Clear Bodied Paper Tubes — Transparent Body, Cardboard Lid
A clear bodied paper tube replaces the cardboard body with a transparent film body, closed by a cardboard lid and base. The product is visible from every side without the box being opened.
The construction is the same rolled-edge family as the all-cardboard tubes: a body closed at both ends by a lid and a base. What changes is the body itself. Instead of wound cardboard it is a transparent sheet, so the buyer sees the product rather than a printed description of it.
That makes it a display format first and a protective format second. Where the product itself is the strongest argument — a coloured bath set, a folded scarf, a row of pralines — the clear body does the selling on the shelf.
Before you order
| Inner diameter | 70–120 mm |
|---|---|
| Finished box height | 60–800 mm |
| Minimum order | 1,000 units |
| Body | High-quality transparent PET film |
| Lid and base | Rigid board with a matt or gloss coated paper wrap |
| Printing | Offset printing on the lid and base, hot foil stamping or spot UV |
| Sampling | Physical or 3D digital mock-ups before mass production, on request |
| Production | From 3 weeks* |
Every diameter we quote is an inner diameter. Every box is made to order; we do not sell from stock. Delivery is arranged through our contracted logistics network to Türkiye and to export markets.
* Lead times vary with order quantity and technical specification.
** Applies to full truck loads to Central Europe.
Part structure
Closed box, the caps removed, the parts apart, and a section through the cap and the body.
Technical drawing © ArtasPackWhere it is used
Cosmetics and personal care sets · boutique textiles presented in a roll (socks, ties, scarves) · gourmet food such as confectionery and nuts · luxury gift items and promotional sets.
The pattern is consistent: the format earns its place when the contents look better than any photograph of them, and when the buyer wants to check the product without opening the box.
Printing and finishing
The lid and the base carry the branding; the body stays clear.
Because the body is transparent, the printable area is the lid and the base. That is a smaller canvas than an all-cardboard tube, so the finish matters more: offset printing on coated paper, with hot foil stamping or spot UV where the brand mark needs to lift off the surface.
Printing and finishing run through a partner press network rather than a single press, so each project is matched to the right technique — and every printed sheet is inspected when it reaches our plant.
How it differs from a windowed tube
Both formats let the buyer see the product. The difference is how much they see, and how much surface is left to print on.
| Criterion | Clear bodied | Windowed |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Transparent film | Cardboard with a cut opening |
| What is visible | The whole product, from every side | Only the part behind the window |
| Printable surface | Lid and base only | The full body around the window |
| Protection from light | None — the product is exposed to light | The cardboard shields everything except the window |
| Best when | The product itself is the argument | Brand graphics and a glimpse of the product work together |
If the product is light-sensitive, the windowed format — or an all-cardboard tube — is the safer choice. If the product is the display, the clear body is.
Why European brands source this format from Istanbul
Most enquiries that reach us have already been quoted in the Far East, usually China. This is what nearshoring the work to Istanbul changes.
We are the manufacturer, not a trading company
Winding, labelling, die-cutting and assembly all happen in our own plant in Istanbul. You are talking to the people who make the box.
Quotes within 24 hours, approvals inside your working day
Istanbul runs one to two hours ahead of most of Europe, so an approval you send in the morning is answered the same working day rather than overnight.
4–6 weeks faster than the Far East, first enquiry to pallet
Measured against a Chinese or other Far East supplier, and across the whole cycle — quoting, sampling, approvals and shipping — not transit alone. Transit to Central Europe starts at 7 days on full truck loads.
Duty free into the EU and the UK
Goods move duty free into the European Union under the Türkiye–EU Customs Union, and into the United Kingdom under the Türkiye–UK Free Trade Agreement. We quote EXW or DAP delivered to your door, and our export team handles the customs paperwork.
Samples before you commit
Physical samples, printed and unprinted, or 3D digital mock-ups for sign-off before mass production.
Shipping to more than 20 countries
Producing to order since 1986, with a large library of existing tooling — standard sizes carry no additional tooling cost.
What to send us for a quote
Inner diameter and height — or the dimensions of the product going into the box
Quantity, and your estimated annual requirement if you have one
Print type (CMYK, Pantone) and the finishes you want on the lid and base
The outer paper you want on the lid and base, plus any accessories
Your artwork — send it in vector format. The most common cause of delay we see is artwork that is not vector, or is below print resolution. If you do not have a file yet, we will prepare the dieline for you straight away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the transparent body made of?
PET film. The lid and the base are board with a coated paper wrap.
Can the transparent body be printed?
The branding goes on the lid and the base. Keeping the body clear is the point of the format — if you want print across the whole body, an all-cardboard tube or a windowed tube gives you that surface back.
Can we get a sample?
Yes. We prepare samples both printed and unprinted, and 3D digital mock-ups are available as well.
Our artwork is not ready. Can we still start?
Yes. We send you the dieline, and we help place your design onto it.
What do we gain by buying here instead of the Far East?
We quote within 24 hours and approvals settle inside your working hours. Measured from first contact to pallet, that works out at a 4–6 week advantage over Far East sourcing; transit to Europe starts at 7 days on full truck loads.
Do you ship duty free to the EU and the UK?
Yes. Goods move duty free into the European Union under the Türkiye–EU Customs Union and into the United Kingdom under the Türkiye–UK Free Trade Agreement. We quote EXW or DAP delivered to your door and our export team handles the customs paperwork end to end.
Other products in the rolled-edge family
Butt Jointed Paper Tubes (3-Piece Shoulder Tube)
All cardboard, lid flush with the body
See the product →
