Waste paper is everywhere. Cardboard boxes, old newspapers, office paper—most of it ends up in landfills or gets exported at low prices. But what if that same waste paper could generate $0.07–0.10 per piece, day after day? An egg box machine does exactly that. It takes waste paper, mixes it with water, and molds it into egg trays, egg cartons, fruit trays, coffee cup carriers, and industrial packaging. The raw material is cheap—sometimes free. The output sells at a premium.
The YG series machine offers models from 1,000 to 7,000 trays per hour. Every model features hydraulic pulp preparation, precision molding, and flexible drying options. For entrepreneurs looking for an egg crate making machine that delivers fast payback and consistent profitability, the YG series provides proven, reliable performance. This paper egg tray making machine turns low-cost waste paper into high-margin finished products.
The calculations in this article are rough estimates based on typical market conditions and may vary depending on local raw material prices, labor costs, fuel availability, and other factors.
Egg Box Machine Technical Specifications:
| Production Line Models | Output (p/h) | Hydraulic Pulper | Egg Tray Machine | Drying Method | |||
| Natural Drying | Brick Drying Line | Single-layer Metal Drying Line | Multilayer Metal Drying Line | ||||
| YGDT3×1-1000 | 1000 | ZDS1(1m³) | DTF3×1 | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| YGDT4×1-1500 | 1500 | ZDS1(1m³) | DTF4×1 | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| YGDT3×4-2000 | 2000 | ZDS1(1m³) | DT3×4 | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| YGDT4×4-2500 | 2500 | ZDS2(2m³) | DT4×4 | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| YGDT3×8-3000 | 3000 | ZDS2(2m³) | DT3×8 | √ | √ | √ | |
| YGDT4×8-4000 | 4000 | ZDS4(4m³) | DT4×8 | √ | √ | √ | |
| YGDT5×8-5000 | 5000 | ZDS4(4m³) | DT5×8 | √ | √ | √ | |
| YGDT5×12-6000 | 6000 | ZDS6(6m³) | DT5×12 | √ | √ | √ | |
| YGDT6×8-7000 | 6000-7000 | ZDS6(6m³) | DT6×8 | √ | √ | √ | |
How Much Does It Cost to Make One Egg Tray?
The key to understanding egg tray profitability is knowing the cost per tray. The YG series egg carton maker keeps production costs remarkably low.
1. Raw Material: Waste Paper
One ton of waste paper produces approximately 12,000 to 12,500 egg trays. A typical egg tray weighs 75–80 grams. At current market prices, waste paper costs around 1,800–1,850 RMB per ton.
Paper cost per tray: 1,850 RMB ÷ 12,500 trays = 0.148 RMB per tray (approximately $0.02)
2. Energy: Electricity
The egg carton maker consumes electricity for the pulper, forming machine, vacuum pump, and other motors. Actual consumption is approximately 70% of total rated power. For a YGDT4×1-1500 model (1500 trays/hour):
- Total power: approximately 35kW
- Actual consumption: 35 × 0.7 = 24.5 kW/h
- Cost per hour (at $0.12/kWh): $2.94
- Electricity cost per tray: $2.94 ÷ 1500 = $0.002
3. Energy: Drying Fuel
Drying is the largest energy expense. The YG series egg box machine offers multiple drying methods:
Natural gas drying (3-4 model): 55m³/hour
- Gas cost: 3.58 RMB/m³
- Cost per hour: 55 × 3.58 = 196.9 RMB
- Gas cost per tray: 196.9 ÷ 2160 trays/hour = 0.091 RMB/tray
Wood firing (3-4 model): approximately 70kg/hour
- Wood cost: roughly 0.5 RMB/kg
- Cost per hour: 35 RMB
- Wood cost per tray: 35 ÷ 2160 = 0.016 RMB/tray
Coal firing (3-4 model): approximately 55kg/hour
- Coal cost: roughly 0.8 RMB/kg
- Cost per hour: 44 RMB
- Coal cost per tray: 44 ÷ 2160 = 0.020 RMB/tray
4.Labor
For a drying production line, 5–6 workers typically operate the machine. For natural drying, 6–7 workers are needed. At 10 workers earning 100 RMB/day, the labor cost per tray is minimal.
- Daily labor: 10 × 100 = 1,000 RMB
- Daily output (3-4 model, 8 hours): 2160 × 8 = 17,280 trays
- Labor cost per tray: 1000 ÷ 17,280 = 0.058 RMB
Total Cost Per Tray (Gas Drying, 3-4 Model)
| Cost Component | Cost per Tray (RMB) |
| Waste Paper | 0.148 |
| Electricity | 0.014 |
| Gas Drying | 0.091 |
| Labor | 0.058 |
| Water & Misc. | 0.010 |
| Total | 0.321 RMB |
That’s approximately $0.044 per tray.
What Can You Sell an Egg Tray For?
The international market price for paper egg trays typically ranges from $0.07 to $0.10 per tray. Some markets pay even more for premium quality trays.
