What Types Of Pulp Tooling Molds Are Used In Pulp Packaging Manufacturing?

As global plastic bans tighten and environmental awareness grows across Europe and the world, Molded Pulp (also known as Fibre Moulding) is experiencing exponential growth as a fully environmental friendly packaging solution. However, behind those aesthetically pleasing and tactile paper trays lies a hidden yet crucial driving force: Tooling and Mould Technology.
As previously highlighted, the entire production process relies heavily on precision support. The mould is the fundamental element that gives pulp its life and form.

What Pulp Moulds are Used for Machines in Large-scale Production?

Molded pulp production is not merely about physical stacking; it is a precise morphological transformation dictated by tooling. This process involves several critical stages, where each mould performs an irreplaceable function:

Automatic machines mould:
In automatic machines, the forming and hot pressing processes are completed within the same mould set. This integration guarantees the dimensional precision and shape accuracy of the products, effectively avoiding errors caused by multiple processing steps. Consequently, it ensures product consistency and stability, thereby significantly enhancing overall quality.
Forming Mould (The Suction Phase):
This is the "birth" stage of the product. Through vacuum suction, the mould converts liquid slurry into a wet preform (or wet billet). The fineness of the mould's wire mesh and the rationality of the cavity design determine whether the fibres are distributed uniformly.
Hot Pressing Mould (The Curing Phase):
This is the "shaping" stage. The wet preform undergoes drying and curing under high temperature and pressure within a precision hot-press mould. The surface finish and clearance of the mould directly dictate the flatness, smoothness, and structural strength of the final product.
Trimming/Cutting Mould (The Finishing Phase):
This is the "refining" stage. To eliminate edge burrs, high-precision cutting dies are essential to ensure smooth edges and exact dimensions, endowing the product with a refined, industrial-grade aesthetic mould.

Why are High‑Precision Moulds the Key to Premium Pulp Packaging?

Moulds are not just tools for shaping, they are the benchmark of quality.

In sectors such as high-end consumer electronics or luxury cosmetics—markets that are particularly demanding in Europe—tolerance requirements for paper trays are often measured in millimetres or even microns. This necessitates high-precision CNC machining for mould manufacturing to ensure the cavity dimensions are exact. If the mould lacks precision, it leads not only to aesthetic defects (such as warping) but also to functional failures where the packaging cannot securely protect the goods.

Furthermore, durability is directly linked to production costs. On automated high-speed production lines, moulds must withstand thousands of cycles of thermal shock and friction. Premium mould materials (such as aviation-grade aluminium or specialist steels) combined with advanced surface treatments can significantly extend mould life. This reduces downtime caused by repairs, thereby drastically improving production efficiency.