Pencil case

8-Step Breakdown of the EVA Thermoforming Storage Box   The complete manufacturing process of a thermoformed EVA case can be divided into eight stages: EVA material preparation →Selection of Surface Materials→ EVA cutting → logo or pattern processing on boxes → pre-pressing → thermoforming → cooling and trimming→ stitching, then inspection and packaging, a versatile EVA storage box is completed. The key process parameters are concentrated at the thermoforming stage. Below is an explanation of each step in order, along with commonly used control ranges, making it easier for brands to reference directly when designing and customizing pencil cases or EVA storage boxes.   1. EVA Material Preparation   Select EVA with suitable hardness: depending on the required wall thickness and firmness of the pencil box, choose EVA foam sheets with a density of 200–300 kg/m³ and a hardness of 55–80 degrees. For lightweight small EVA cases - such as eyeglass cases or ipod case -EVA with a hardness of 65 degrees is recommended. For tool cases or electronic product storage box, a hardness of 75 degrees or above is recommended to ensure the case maintains its shape and does not deform easily.   2. Selection of Surface Materials for the Case   After choosing EVA sheets with the appropriate hardness, the next step is selecting the surface fabric to be laminated onto the EVA sheet. The most commonly used option is polyester knitted fabric, which has a smooth surface, excellent elasticity, and relatively low cost - making it the first choice for most standard EVA cases. In addition, customers may select customized materials based on their product requirements or brand positioning. For example, PU leather laminated with EVA is often used to make item such as pencil box and EVA organizer case.   3. EVA Laminated Sheet Cutting   Lay the laminated EVA sheet flat and cut it into individual pieces. The cutting size should be approximately 20 mm larger than the perimeter of the mold. This extra allowance ensures that materials with different shrinkage rates have enough room to stretch, and it also prevents material shortage during the thermoforming process.   4. Laminated Fabric Surface Logo or Pattern Decoration   4.1. The decorative patterns or logos on the EVA box can be silk screen printing or heat-transfer printing or sublimation print. These prints will not be affected by the subsequent thermoforming process.   4.2. Debossed logo: The pattern or logo can also be debossed directly onto the thermoforming mold, allowing it to be formed in one step. In this case, no additional logo decoration is required as above.   5. Pre-pressing (Cold Press Shaping)   First, preheat the material in a 60–80 °C oven for 30–60 seconds, this helps shorten the subsequent thermoforming cycle and improves surface flatness. Then, place the cut sheet into the cold-press mold and apply 2–4 MPa of light pressure for 5–10 seconds. This allows the sheet to initially conform to the mold, reducing sliding or shifting during thermoforming and minimizing wrinkles.   6. EVA Thermoforming   This is the core process in producing a thermoformed EVA case. Using a four-column thermoforming machine with electrically heated platens and independently controlled upper and lower mold temperatures, the final shape of the case is essentially formed. Mold temperature: 120–180 °C, controlled by a mold-temperature machine with ±2 °C accuracy. Pressure: 10–40 MPa (adjust based on wall thickness and depth; deep cavities require the upper limit) Thermoforming time: 45–90 seconds ~45 s for 3 mm wall thickness ~60 s for 4 mm wall thickness For every additional 1 mm of EVA thickness, increase thermoforming time by 10–15 seconds Operation sequence: fast mold closing → staged pressurization → 1–2 exhaust cycles → high-pressure holding → slight mold opening for venting → cooling and final shaping.   7. Cooling and Trimming   Cooling: after the holding phase, immediately introduce cooling water or air to bring the mold temperature down to below 50–60 °C before opening the mold. Insufficient cooling may cause the thermoforming cases or boxes to rebound or the edges to warp. Trimming: depending on the thickness and hardness of the EVA composite material, you may use traditional die-cutting, a CNC punching machine, or a laser cutter to remove the excess material along the outline in a single operation. When using laser cutting, stitching guide lines, zipper channels, and other features can also be cut simultaneously, eliminating the need for secondary processing later.   8. The final step is sewing the boxes   Sew the thermoformed EVA cover or bottom case together with zipper tape and other components like webbing carry handles, add hardware such as rivets or logo patch through a pneumatic riveting machine, by here the assembling process of one pencil case or storage box is nearly finished. Last but not least, Inspection & Ticketing before packing into master cartons. Appearance check: No pressure marks, bubbles, color differences, or wrinkles. Dimensions check: Length/width/height tolerance of ±0.5 mm. Pencil case/Storage Box Performance Test: The zipper must withstand 500 times back-and-forth cycles without tooth loss or abrasion. Drop Test: Pick a few units, drop them from the set height onto a hard surface on all six faces/edges/corners, check after each drop, and confirm stored stuffs inside the boxes still work at the end. After passing inspection, pencil cases / storage boxes are packed into polybag and then placed into the master carton.     Highlights of Key Control Points for Thermoformed EVA Boxes   1.Temperature and pressure must work together: For every 5 °C increase in temperature, the pressure can be reduced by 1 MPa, and vice versa.   2.Ensure smooth mold venting: Deep cavity molds require 0.05–0.1 mm vent grooves to prevent burnt edges and reduce issues such as surface bubbling or localized delamination of laminated fabrics during forming.   3.Cooling time accounts for over 40% of the cycle: Test for the optimal cooling duration before mass production. Reducing unnecessary cooling time can significantly improve productivity.   4.Sheet moisture content >0.1% easily causes bubbles: During continuously rainy or humid days, it’s recommended to pre-dry the sheets at around 50 °C for about 3 hours before production.   5.Perform first-article inspection each shift and patrol inspection every 2 hours: Record temperature, pressure, and cooling time. Stop the machine immediately and adjust the mold if deviations are found.   By following the above procedures and parameters, a standard 5 mm wall-thickness EVA case can achieve a daily output of 1,200 pcs per machine, with a ≥98% yield rate.   Author        