Conservative selling price: $0.07 per tray (approximately 0.51 RMB)
Profit per tray: 0.51 RMB – 0.321 RMB = 0.189 RMB (approximately $0.026)
How Much Profit Can a YG Egg Box Machine Generate?
Let’s calculate the daily and monthly profit for the YGDT4×1-1500 model (1,500 trays/hour, 8-hour day):
- Daily output: 1,500 × 8 = 12,000 trays
- Daily profit: 12,000 × 0.189 RMB = 2,268 RMB/day
- Monthly output (25 days): 12,000 × 25 = 300,000 trays
- Monthly profit: 300,000 × 0.189 RMB = 56,700 RMB/month (approximately $7,800)
For larger models, the profit scales accordingly:
| Model | Capacity (trays/h) | Daily Profit (RMB) | Monthly Profit (RMB) |
| YGDT3×1-1000 | 1,000 | 1,512 | 37,800 |
| YGDT4×1-1500 | 1,500 | 2,268 | 56,700 |
| YGDT3×4-2000 | 2,160 | 3,266 | 81,650 |
| YGDT4×4-2500 | 2,880 | 4,354 | 108,850 |
| YGDT4×8-4000 | 4,320 | 6,531 | 163,275 |
| YGDT5×8-5000 | 5,400 | 8,164 | 204,100 |
| YGDT6×8-6000 | 6,480 | 9,797 | 244,925 |
What About Larger Models?
The YG series egg crate making machine offers models up to 7,000 trays per hour. The economics improve with scale:
YGDT6×8-6000 (6,480 trays/hour):
- Daily output: 6,480 × 8 = 51,840 trays
- Daily profit: 51,840 × 0.189 RMB = 9,797 RMB
- Monthly profit (25 days): 244,925 RMB (approximately $33,700)
YGDT5×12-6000 (6,000 trays/hour):
Monthly profit: approximately 226,800 RMB ($31,200)
For large-scale producers, the egg box machine becomes a substantial revenue generator.
Drying Methods for Egg Trays: Four Options Compared
The YG series egg box machine offers four drying methods. Each option has different cost, space, and labor requirements. The choice depends on your local fuel availability, climate, and investment capacity.
1. Natural Drying (Sun Drying)
Process: Place the molded wet trays on racks and move them outdoors. Sunlight and natural wind evaporate the moisture. A typical operation requires 100-200 racks, with each rack holding 24-30 mesh screens. Each screen holds 3-4 trays. Production depends entirely on weather conditions.
Pros:
- Zero fuel cost—no energy expenses
- Lowest operating cost of any method
Cons:
- Weather-dependent—rain or clouds stop production
- Requires large drying area
- Higher labor input for handling racks
- Slower drying time
Best for: Regions with consistent sunshine and low land costs. Small-scale producers with limited capital.
2. Drying Box (Batch Oven)
Process: Place molded wet trays on galvanized steel trays, load them onto drying racks, and push the racks into a drying box. Each box holds 10-12 trolleys. Each trolley holds 90-100 trays. Drying takes approximately 30 minutes at 180-200°C. Operators typically use 10 extra trolleys for rotation to keep the process continuous.
Pros:
- Weather-independent—rain or shine, production continues
- Small footprint
- Relatively low equipment cost
- Consistent drying quality
Cons:
- Higher labor requirement for loading/unloading
- Batch process (not continuous)
- Fuel cost applies
Best for: Smaller operations, indoor facilities, and regions with unpredictable weather where natural drying is not reliable.
3. Brick Kiln Drying (Tunnel Oven)
Process: Molded wet trays travel through a 40-70 meter brick drying tunnel on a mesh conveyor belt. Drying takes approximately 15 minutes at 180-200°C. Fuel options include coal, wood, natural gas, and diesel. The hot air circulates through the tunnel, drying the trays continuously from one end to the other.
Pros:
- Lower construction cost than multi-layer metal drying
- Continuous, automated production
- Consistent quality
- Fuel-flexible—can use locally available fuels
Cons:
- Requires long drying tunnel (40-70 meters)
- Higher energy consumption than multi-layer
- Land-intensive
Best for: Commercial producers with available land. Large-scale operations where lower capital cost is prioritized over energy efficiency.
4. Multi-Layer Metal Drying
Process: Formed trays enter a 18-meter multi-layer drying chamber on trays. The chamber contains 6 layers, allowing trays to travel through the system for approximately 25 minutes at 180-200°C. The trays emerge from the bottom fully dried. Fuel options include coal, wood, natural gas, and diesel.
Pros:
- Compact footprint—only 18 meters long
- 25% lower fuel consumption than brick kiln drying
- Fully automated operation
- Consistent drying quality
- Space-saving design
Cons:
- Higher initial investment than brick kiln
- More complex construction
Best for: Commercial producers with limited land. Operations where energy efficiency is the priority. Large-scale automated production lines.
Egg Box Machine For Sale—Factory price
If you need an egg box machine that turns waste paper into consistent profit, the YG series provides proven, reliable performance. Contact us with your production requirements. We will recommend the right model for your operation. Get a free quote for your paper egg tray making machine today.
