Choosing a pack
How do I choose the right punnet or clamshell for my produce?
Short answer
Work through six points: the fill weight your buyer wants, the closure your packing line can handle (clamshell or heat-seal), a depth that holds the fruit without crushing, ventilation, how the pack fits your outer carton or crate, and the documents your market needs. Then test samples with real fruit. AVI's catalogue lists every pack with size, weight, fill and carton data, and the team can shortlist packs for you.
Part of the guides: Pack types explained: punnets, clamshells, trays and more and Strawberry packaging guide
- Steps6, then a sample test
- CatalogueSize, weight, fill and carton data per pack
Common starting points
| Pack | Type | Size (L × W × H) | Empty weight | Holds | Per carton | Enquiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNG 250 / 75 | Hinged lid | 128 × 94 × 75 mm | 9 g | 250 g | 1,225 | |
| A-30 / 45 | Flat lid heat-sealed to base | 145 × 120 × 45 mm | 7 g | 250 g, 250 g heat-seal | 2,100 | |
| PNG 501 / 85 | Hinged lid | 190 × 115 × 85 mm | 16 g | 500 g | 760 / 750 | |
| FLW 180 120 / 60 | Wrapped on a flow-wrapping line | 184 × 117 × 60 mm | 9 g | 500 g flowpack | 1,420 |
All packs are rPET. Figures from AVI's catalogue; tolerances and fill depend on the produce, so samples are the final check.
Shortlist packs
- Browse the Finished-Pack CatalogueBrowse AVI Global Plast's documented finished-pack catalogue — search by code, filter by family and physical category.
- Compare Up to 3 FormatsCompare AVI Global Plast catalogue formats side by side — dimensions, material and documented applications.
- Fresh Produce Packs — Punnets, Trays & FlowpacksAVI Global Plast thermoforms fresh produce packs — clamshells, punnets, heat-seal punnets and flowpacks — for export...
The checklist
- Fill weight and market: grams in India and Europe, ounces and pints in the US.
- Closure: hand-packing suits clamshells; a tray sealer opens up lighter heat-seal punnets; a flow-wrap line suits flowpacks.
- Depth and footprint: the fruit should sit in one or two layers with a little headroom.
- Ventilation: vents that suit the fruit and line up with the carton.
- Carton and pallet fit: how many packs fill your outer case, and how the case sits on a pallet.
- Material and documents: rPET content, food-contact and recycled-content certificates for the destination.
Then test
Fill samples with your own fruit, chill them, stack them and ship a trial if you can. Small differences in fruit size change which pack works best.
Related questions
Does the pack need to fit a standard crate?
Usually. Packs are laid out to fill the outer carton or crate without gaps (a 600 × 400 mm crate is common in Europe), so check the footprint against your outer case.
Can AVI make a pack that is not in the catalogue?
Yes. AVI's in-house tool room develops custom packs around your product and line.