Made Here.

New Zealand has a lot to offer. We make a lot of really great products, the envy of the world in some cases. So it is no surprise that we make a great folding boxboard product too – Formakote. Nestled in the region of Whakatane, the paper mill that makes Formakote is full of local people, supporting the local economy and supporting New Zealand manufacturing.

If you are making something, why not surround it in packaging that is Made Here.

BJ Ball are the exclusive supplier of Formakote White, Natura, Sherpa & Spectra. We are pretty excited to be able to offer local brands a New Zealand made packaging board. It’s not just about choosing local, and supporting the local economy – the lead times are much shorter, there is no boat ride across the globe to offset, and that is reflected in the pricing. Win, Win.

Formakote products have a coated side on the front, and an uncoated side on the back.

Formakote White – this off-black box has been printed with a spot colour and a holographic foil. As the name implies, it is the whitest option in the Formakote range, especially on the reverse. It is great for luxury products, and has great printability on both sides. With FDA compliance, it suits foodstuffs such as cake boxes, shippers and tea bags, as well as other FMCG products such as medication or health and beauty boxes (perfumes and cosmetics). The sleeve of the box has also been printed on Formakote White, however we used a gloss clear coating, rather than the Prima clear coating (matt) used on the smaller boxes to improve foil and Spot UV adhesion. Click here for more information or to order samples.

Formakote Spectra – this yellow box has been printed with a spot colour and a spot UV. Formakote Spectra has a kraft coloured back. It has exceptional resistance to tearing and puncturing, and is great for products that require a high level of strength, including products inside freezers and chillers. With FDA compliance, it best suits dry, greasy and aqueous foods, such as frozen fish, impulse & convenience foods, and sleeves for dairy products or canned goods. Click here for more information or to order samples.

Formakote Natura – this blue box has been printed with a spot colour and a blind emboss. Our most popular Formakote product, it is a great everyday packaging board. Formakote Natura has an off-white backing, giving a more natural look. With FDA compliance, and suitable for both dry and fatty foods, it is a winner for cereals, biscuits, pasta, fast food and general FMCG packaging requirements. Click here for more information or to order samples.

Formakote Sherpa – this pink box has been printed with a spot colour, Prima clear coating (matt) and an underlay of spot silver in certain areas. With wet strength and tear resistance properties, this board is built as a carrier board, for heavy multi-packs like beer and other bottled and canned items. Even when totally soaked, it gives confidence to both the consumer and manufacturer. Click here for more information or to order samples.

Formakote arrives to BJ Ball in reels. We have three sheeting machines that then convert those reels into sheets. Although we carry a stocked range of 640×900 and 1020×760 in both grain directions, having reels on the floor as well allows us to sheet to more specific sizes on demand, to save waste when boxes don’t fit a standard sheet size.

Formakote is made by the Whakatane Mill. Located in the Bay of Plenty region of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Whakatane Mill is the only cartonboard mill in Oceania. Initially founded in 1939 to convert nearby central North Island pine forests into export grade cartonboard, today the mill directly employs some 180 personnel. Whakatane Mill Limited is committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner, caring for the environment for the benefit of future generations. The virgin fibre used in manufacturing the folding box board range is largely sourced  from well-managed, sustainable forests located in the central North Island, supplemented with a small volume of imported pulp from Chile. The mill is both Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) and ISO14001 certified —meeting the strict guidelines set by the FSSC 22000 food contact safety standard.

For your next packaging project, choose a kiwi made packaging board, choose Formakote by BJ Ball.