Pencil cases are a small commodity that we need to use frequently in our daily lives. They seem very inconspicuous, but if used properly, they can save us a lot of time. Aesthetics is also a very important factor for pencil cases. "Cute and beautiful pencil cases" have become not only a trend, but also a huge business opportunity. They are more than just containers for pens and pencils; they are full of vitality, can improve mood, and can cleverly transform ordinary learning activities into an engaging and even fun experience. We wrote this detailed article to illustrate the huge business advantages and market potential that B2B partners who choose to incorporate these delightful products into their inventory will gain.   How to seize the dynamic market opportunity with beautiful pencil cases.  Many people pay attention to the practicality of pencil cases, but the beauty of pencil cases is an element that many people will overlook. When "cute and beautiful" products are combined with the promise of "making learning fun", they constitute an irresistible temptation for modern consumers, including students and parents. This compelling combination directly fits in with the contemporary market's emphasis on personal expression, emotional health and holistic learning methods. We are witnessing a major paradigm shift in the stationery market, where demand has shifted from pure practicality to a keen desire for personalized, high-aesthetic products. The pursuit of personalization is a trend among young consumers. This trend is not a flash in the pan, but a social change. This situation is likely due to the influence of social media, which makes information exchange very easy. In this environment, pencil cases not only play a storage function, but also provide emotional value. The aesthetics of pencil cases can enhance the overall learning experience. As a 32-years company, how can we integrate aesthetics into your products to bring business advantages.   How exquisite pencil cases affect market appeal The aesthetic design of pencil cases has a profound impact on consumer demand. Students and their parents are the main buyers, and together they constitute a strong purchasing power. For students, the beauty and practicality of pencil cases are equally important. Students can show different personalities through different products and feel a sense of belonging among their peers. Relevant research shows that the pleasure of using exquisite stationery can significantly increase their learning engagement and enthusiasm, and improve their learning efficiency. Nowadays, parents pay more and more attention to the aesthetics of pencil cases. Parents expect that this small investment can cultivate a more positive attitude towards learning.   Psychological principles also affect the sales of pencil cases. The idea that "beautiful things make people happy" is deeply rooted, and this is also true for learning. A good pencil case can improve students' mood and cognition and improve their learning efficiency. The pencil case may seem simple, but it subtly affects students' concentration and creativity. This positive emotional connection with school supplies forms a virtuous circle. Social media has played a pivotal role in driving the popularity of aesthetic stationery. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest have made information widely available. “What’s in my pencil case” challenges and “stationery battle” content often go viral online, and this digital phenomenon creates a powerful motivational effect, with students inspired by their peers and influencers to seek out similar products. For example, a popular Instagram and TikTok creator showed off a well-designed translucent pencil case filled with color-coordinated stationery, which could become a hit. Retailers and B2B partners who recognize and capitalize on this social media-driven trend are uniquely positioned to capitalize on ongoing organic marketing and consumer interest, turning virality into tangible sales.   Beautiful pencil cases unlock huge business value for B2B partners.  Incorporating lovely aesthetic pencil cases into your product portfolio can bring many business advantages and directly translate into tangible business value for B2B partners. By improving the aesthetics of pencil cases, you can increase the profit margin of the product. Unlike ordinary stationery with low profit margins, aesthetic pencil cases are high-end and high-value products. With their unique design, high-quality materials and emotional appeal, they have higher value space and can directly increase your profitability. These highly attractive products are like powerful magnets, attracting new customer groups who are particularly pursuing fashionable and personalized stationery. The attractiveness of the product itself often promotes repeat purchases and cross-selling, thereby increasing the overall transaction frequency and value with existing customers, and these new customers may also become loyal customers. For example, a stationery wholesaler that previously focused on selling practical stationery in bulk may find that launching a series of beautiful pencil cases can attract boutique gift shops and independent bookstores, thereby opening up new sources of revenue and customer relationships.   