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Half slotted cartons (HSC): open-top HSC boxes made in Chittagong EPZ
A half slotted carton (HSC), also called a half slotted container or HSC box, is a corrugated box with bottom flaps and an open top. It is an RSC with the top flaps removed, so it loads from above and stacks neatly on the line. Manufactured inside Chittagong EPZ, it is the format your packers reach for when they need to drop product in fast, check it, and either cap it or slide it inside a master carton.
An RSC with the top removed
Take a Regular Slotted Container, leave the bottom flaps in place and cut away the top set, and you have a half-slotted carton. The base closes square and strong like any RSC, but the top stays open so the team can load, kit and inspect without wrestling flaps. It is a small change to the blank that makes a real difference to packing speed on a busy floor.
Because the top is open, an HSC is rarely shipped on its own. Most often it travels as an inner carton inside a larger master, or it is paired with a telescoping cap that slides over the opening to close and reinforce it. That two-piece approach lets you separate the packing step from the sealing step — handy when goods are added in stages or checked before the lid goes on. We build HSCs in B and E flute, sized so they nest cleanly inside your chosen master carton.
Open-top access
Load, kit and inspect from above without folding flaps — faster on a high-volume line.
Cap or master pairing
Close with a telescoping cap, or nest as an inner carton inside a larger RSC master.
Sized to nest
Dimensioned to slot cleanly inside your master carton so the cube stays tight.
Built for kitting and re-packing
Choose an HSC wherever the workflow needs an open box: kitting accessory sets, re-packing returns, holding work-in-progress, or as the inner carton in a master pack.
- Want a fully enclosed shipper instead? Use a RSC master carton.
- Need a matching slide-over lid and base? See telescoping shoe-style boxes.
- Ready to order? Send your HSC spec for a 24-hour quote.
HSC box vs RSC carton
An HSC and an RSC carton share the same body and bottom flaps. The difference is the top: an RSC has four top flaps that close the box, and an HSC has none.
| Feature | Half slotted carton (HSC) | Regular slotted carton (RSC) |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Open, no flaps | Four flaps meeting in the middle |
| Closing | Separate cap, lid or master carton | Tape or staples on the top flaps |
| Typical use | Kitting, inner cartons, top-load packing | Export master cartons, bulk shipping |
An HSC with a matching cap forms a two-piece box. When the cap covers the full height, the format becomes a full telescoping box.
HSC FAQs
What is a half-slotted carton (HSC)?
A half-slotted carton is essentially an RSC with one set of flaps removed, leaving an open top. The four flaps on the remaining end close to form a base, while the open end gives quick top-load access for packing, kitting and inspection.
How is an HSC closed at the top?
An HSC is usually closed with a separate cap or lid that telescopes over the open top, or it sits as an inner carton inside a larger master. Some lines simply tape a board sheet over the opening.
What is a half-slotted carton used for?
HSCs suit kitting, re-packing, work-in-progress storage and inner cartons within a master carton, anywhere the team needs fast top access to load or check contents on the line.
What is the difference between an HSC box and an RSC box?
Both have the same body and bottom flaps. An RSC also has four top flaps that close the box. An HSC has no top flaps, so it stays open for top loading and is closed with a separate cap or packed inside a master carton.
Is a half slotted box the same as a half slotted container?
Yes. Half slotted box, half slotted container and half slotted carton all describe the same open-top corrugated box, shortened to HSC.
Need open-top cartons for your line?
Tell us your inner dimensions and whether you want a matching cap — we will quote within 24 hours.