Plastic Egg Trays Revolutionize The Poultry Industry

In the field of poultry farming and egg trade, the innovation of packaging materials and the popularization of automated equipment are quietly changing the industry ecology. In recent years, more and more chicken farms have begun to use plastic egg trays to replace traditional paper egg trays, and at the same time, they are equipped with fully automatic egg picking equipment and transportation systems, which significantly improves the transportation safety and production efficiency of eggs. Behind this trend is the synergy of the durability and breathability advantages of plastic egg trays and automation technology.

1. The rise of plastic egg trays: performance surpasses paper in all aspects

Traditional paper egg trays have long occupied the market due to their low cost, but their shortcomings of being easily deformed by moisture and poor pressure resistance have also been criticized. In contrast, plastic egg trays made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP) have significant advantages:

1.1 Strong durability: can be reused more than 50 times, resistant to falling and shock, suitable for long-distance transportation;

1.2 Breathable design: honeycomb structure ensures air circulation and prevents eggs from mildewing (experiments show that the air permeability is equivalent to that of paper);

1.3 Cleanliness: smooth surface and easy to clean, reducing bacterial residue, in line with European and American export standards;

1.4 Cost-effectiveness: long-term use of single-time cost is lower than paper trays, especially suitable for large farms.

According to the 2023 report of the American Poultry and Egg Association, about 65% of large-scale farms in the world have turned to plastic egg trays, among which the Asian market has the fastest growth rate, with an annual growth rate of 12%.

2. Automated equipment promotes the popularization of plastic egg trays

The standardized size and high load-bearing characteristics of plastic egg trays make them an ideal choice for automated production. Modern farms achieve seamless connection through the following technologies:

2.1 Fully automatic egg picking system: For example, the Omnia series equipment launched by the Dutch Moba Group can pick up 120,000 eggs per hour. The mechanical arm directly puts the eggs into plastic trays, and the breakage rate is less than 0.5%;

2.2 Intelligent transportation line: Germany's Big Dutchman's "EggFlow" system automatically transports filled plastic egg trays to the packaging area through conveyor belts, reducing manual intervention;

2.3 Stacking and storage optimization: Plastic egg trays can be nested, saving 40% of storage space, and cooperate with AGV robots to achieve efficient turnover.

3. Collaborative application of egg frames (plastic egg baskets)

In addition to single egg trays, the popularity of integrated plastic egg baskets has further improved supply chain efficiency. This type of egg basket can usually hold 30-60 eggs and has the following features:

3.1 Shockproof design: Built-in buffer structure, the egg breakage rate during transportation is reduced to less than 0.3%;

3.2 Compatible with automation: Can be directly connected to the sorting line to shorten packaging time;

3.3 Environmental protection trend: Some companies have launched degradable PLA egg baskets to respond to the needs of sustainable development.

4. Industry Cases and Future Outlook

The practice of a large egg company in Shandong, China shows that after switching to plastic egg trays, annual transportation losses have been reduced by 18% and labor costs have been reduced by 25%. European farms prefer the "plastic egg tray + automation" full closed-loop model, which is unmanned from egg laying to loading.

In the future, with the maturity of recycled plastic technology (such as rHDPE material) and the reduction of automation equipment costs, the penetration rate of plastic egg trays is expected to exceed 80% in 2030. This change not only improves the industry's benefits, but also marks the key transformation of the poultry industry towards intelligence and greening.

From paper to plastic, from manual to automatic, the upgrade of egg packaging reflects the inevitable trend of agricultural modernization. With its performance and adaptability to automation, plastic egg trays are becoming the core choice for global farms to reduce costs and increase efficiency, and this transformation has just begun.