Differentiation is a way to enhance product competitiveness, and the same is true for pencil cases. In today's highly saturated market, it is crucial to know how to stand out, and differentiation is the most important way. By carefully selecting a series of unique and beautiful pencil cases, your business can instantly enhance brand awareness. If your strategy is successful enough, you will no longer be just an ordinary supplier, but a trendsetter. For businesses, a good strategic differentiation strategy can help you open up a unique market and make your brand easier to remember and accept by potential partners. There was once a large educational supplier: by launching the "high-end aesthetic series" pencil cases, it established a positive image of innovation and response to the needs of modern students, thereby standing out from competitors who only provide standard, uncreative products, becoming a leader in the industry and achieving a shift in brand perception. It is the shift in brand perception that attracts higher-value customers and turns customers into loyal partners. The positive emotional connection cultivated by beautiful products directly helps to improve customer loyalty and word of mouth. When your B2B customers (may it be retailers, schools or gift companies) feel the positive feedback from consumers about these exquisite pencil cases, their satisfaction with your products will naturally increase. These satisfied customers are more likely to place orders again, less likely to look for other products, and eventually become loyal customers.   The diverse application scenarios of aesthetic pencil cases make them versatile and attractive to a wide range of B2B partners. For example, this is an opportunity for corporate gift companies, who can incorporate them into carefully selected gift sets for employees, customers or conference participants. This cross-industry applicability provides a broad potential market for your wholesale business, reducing dependence on a single industry segment and diversifying revenue sources. How do businesses choose the right beautiful? For businesses, how do we choose the right beautiful pencil case? What factors need to be paid attention to? When carefully selecting a series of beautiful and cute pencil cases for B2B customers, it is important to carefully consider several key factors to ensure their market appeal and long-term satisfaction.   1. Design and beauty Design and beauty are the first factors to consider. The visual appeal must be fascinating and diverse enough to satisfy a variety of tastes. Businesses need to think about current trends: Are specific animal prints or abstract geometric patterns popular? Are soft colors popular? The color scheme and overall art direction must be carefully selected to match contemporary aesthetic preferences. For example, a supplier may offer a "Nordic Minimalism" series featuring soft tones and clean lines, and a "Kawaii Dream" series featuring bright colors and cute illustrations to ensure that a variety of aesthetic needs are met.   2. Material and durability of the pencil case Beauty is certainly eye-catching, but quality is the key to ensuring long-term durability and customer satisfaction. If you want to satisfy users, beauty alone is not enough, product quality is also a core factor. Choose high-end materials that can withstand daily wear and tear, such as durable canvas, environmentally friendly PU leather, or highly elastic silicone. Good products require superb craftsmanship to polish their products. A well-made pencil case must not only look beautiful, but also withstand repeated use of backpacks, countless openings, and possible liquid spills.   3. Functionality and practicality must be perfectly combined with aesthetics. A beautiful pencil case will soon lose its charm if it cannot fully store or protect the contents. Only the combination of the three can make the product more valuable.   4. Environmental responsibility and safety are crucial Environmental responsibility is something that many companies will ignore. We need to ensure that the materials used are non-toxic, do not contain harmful chemicals, and meet relevant safety standards (such as lead-free and phthalate-free). Environmental protection is a very important issue in today's society. Communicating these environmental and safety attributes to B2B customers can become a strong differentiation advantage and attract a growing group of environmentally friendly consumers.   5. Price advantage and supply chain advantage Price and supply chain advantages are factors that companies must consider. From the perspective of the company, whether the price is appropriate, whether the supply chain is stable, whether the logistics and inventory are efficient, and whether the delivery can be timely will affect whether the company places an order. For the pencil case industry, pencil cases are not simple writing containers, but for our partners, it is "investing in aesthetics, winning the future". In an era where consumers increasingly value personalization, emotional connection and the overall experience of products, embracing beautiful stationery is more than just a trend-following behavior; it is a profound and wise business decision that reflects our understanding of the changing market landscape and our commitment to providing products that truly meet the needs of contemporary consumers. By working with us, you will get a selection of high-quality, market-oriented products, and a professional team ready to support your marketing and logistics needs.   Author