Molded pulp

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Molded pulp is a packaging material, typically made from 100% recycled newspaper. It is used for protective packaging or for food service trays and beverage carriers. Molded pulp is also commonly referred to as molded fiber. Other typical uses are end caps, trays and clamshell containers.

For many applications, Molded pulp is less expensive than expanded polystyrene (EPS), vacuumed formed PET and PVC, Corrugation and Foams.

Molded pulp is considered a sustainable packaging material, as defined by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, since it is produced from recycled materials, and can be recycled again after its useful life-cycle.

1 Types of Molded Pulp

[edit] Types of Molded Pulp

[edit] Type-1: Thick-Wall

These products usually have wall thicknesses of 3/16" to 1/2" and are used primarily for support packaging applications. The surfaces are very rough on one side and moderately smooth on the opposite side. Product definition is moderate due to the use of relatively inexpensive single-pass molds and the use of mixed recovered paper and kraft paper slurries. Typical uses are for edge and comer protectors, heavy item packaging, auto replacement parts, pallet trays etc.

[edit] Type-2: Transfer Molded

Transfer molded products are usually thin walled, 1/16" to 3/16", and are the most prevalent type in use today. The process uses forming and take-off or transfer molds which produces relatively smooth surface on one side and a fairly smooth surface on the opposite side with good accuracy and definition. The slurries are frequently made up of a high percentage or entirely of recycled newspaper. Typical uses are for packaging electronic equipment, cellular phones and other household and hardware items. Very high capacity, high-speed transfer molding equipment is used to produce drink trays, cup carriers,wine shippers,egg cartons,egg trays,pulp bedpan liner,pulp urinals, fruit trays etc.

[edit] Type-3: Thermoformed Fiber

This newest form of molded pulp is the highest quality of thin walled products available today. The process uses "Cure-In-The-Mold" technology which produces strong, well defined smooth surfaced molded pulp products.After being formed, the product is captured in heated forming molds(near 2000USD in China) which presses and densifies the molded products. They are accurately formed and have the appearance of plastic material. The products are ejected from the heated molds in their finished state as opposed to being dried in a heated oven. Typical uses for this type are for point-of- purchase packaging and those applications where high definition and appearance are of prime importance.

[edit] Type-4: Processed

This type of molded pulp product is that which has undergone some kind of secondary processing which is generally different than or in addition to, the basic production procedure. This could apply to any of the first three types. Secondary processing could be coating, printing, hot-pressing, die-cutting, trimming or manufactured using colors or special slurry additives. Uses are for many kinds of custom applications.