

What types of products can be cartoned?

We carton a wide range of already-manufactured products across beverage, healthcare, personal care, food, confectionery, and consumer packaged goods categories. Cartoning is commonly used to organize, protect, and present products in shelf-ready packaging for retail, club stores, e-commerce, and promotional programs.