Coffee Cup Tray Types and Market Background
Pulp molding machine with coffee cup tray mold is called coffee cup tray making machine, which is used to produce high quality paper coffee cup trays from yellow pulp. This machine is produced with low power consumption and high product quality.
Demand for Coffee Cup Tray is Increasing?
With the improvement of people’s living standards and the change of consumption concepts, the coffee consumption market continues to expand. Whether it is chain coffee shops, convenience stores, supermarkets, etc., the demand for ready-to-drink coffee is increasing. For example, the number of stores of well-known coffee brands such as Starbucks and Luckin Coffee continues to expand, driving the demand for coffee cup holder trays!
Eco-Friendly Pulp Molded Coffee Cup Tray VS Plastic Trays
Pulp-molded coffee trays possess good thermal insulation properties, which can extend the suitable drinking time of beverages and ensure a positive drinking experience for consumers. At the same time, its appearance is highly plastic. Coffee merchants can convey the brand’s environmental protection concept and characteristics through unique design, which helps to shape the brand image and stand out from the competition. The specifications and styles of coffee trays currently on the market are roughly the following:
Why Use Yellow Pulp For Coffee Cup Tray Production
Yellow pulp refers to recycled pulp that has not been bleached or has only been preliminarily treated. Yellow pulp paper trays are made from recycled pulp (such as carton scraps, waste paper) or natural fiber pulp (wood pulp, sugarcane pulp) through a molding process. When used in coffee cup lids/trays, they have the following outstanding characteristics:
Material Feature: Environmentally friendly and degradable
The raw material is renewable fiber, which can be completely decomposed in about 3-6 months in the natural environment. It has no plastic coating and meets the definition of “truly environmentally friendly” in the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Prohibition (SUPD).
No toxic substances are added during the production process, and there is no secondary pollution during the recycling process, which significantly reduces the problem of plastic waste accumulation.
Perfect Functional adaptability As Coffee Cup Tray
- Heat preservation and moisture retention: The pulp fiber structure forms micropores to slow down heat loss and prevent condensation from accumulating and affecting the taste.
- Air-permeable but not liquid-permeable: The microporous structure allows the coffee aroma to be released, but the density is optimized through a dry pressing process to effectively prevent leakage (such as latte-like milk foam drinks).
- Stable structure: Through cavity and reinforcing rib design (such as corrugated/trapezoidal structure), the pressure and impact resistance are improved to meet the stacking and transportation requirements of take-out cup lids.
Various Customized Shape Design for Coffee Cup Tray
The mould can be flexibly designed to fit different cup shapes, curvatures and apertures (such as straw openings and drinking openings), and the surface can be matte/glossy treated or flexographically printed with brand logos.
The raw material cost is more than 30% lower than that of bioplastics such as PLA, and it can be stacked for storage, reducing storage and logistics costs.
Security Compliance of Yellow Pulp and Plastic Coffee Cup Tray
The non-static property of the coffee cup tray avoids interference with electronic devices (such as when used next to a coffee machine); the anti-corrosion treatment can withstand long-term contact with coffee acid.
The following table compares the performance differences between yellow pulp paper tray and traditional materials:
| Characteristic | Yellow pulp coffee cup tray | Plastic coffee cup tray | PLA coffee cup tray cover |
| Degradation cycle | 3-6 months (natural conditions) | 20-450 years | Industrial composting conditions |
| Leak-proof | High (after process optimization) | high | Medium (easy to be brittle at low temperature) |
| Breathability | Excellent (retain coffee aroma) | none | Low |
| Raw material cost | Low (waste paper recycling) | Low (petroleum based) | High (corn starch) |
| Customization flexibility | High (Easy to adjust the mold) | middle | Low (thermoplastic limit) |
Working Environment of Semi-Automatic Double-Station Coffee Cup Tray Molding Machine
Semi-automatic double-station equipment must complete the process of “Pulping → hot pressing → demoulding” in paper tray production. While its working environment presents multiple challenges, risks can be managed through optimization:
Harsh Environment Of Yellow Pulp Coffee Cup Tray Production
High temperature and high humidity conditions
The wet blank stage requires hot air drying at temperatures of 60-80 ℃, the mold surface temperature at the forming station reaches 120-150 ℃, and the ambient workshop temperature during the summer often exceeds 35 ℃.
The pulp dehydration process generates a significant amount of steam, and humidity levels remain above 70% for extended periods, accelerating corrosion of equipment and aging of circuits.
Mechanical and Electrical Safety Hazards
When the two-station machine operates synchronously, the open mold moving area can easily cause hand squeezing, especially during the manual feeding and removal of parts.
Humid conditions heighten the risk of short circuits in the motor, which may lead to overheating or circuit breaker failure.
Pollution and Maintenance Difficulties
Pulp fiber splashes and adheres to precision components such as guide rails and sensors, resulting in positioning deviations or malfunctions.
Acidic and alkaline slurries (like pH fluctuations in sugarcane pulp) corrode metal molds, necessitating frequent shutdowns for cleaning, which decreases equipment lifespan.
Tips for Improving the Working Conditions of Coffee Cup Tray Production
To address these challenges, leading factories often implement the following comprehensive solutions:
- Environmental Control:
Install a local dehumidifier (keeping humidity controlled at ≤60%) and a heat insulation cover to isolate the hot pressing station, reducing the spread of temperature and humidity in the workshop by.
Separate the work area into a “high humidity working area” (molding station) and a “low humidity area” (packaging station), ensuring one-way personnel flow to avoid cross-contamination. - Equipment Protection Upgrade:
Establish automatic power cut-off when hands enter hazardous areas.
The electrical cabinet should have an IP54 protection level and regularly replace high-temperature resistant cables (like those with silicone insulation). - Maintenance and Management Optimization:
Daily: Rinse molds to prevent slurry sticking and lubricate bearings.
Weekly: Calibrate sensor sensitivity and check ground resistance.
Implement “5S Management” (sort, set in order, sweep, maintain hygiene, and maintain quality) to prevent accidents caused by debris accumulation.
Yellow pulp coffee paper trays have emerged as a key alternative to plastics due to their environmental protection, functionality, and cost advantages, particularly aligning with the upgrading needs of coffee brands amid the global push for plastic bans. Although semi-automatic double-station coffee cup tray machine confronts environmental challenges like high temperature, high humidity, and mechanical risks, the potential hidden dangers can be greatly minimized through zoning management, equipment protection upgrades, and preventative maintenance.
Why Choose Coffee Cup Tray Machine from AGICO
AGICO has been enhancing the performance and automation of pulp molded products, such as developing materials with greater strength and improved waterproof characteristics, enabling pulp molded coffee trays to better withstand transportation, storage, and other logistical demands, thus broadening their applications. Additionally, technological advancements are steadily lowering paper tray production costs, making the pulp molding machinery more and more competitive!
The coffee tray in the pulp molding industry holds substantial development potential driven by support from environmental protection policies, growing market demand, and other factors. We at AGICO remain dedicated to supply the high-end automatic coffee cup tray production line needed in the market!