Custom Auto Lock Cap
An auto lock cap is a lid built with the same pre glued principle as an auto lock base. It arrives flat, springs into shape when opened, and drops over the tray beneath it. That means both halves of a two piece pack assemble at speed rather than one. We produce a lot of auto lock cap work at ZEE Packaging and it is usually specified alongside a matching tray.
A Lid That Builds Itself
An auto lock cap saves the same time a glued base does.
- Panels are pre glued so the cap snaps into shape
- No folding sequence for staff to remember
- It drops straight over the tray once opened
- Assembly takes about a second per unit
- The glued corners hold the shape squarely
- It ships flat despite arriving pre glued
Most operators specifying an auto lock cap already use an auto lock base and want the same speed on the lid.
Fit Against The Tray
The cap and base have to agree with each other.
- Too tight and it binds going on
- Too loose and it lifts off in transit
- Board caliper on both parts affects the fit
- Lamination adds thickness, which changes the tolerance
- Depth of overlap decides how secure the closure feels
- We sample both halves together rather than separately
- Full depth cap covering the whole tray beneath
- Shallow cap showing the printed tray sides
- Telescoping version adjusting to content height
- With a tear strip opening cleanly into a display
- Window cap showing product through a die cut
- Corrugated cap for heavier shipping applications
Sizes We Print Regular
Every auto lock cap is built to your tray, though these run often:
- 10" x 7" x 3" for a small counter format
- 12" x 9" x 4" for a standard unit
- 14" x 10" x 5" for a larger tray
- 8" x 6" x 3" for compact items
- 16" x 12" x 5" for a bulk format
- 12" x 12" x 4" for a square tray
Send us both the tray dimensions and the loaded height, since the cap is sized against the filled product rather than the empty tray.
Board And Print
- SBS C1S at 18pt to 24pt for retail applications
- E flute corrugated for lighter shipping caps
- B flute where the cap carries stacking weight
- Litho laminated corrugated for full color print
- Kraft board for a natural or plain build
- Matte, gloss and soft touch lamination available
Glue corner strength matters here. The cap gets lifted repeatedly at the corners, so a weak bond shows up quickly in handling.
Materials Worth Choosing
- Recycled board across most grades we run
- FSC certified stock, certificate available on request
- Soy based ink through the whole run
- Water based adhesive on the glued corners
- No tape needed to hold the cap together
- Right sizing so no board is wasted per unit
What Happens On Your Order
- 100 unit minimum, so a small brand can test the format
- Free 3D mockup and flat proof before anything prints
- Free dieline drawn by our own designer
- Physical sample on request to check the fit with the tray
- Urgent turnaround at 5 to 8 business days
- Free shipping worldwide with nothing hidden
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you supply the tray as well?
We do, and we would recommend ordering both together so the fit is set at sampling stage.
Will it lift off in transit?
Not at the right tolerance. A loose cap is as much a specification fault as a tight one.
How fast does it assemble?
About a second once opened. That matches the speed of an auto lock base, so the whole pack builds quickly.
Can it have a tear strip?
Yes, so it opens cleanly into a display rather than being lifted off whole.
Does lamination affect the fit?
Slightly, since it adds thickness. We account for that at dieline stage rather than afterward.
Can it be printed inside?
It can, though the inner faces are largely hidden. We would print the tray interior instead.
How much is an auto lock cap?
Rough estimate is $0.35 to $0.90 per unit in board, $0.55 to $1.40 in corrugated and $0.95 to $2.30 for litho laminated at moderate quantity. Size moves it. Shipping is included in our price. This is estimate only, so ask our team for a exact quote.
