For businesses that ship regularly, buying honeycomb paper as a finished product is the straightforward path. For a smaller number of operations, producing it in-house changes the cost structure. The deciding factor is volume, and it is worth working through before investing.
Here is what the machine does. Kraft honeycomb paper roll is the finished product of a mini honeycomb paper making machine. Virgin kraft paper is die-cut and pressed into a regular honeycomb structure, then cut to spec, inspected, boxed, warehoused, and palletized. That is the same process Aircosan runs, at a smaller scale. A business with the machine can produce its own rolls rather than buying them.
The material itself does not change. Honeycomb paper made this way is still zero-plastic, 100% recyclable, and biodegradable, with FSC certification on the source paper. It still carries a high strength grade with an average tensile strength of 13.86N, based on close to 100 tests, and a 1:7 expansion ratio.
The base paper for this process is a separate product worth understanding. Kraft paper for paper bubble machine is the base paper consumable for paper bubble machines and honeycomb paper making machines. It is made from wood pulp, 80g, and 100% biodegradable. Fed into a honeycomb paper making machine, it presses into honeycomb paper. Fed into a paper bubble machine, it produces paper bubble wrap. One consumable supports two finished materials.
Aircosan's base paper is not the same as ordinary kraft paper. It goes through special process treatment with higher longitudinal elongation of 6% to 12%, while ordinary kraft paper sits at 2% to 4%. Under force, it undergoes elastic deformation and disperses stress, which suits dynamic load-bearing scenarios like cushioning layers. It is also softer, so it conforms to irregular surfaces, and its width matches machine size for higher compatibility.
There is one thing the base paper is not for. It is not suitable for a honeycomb paper dispenser, because dispensers use honeycomb paper that has already been pressed into shape, while this kraft paper still needs the pressing process first. That is the most common mistake buyers make when planning equipment.
Now the volume question. Producing your own rolls makes sense when your packaging volume is large enough that the machine pays back within a reasonable period, and when you want long-term control over material costs. Below that threshold, buying finished rolls is simpler and ties up less capital. Aircosan can help work out which side of the line you are on based on packaging volume and site conditions.
The equipment pairs together. A mini honeycomb paper making machine produces the rolls, and an electric honeycomb paper dispenser expands and cuts them on site. The dispenser runs up to 25m/min with variable frequency control, handles both honeycomb paper and liner paper, runs on 110V or 220V, and comes in an H30 standard model and an H30 cutter model, with foot control available. Together, the process from production to on-machine packing is connected, with no dependency on outside supply for the core consumable.
For small businesses exploring this route, the practical advice is to start by measuring your actual monthly usage of cushioning material. That number, compared with the machine cost and the base paper price, tells you whether in-house production is a saving or a complication. Aircosan evaluates machine model, packaging scenario, and budget before recommending a configuration, which is a more useful starting point than a product page.