Ball & Doggett has launched a new range of cartonboard swatch kits for the Australian market, designed to help printers, designers and brand owners assess board performance through real-world packaging applications rather than specification sheets alone.
Australia’s packaging supply chain is placing increasing emphasis on fibre-based solutions that are fit for purpose, and Ball & Doggett’s newly released Cartonboard Swatch Kits are aimed squarely at that shift. The company says the kits provide a tactile, application-led reference for evaluating how different cartonboard grades perform through print and converting processes.
The initial release features four core grades from the distributor’s cartonboard portfolio – Barry Bleach Board, Sumo Super Hi-Bulk GC1, Sumo Celsius GC2 and Sumo Greyback – each presented through a practical packaging format rather than standalone material samples.
Rather than focusing on raw board characteristics in isolation, the swatch kits are designed to reflect realistic production outcomes. Each kit includes a wrap-around wallet and a tuck-end carton containing DL-sized sample cards, allowing users to assess performance across scoring and folding, die-cutting, gluing and finishing.
Josh Gleeson, marketing executive at Ball & Doggett, said the concept was developed to better align with how packaging decisions are made on press and in finishing.
“We wanted to create a tool that genuinely supports the way printers and designers work,” Gleeson said. “These swatches bridge the gap between specification sheets and what actually happens on press, making material selection simpler and more informed.”
The printed samples demonstrate both topside and underside performance – with Greyback assessed topside only – giving users a clearer view of print quality, surface response, and structural behaviour in end-use formats. Coatings and embellishment comparisons are also included to support creative evaluation alongside technical assessment.
Inside each wallet, users will find supporting technical information including reel sizes, application suitability and mill accreditations, positioning the kits as a working reference tool for both creative and production teams.
Tammy Arhontissas, national manager – fibre-based packaging at Ball & Doggett, said the kits were designed to speed up and simplify board selection.
“By showing real production outcomes, we’re helping customers choose materials based not just on specification, but on proven performance,” she said.
