Frequently Asked Questions About Pulp Molding Machines and Egg Tray Production Lines

A pulp molding machine is an industrial system that converts recycled paper pulp into molded fiber products such as egg trays, egg boxes, cup carriers, fruit trays, seedling trays, shoe supports, and industrial packaging. A complete line normally includes pulping, pulp adjustment, forming, drying, and collection or packing sections.

In an egg tray project, stable output depends on more than the forming machine. Pulp quality, vacuum efficiency, mold drainage, wet tray transfer, drying airflow, and operator maintenance all affect final tray quality.

A pulp molding production line can make egg trays, egg boxes, coffee cup carriers, fruit trays, wine trays, seedling trays, shoe supports, and industrial molded fiber packaging. The final product depends on mold design, forming area, vacuum distribution, drying method, and post-processing requirements.

If a buyer wants to produce different product types, Richon should review the mold layout first. Different product heights, hole positions, and forming areas can affect vacuum stability, so mixed layouts on the same mold plate are not always recommended.

For common egg tray production, the basic raw materials are usually waste paper and water. Additives are not always required. Colorants, waterproofing agents, or fillers may be considered only when the final product has special requirements such as color, water resistance, or improved surface performance.

The exact additive type and dosage should be confirmed according to the raw material, product requirement, and production test results. Adding chemicals without testing may affect pulp retention, drainage, forming quality, or drying performance.

Common raw materials include waste cartons, packaging paper, books, notebooks, A4 paper, office paper, newspaper, and recycled paper pulp. The best choice depends on local waste paper availability, fiber quality, impurity level, and the required strength of the final tray.

Raw material quality affects pulping time, pulp consistency, forming stability, and finished tray strength. Harder or stronger paper may need longer pulping time than soft paper such as newspaper or office paper.

The water and paper ratio changes by process stage. Richon technical materials indicate a reference ratio of about 1:5 to 1:6 during high-consistency pulping, and about 1:10 to 1:15 during pulp dilution in the adjustment tank. The actual ratio should be adjusted during commissioning according to raw material and forming condition.

In real production, operators should not judge pulp only by a fixed number. The practical target is a pulp condition that supports stable forming, good drainage, smooth transfer, and consistent wet tray thickness.

Impurities are removed through pulping and screening equipment. Richon technical materials mention that the vibration screen can separate impurities larger than about 4 mm, while unbroken foreign material should be collected and treated as waste instead of returning blindly to the pulping system.

Screening is important because impurities can block mold holes, affect vacuum drainage, reduce forming quality, and increase cleaning work during daily operation.

Capacity depends on the selected equipment model, mold quantity, forming structure, drying method, and product type. Richon REM model data shows example model ranges from REM3-1 at about 800–1,000 pcs/h to REM8-8 at about 8,000–9,000 pcs/h.

These values should be used as model references, not a universal promise. The final capacity should be confirmed based on product design, mold layout, drying system, automation level, and site conditions.

Electricity consumption depends on the selected model, installed power, actual operating load, auxiliary equipment, drying system, and production schedule. Richon model data lists total power and estimated running power by REM model. For example, small and large models have very different installed power ranges.

For cost comparison, it is safer to confirm exact power based on the final equipment configuration. Buyers should also review drying fuel, water recycling, labor arrangement, and local energy prices, not electricity alone.

Yes, this can be possible, but the future drying plan should be considered before selecting the forming machine. Richon technical materials note that a forming machine intended for a metal dryer may differ from a forming machine used with brick drying or natural drying.

If the buyer plans to upgrade to a metal drying system later, Richon should confirm the machine structure, transfer method, factory layout, and reserved space in advance. This avoids later mismatch between forming output and drying capacity.

Common drying options include natural drying, brick drying, and metal drying. Natural drying has lower equipment investment but needs large space and depends heavily on weather. Brick drying is practical for some markets because it can use local construction materials and flexible fuels. Metal drying is more compact and easier to integrate into higher automation projects.

The right drying method depends on capacity, land availability, fuel source, labor cost, climate, automation target, and investment budget. Buyers can compare more details in the brick dryer vs metal dryer comparison.

Neither option is always better. Brick dryers are often suitable when buyers want lower investment, local construction, flexible fuel use, and simpler maintenance. Metal dryers are usually more suitable when the project needs higher automation, compact layout, stable drying control, and consistent output.

The practical decision should be based on capacity, local fuel cost, available factory space, construction ability, and expected operating stability. For cost planning, review the egg tray drying system cost analysis before finalizing the layout.

Drying quality is affected by wet tray thickness, moisture content, airflow stability, drying temperature, residence time, fuel stability, and stacking method after drying. If wet trays are uneven before entering the dryer, the dryer will make the problem more visible: thin areas dry faster, while thick areas may retain moisture and deform.

Richon technical materials indicate that molded wet trays can have high moisture content before drying, while finished products need much lower final moisture. The exact drying setting should be adjusted during commissioning according to tray weight, dryer type, fuel source, and production speed.

Plastic molds are cost-effective and lighter, which can be helpful for some rotating forming structures. Aluminum molds usually offer better wear resistance, oxidation resistance, dimensional stability, and longer service life, but they cost more and require more precise processing.

Richon technical materials mention plastic mold service life around 2–3 years and metal mold service life around 5–8 years. Actual life depends on pulp cleanliness, cleaning frequency, operating hours, maintenance quality, and product type. For more detail, see Richon’s mold technology guide.

It is generally not recommended to mix egg trays, egg boxes, and irregular products on the same mold plate unless Richon has reviewed the layout. Different products may have different height, forming area, hole positions, and vacuum requirements. This can cause unstable vacuum distribution and inconsistent forming quality.

For stable production, one mold plate should normally use the same product type, such as all egg trays, all egg boxes, or all custom molded products.

Maintenance frequency depends on whether the line runs continuously, the working environment, pulp cleanliness, and equipment configuration. Richon technical materials mention that continuous 24-hour operation may require inspection every 3 days, while non-continuous operation should include daily routine checks and a more complete inspection about every 2 weeks.

Key maintenance areas include mold cleaning, bearing lubrication, vacuum system condition, pump operation, screen cleaning, chain or transmission parts, air compressor maintenance, and dryer airflow. For cost planning, see the egg tray machine maintenance cost guide.

Before installation, buyers should prepare the factory floor, drainage, water supply, three-phase power, fuel system, storage area, civil work, and enough space for pulping, forming, drying, collection, and maintenance access. For some drying methods, local construction materials or fuel storage facilities may also be needed.

The final preparation list should be confirmed according to the selected equipment configuration and layout. Richon can help review the project layout before production and commissioning.

Yes. Richon technical materials state that the equipment requires three-phase power, and voltage and frequency can be adjusted according to the customer’s local requirements. The electrical configuration should be confirmed before production so the equipment matches the local power supply.

Buyers should provide local voltage, frequency, phase standard, and any site electrical restrictions during project evaluation.

Richon technical materials indicate a one-year warranty. Richon also provides maintenance guidance, manuals, and after-sales follow-up to help customers operate and maintain the equipment.

For a formal project, warranty scope, spare parts list, installation support, and commissioning arrangement should be confirmed in the final quotation and contract. Buyers can contact Richon engineers for project-specific support details.