English
Molded pulp applications
Fruit Tray Making Machine for Molded Pulp Packaging
Plan molded pulp fruit tray production around the fruit, tray and packing format you need. Richon uses a shared equipment platform with suitable standard or custom molds.
A fruit tray making machine produces the molded pulp packaging that holds the fruit. Send a tray sample or drawing, the fruit-size requirements and your target output so the product, mold and equipment configuration can be evaluated together.
Begin with the product
Match the fruit, tray pockets and outer packing
An apple tray making machine project begins with the intended fruit and its size range. The fruit name alone does not define the pocket shape, spacing or tray outline that your pack needs.
Share the usable dimensions of the outer box or crate, as well as the tray sample. Review how the fruit sits in each pocket and how the tray fits into the planned packing arrangement. A tray pictured with one fruit size does not establish suitability for every grade or variety.
Our product and application overview introduces the wider equipment range. This page develops the fruit-packaging questions needed for a product-specific proposal.
Fruit requirements
Identify the fruit, its shape and the size or grade range the tray needs to accommodate.
Tray requirements
Provide the pocket arrangement, overall tray dimensions and a sample or drawing.
Outer packing
Show the usable box or crate dimensions and how the trays and fruit will be packed.
Mold matching
Evaluate standard fruit tray molds or a custom design
Richon has standard molds and can evaluate customer-specific fruit tray designs. First compare your fruit and packing requirements with an available mold. Discuss a custom mold when the proposed tray needs a different design.
A mold should be selected against the intended sample and dimensions. The number of pockets does not, by itself, confirm the fruit fit or the tray's compatibility with your outer packing.
Use the mold technology guide for the wider mold-selection context. For a fruit tray inquiry, include both the tray design and the fruit-size requirements so the proposed fit can be reviewed.
- Existing standard mold: check the proposed tray against the intended fruit and packing dimensions.
- Custom design: provide the tray outline, pocket arrangement and sample or drawing.
- Existing equipment: include the equipment model and available mold information for compatibility review.
Equipment relationship
A shared machine platform with product-specific molds
Egg trays, egg cartons, cup carriers and fruit trays can use Richon's shared equipment platform with the appropriate molds. A fruit tray application does not automatically require a completely different base machine.
The forming equipment overview explains the equipment side. If you already operate a line, provide its model and available mold details so the proposed fruit tray can be assessed against that setup.
Shared equipment does not mean every product has identical output or processing requirements. Confirm the selected tray, mold and production configuration together.
Production planning
Specify output in finished trays, not fruit positions
State the target in finished trays per hour or per shift, together with the planned working hours. Keep this separate from the number of fruit positions in each tray. Fruit positions describe the pack; they are not the machine's tray output.
Evaluate output for the selected fruit tray, mold and equipment configuration. Do not use the listed egg tray output as a fruit tray capacity guarantee.
For a new facility, production line planning covers the wider equipment and factory scope. Review drying system options as background, then confirm the drying and any finishing requirements for the actual fruit tray and final configuration.
- New line or an application change on existing equipment.
- Finished-tray output target and planned operating hours.
- Available factory space, utilities and any product-specific finishing or packing requirements.
Product acceptance
Agree the sample and packing checks before production
Use a sample to define what needs to be checked. Agree how the intended fruit should sit in the pockets, how the tray should fit in the outer packing and which handling conditions the pack needs to meet.
If stacking, surface finish, moisture conditions or transport checks matter to your customer, include those requirements in the brief and agree the assessment method. An application image alone does not establish those results.
Share any required material or compliance specifications at the start. The project proposal should identify which requirements need supporting evidence rather than assume that a certificate or performance result applies to every design.
Fruit and pocket fit
Review the proposed fruit-size range against the selected pocket geometry using agreed samples or drawings.
Packing compatibility
Check the tray outline and intended arrangement against the usable box or crate dimensions.
Acceptance criteria
Agree the appearance, handling and packing checks that will be used to review the proposed product.
Buyer questions
Fruit tray equipment questions
Can the same equipment platform make fruit trays and egg trays?
Yes. Richon's shared equipment platform can make fruit trays with the appropriate molds. Check the proposed tray, mold and equipment configuration together. Shared equipment does not establish identical output for egg trays and fruit trays.
Can one apple tray mold suit every fruit size or variety?
Do not assume that from the product name. Provide the fruit-size range, a tray sample or drawing, and the intended packing dimensions. The pocket fit and packing arrangement need to be reviewed for the proposed use.
Does Richon offer standard and custom fruit tray molds?
Yes. Richon has standard molds and can evaluate customer-specific designs. Send the intended tray and fruit requirements so the team can assess whether an available mold is suitable or a custom design should be discussed.
How should I specify the production target?
State finished trays per hour or per shift and the planned working hours. Keep the number of fruit positions per tray separate from this target. Output must be confirmed for the selected fruit tray, mold and equipment configuration.
What should I send for a fruit tray equipment proposal?
Send the fruit type and size range, a tray sample or drawing, pocket arrangement, tray dimensions and usable outer-box or crate dimensions. Add the finished-tray output target, working hours and project location. For existing equipment, include its model and available mold details.
Your next step
Send Richon your fruit and tray requirements
Start with the fruit specifications, a tray sample or drawing, and the packing format. Add your finished-tray output target and tell us whether you need a new line or want to evaluate a mold change on existing equipment.
Contact Richon to review the product requirements, standard or custom mold route and information needed for an equipment proposal.