Top application
Top labels can be applied to cartons, sleeves and flat packs where presentation needs to stay consistent.
Carton and flat-pack labelling
Carton, tray and flat-pack labelling machines
Flat products such as cartons, trays, sleeves and boxes often need top, bottom or side labelling instead of bottle-style front/back application. The machine should be selected around product support, conveyor width and label location.
Selection points
What to check before choosing a machine
- Suitable for boxes, trays, sleeves, pouches, packs and retail-ready flat products.
- Top and bottom labelling routes can apply labels to two faces in one pass.
- Product spacing, conveyor guidance and label position drive the specification.
- Can be combined with coding, inspection and accumulation conveyors.
Bottom application
Bottom labelling may require product transfer support or split conveyor design depending on pack type.
Line speed
Output depends on product length, required spacing, label size and detection method.
Related routes
More front and back labelling applications
Use these pages to compare similar pack formats and label application routes.
Flat bottles
Front and rear labels on flat and rectangular containers.
Oval bottles
Controlled labelling for shaped and oval packs.
Round bottles
Separate front and back labels rather than full wraparound.
Cartons and flat packs
Top, bottom and face labelling for flat products.
Need help with carton and flat-pack labelling?
Send your pack dimensions, label size, label material and output target. Lancing UK can help shortlist the most suitable front/back labelling route.
Show how the flat pack is supported at application
For cartons, trays and flat packs, draw the intended conveyor position and mark each labelled face. Identify whether the pack is open, closed, empty or filled at that point. The surface being labelled and the surfaces available for support should both be visible in the enquiry.
Where an underside label is required, ask the proposal to show the transfer arrangement through the application point. Include lightweight, flexible or uneven packs in the sample discussion. The trial should demonstrate the full approach and exit rather than only the moment when the label touches the surface.
- Panel features
- Mark folds, seams, lips, ribs and recessed areas that constrain the label position.
- Pack variation
- Submit the actual product contents or representative filled samples where these change how the pack sits or moves.
Can a bottle front-and-back labeller be assumed suitable for a carton?
No. Ask for a configuration based on the carton presentation, labelled faces and support needs. The required top, bottom or side application should be described explicitly in the quotation and demonstrated with the production pack.