Cardboard is a hygroscopic material, which means it absorbs moisture from the air and releases it back. The moisture content of cardboard changes with the seasons, and those changes affect how the material behaves in a shredder. An operation that runs the same way in July and January may find that the machine performs differently in each month.
The first seasonal change is summer humidity. In humid climates, the air holds more moisture in the summer, and cardboard absorbs that moisture. Damp cardboard cuts poorly because the fibers are softer and do not separate cleanly. It also produces output that does not hold its shape, because the moisture causes the material to compress rather than expand. The die wears faster because the damp fibers stick to the cutting edge. The practical response is to store the cardboard in a dry area, keep it off the floor, and process it quickly before it absorbs more moisture.
The second seasonal change is winter dryness. In cold climates, indoor heating reduces the humidity, and cardboard dries out. Dry cardboard is brittle, and it can crack when it is cut rather than separating cleanly. The output may be dustier because the dry fibers break apart. The static electricity also increases, which can cause the output to cling to surfaces. The practical response is to store the cardboard in a controlled area and to avoid storing it near heat sources.
The third seasonal change is the temperature. Cold cardboard is stiffer than warm cardboard, and it requires more force to cut. That extra force puts more load on the motor and the shaft. Aircosan machines use a branded motor with ample power, so thick and hard cardboard feeds smoothly without repeated jamming at the inlet. That power helps in cold weather, because the motor can handle the stiffer material without stalling.
The fourth seasonal change is the cardboard supply. Some operations receive different cartons in different seasons. Retail operations may receive more cartons during the holiday season, and food operations may receive different packaging during harvest. The variation in carton type affects how the machine performs, because different flutes and different board weights behave differently. The operation should check the new cartons when the season changes and adjust the machine settings if needed.
The fifth seasonal change is the paper roll. Paper rolls absorb moisture in the summer and dry out in the winter, just like cardboard. A roll that was suitable in the spring may behave differently in the summer. The operation should check the paper before loading it and replace any roll that feels damp or looks different from the previous roll.
The sixth seasonal change is the machine maintenance. The die wears faster in the summer because of the moisture, and it may need to be replaced more often. The operation should track the meters and adjust the replacement schedule based on the season. Aircosan shafts are large, one-piece units rather than thin blades, designed for a service life of over five years and processed through lathe machining, high-frequency treatment, quenching, blackening, and multiple other steps. The material is 40Cr rather than ordinary 45# steel. 40Cr has lower brittleness and stronger impact resistance, and its machining time is more than twice that of 45#. Die life is generally 1.0 to 1.3 million meters depending on material and usage, and the seasonal variation should be factored into the estimate.
The seventh seasonal change is the dust. Dry cardboard produces more dust than damp cardboard, and the dust is more likely to become airborne in the winter when the air is dry. Aircosan machines have side sheet metal that fits tightly with no gaps, so paper dust cannot enter the gears and cause abnormal noise or long-term wear. That containment matters more in the winter, when the dust is finer and travels farther.
The eighth seasonal change is the operator. Operators who work in cold areas wear gloves, which affects their grip and their feel for the machine. Operators who work in hot areas may be less attentive because of the heat. The operation should adjust the training and the supervision based on the season.
Aircosan machines use overload protection -when a jam occurs, the machine automatically cuts power and stops, protecting the motor. That protection matters more in the summer, when damp cardboard is more likely to jam. Aircosan machines use one-button start, a pressure gauge that shows status clearly, and a panel that groups the controls in the order they are used. Aircosan runs its own parts processing factory, controlling part quality in-house rather than assembling from mixed outside sources. The company supports logo customization from one piece and color customization from ten pieces. Products carry CE, ROHS, and UKCA certifications and hold an exclusive EU patent. After-sales responds within 12 hours and connects customers directly with engineers.
For an operator, the practical approach is to check the cardboard and the paper before feeding, adjust the machine settings based on the season, and track the die wear more closely during the humid months. Those three habits keep the machine performing consistently across the year.