Cold chain logistics presents cushioning requirements that differ from ambient shipping. The products are temperature-sensitive, the environment is cold and often humid, and the packaging has to protect the product through a series of transfers between refrigerated trucks, cold storage, and the final delivery.
Plastic cushioning behaves differently in cold environments. Bubble wrap becomes brittle at low temperatures, and the bubbles crack when the material is folded. Foam inserts stiffen, and they lose some of their cushioning ability. Paper cushioning does not have the same problem, because paper does not become brittle in the way plastic does.
What Cold Does to Cushioning Materials
Cold affects the mechanical properties of the material. Plastic becomes more rigid as the temperature drops, which means it absorbs less impact before it cracks. Bubble wrap is particularly vulnerable, because the thin film that forms the bubbles becomes brittle, and the bubbles burst on impact rather than absorbing it.
Paper behaves differently. The fibers in paper are already rigid at ambient temperature, and cold does not change their stiffness in the same way. Honeycomb paper retains its structure at low temperatures, which means it continues to absorb impact as it was designed to.
What Humidity Does to Cushioning Materials
Cold chain environments are often humid, because the temperature difference between the cold environment and the outside air causes condensation. Plastic cushioning does not absorb moisture, but the moisture that condenses on the surface can affect the product and the packaging. Paper cushioning absorbs some moisture, which is a disadvantage in a very humid environment, but the honeycomb structure retains its shape even when the paper has absorbed some moisture.
The practical approach for cold chain logistics is to use paper cushioning that has been stored dry and to keep the packaging process in a dry area. The machine accepts kraft paper up to 80gsm, and suitable paper is ≤80gsm. Both virgin kraft paper and recycled paper work.
Why On-Demand Production Helps
Cold chain operations often ship in small batches. The products are temperature-sensitive, so the inventory in the cold store is limited. Purchased cushioning material sits in the cold store, taking up space that could be used for product.
A honeycomb paper machine produces the material at the packing site. The operation stores paper rolls in a dry area, and the machine produces the cushioning as the order is packed. A paper roll length of about 1700m, with a maximum unwind diameter of 500mm and a paper core inner diameter of 75mm, supports a long production run before the roll needs to be changed.
Die-cutting speed is adjustable between 5 and 18 m/min, and die-cutting width is adjustable between 200 and 500mm. For cold chain packing, the operator often sets the speed to match the packing pace, which is usually slower than ambient packing because the products require more careful handling.
What the Machine Delivers
A honeycomb paper machine placed at the cold chain packing site produces cushioning that retains its structure in cold and humid conditions. Power requirements are modest: 1.5kW total power at AC220V/50HZ, with no compressor, heating element, or adhesive system. A compact footprint of just over 1 cubic meter, dimensions around 950x1150x1260mm and net weight near 502kg, means the machine can sit in the packing area.
A die that lasts about 1.0~1.3 million meters keeps the cells uniform across the entire run. The output from a honeycomb paper machine is biodegradable packaging and degradable packing material, a practical alternative to plastic packing materials, and it supports reuse cartons and paper recycling. For cold chain logistics, that combination protects the product and meets the recycling requirements that customers increasingly expect.