Head Office: UAE |
Sub Office: Pakistan
In April 2017, more than nine years ago, I came to the United Arab Emirates and joined the emerging and fast-growing packaging industry in UAE. The best part of working in the UAE is that you learn about diversity, different cultures and different people’s stories that blow your mind and give you more hope to flourish in this market. UAE society builds traits such as being goal-oriented: you must stay in your line and respect other people’s boundaries. Only this atmosphere removes extra noise from your life, and ultimately you start to align your thoughts with your personality, which helps you grow fast and peacefully.
Why I Left Pakistan for the UAE
I left Pakistan for financial reasons, and it was one of the best decisions I have made, at the right time. When I arrived in the UAE, the first thought that came to my mind was that I was already late, but looking at the growth of the country and of the packaging industry in the UAE, I knew I was in the right place.
My First Days in the Packaging Industry
My first day in the packaging industry in the UAE was a memorable day, because I saw machinery for the first time in my life. I still recall those feelings after more than nine years. It has been a long but very productive journey.
Importance of Packaging Industry in UAE
The packaging industry is one of the most important industries in the world and in the UAE. By analyzing the packaging industry in UAE, you can understand the whole market situation, because the UAE is a hub of import and export, and most of the goods shipped from here are packed in carton boxes. From foods to lubricants, perfumes to cosmetics, you name it and it is packed in carton boxes. So being in the right industry helps you grow more and more.
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Packaging
In the packaging industry in UAE, if I have to rank the different types of packaging, I would rank carton boxes No. 1, and the other packaging types, which are also in very big numbers, I would rank as sub packaging. Let me give you an example: in the perfume industry, the liquid perfume is the main product to pack and ship. Let us list all the items used to pack fragrance liquid:
- Glass or plastic bottles
- Caps
- Sprayer
- Bottle label
- Branded box
- Protection material
In packaging terms, the bottle, cap, sprayer and label are primary packaging, the branded box is secondary packaging, and the master carton is tertiary packaging.
After all the hard work is done by the manufacturer, it is time to pack and ship to customers. Here come carton boxes: just name any item and you will see it has to be shipped in carton boxes.
Types of Carton Boxes
There are two main types of carton boxes. One is the RSC (Regular Slotted Container) and the other is the die-cut box, e.g. an e-commerce box. RSC boxes are normally used as master box packaging, e.g. 10 die-cut boxes could be packed in one RSC box. Perfume, for example, is packed in two standard packings: 6 pcs per box and 12 pcs per box. Eventually these 6 pcs and 12 pcs boxes are packed in a master box, such as:
- 48 pcs (12 pcs x 4)
- 96 pcs (12 pcs x 8)
- 48 pcs (6 pcs x 8)
What I Learned on the Plant Floor
The plant floor is one of the most complete institutes, where we learn many things at once: handling pressure, tackling emergencies, managing people and much more. I will share these lessons in upcoming blogs about the packaging industry in UAE. I was NC Cutter and Scorer operator years back, that one job teach me a lot about importance of safety on floor. will share my experience in upcoming blogs
Advice for Anyone Starting a Career in Packaging in the UAE
- Learn the whole chain, from the product to the master carton, before you specialize.
- Stay focused on your line and respect other people’s boundaries. It keeps your work clear and peaceful.
- Ask questions on the plant floor. Machines and customers teach more than theory.
- Be patient. This is a fast-growing industry, and your skills build over time.
Where I Am Today
Today, I bring this experience to customers through Sarang Venture. If you need a custom packaging manufacturer in the UAE, see our Packaging Solutions page or browse our Shop page.
Conclusion
In this blog journey, I will give you a tour of this industry with all the technical details. I will share real-time images and videos to explain everything, which can help you both as a customer and as a career. If you need cartons for your business, request a quote.