Spain Disposable Tableware Market Overview and Demand Drivers
Spain ranks as the 4th largest food packaging market in the EU with an estimated value of USD 8.2 billion in 2025. The country's hospitality sector serves over 85 million international tourists annually, creating massive demand for disposable cutlery, plates, bowls, and cups. Spanish plastic packaging production reaches approximately 1.8 million tonnes per year, with disposable tableware accounting for roughly 18% of rigid packaging output. Key producers include SP Group (Murcia), Ilpea (Barcelona), and Grupo Coexpan, alongside approximately 180 injection molding companies operating across Catalonia, Valencia, and the Basque Country. Spain's EU membership means 0% import duty on injection molding machines from China under HS Code 8477, though CE marking and EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC compliance are mandatory. The HWAMDA SPV5-270 and SPV5-320 models are the primary configurations for tableware production, delivering 2700-3200kN clamping force with injection speeds of 368-400mm/s suitable for high-cavitation molds running 16-48 cavity tools.
Key Specs
- •Spanish plastic packaging production reaches approximately 1.8 million tonnes per year, with disposable tableware accounting for roughly 18% of rigid packaging output.
- •Spain's EU membership means 0% import duty on injection molding machines from China under HS Code 8477, though CE marking and EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC compliance are mandatory.
- •The HWAMDA SPV5-270 and SPV5-320 models are the primary configurations for tableware production, delivering 2700-3200kN clamping force with injection speeds of 368-400mm/s suitable for high-cavitation molds running 16-48 cavity tools.
Disposable tableware production line — forks, spoons, knives
SPV5 Machine Specifications for Tableware Production
The HWAMDA HMD 270M8-SPV delivers 2700kN clamping force with a maximum injection speed of 368mm/s, optimized for lightweight tableware items under 5g in 24-48 cavity configurations. For heavier items like plates and bowls weighing 5-8g, the HMD 320M8-SPV provides 3200kN clamping force and 385mm/s injection speed. Both models feature the INOVA controller with 1ms scan cycle for precise fill-time control critical in 0.4mm wall thickness applications where the melt solidification window is under 0.3 seconds. The servo-hydraulic drive system achieves energy consumption of 1.0-1.2 kWh/kg, approximately 30% lower than standard hydraulic machines common in Spanish factories. Injection pressure reaches 220 MPa maximum, ensuring complete cavity fill in multi-gate thin-wall molds. Platen dimensions of 730x730mm on the HMD 270M8-SPV accommodate 48-cavity cutlery molds, while the 810x810mm platens on the HMD 320M8-SPV support larger plate and bowl molds. Dry cycle time measures 1.8 seconds on the 270T model and 2.0 seconds on the 320T, enabling total cycle times of 3-5 seconds depending on product geometry and cavitation level.
Mold and Automation Configuration for Spanish Market
Tableware production in Spain typically uses stack molds or high-cavitation single-face molds to maximize output per machine hour. For disposable forks and spoons weighing 3-4g each, HWAMDA recommends 32-48 cavity molds with 4-drop hot runner systems from YUDO or Synventive, achieving cycle times of 3-3.5 seconds and hourly output of 34,500-60,800 pieces. For plates (diameter 180-230mm, weight 5-8g), 8-16 cavity molds deliver 4-5 second cycles with output of 5,760-11,520 pieces per hour. The Herzog needle-valve nozzle system ensures clean gate vestige below 0.1mm height, essential for tableware aesthetics. SWITEK side-entry robots with 0.6-second take-out time handle part removal and stacking, synchronized with the INOVA controller via Euromap 67 interface. For the Spanish market where labor costs average EUR 12-15 per hour, full automation with robotic stacking and counting reduces per-unit labor cost by 65% compared to manual operation. Conveyor systems with automatic counting and sleeve-packaging integration complete the downstream line, enabling lights-out production capability during overnight shifts.
Key Specs
- •For disposable forks and spoons weighing 3-4g each, HWAMDA recommends 32-48 cavity molds with 4-drop hot runner systems from YUDO or Synventive, achieving cycle times of 3-3.5 seconds and hourly output of 34,500-60,800 pieces.
- •For plates (diameter 180-230mm, weight 5-8g), 8-16 cavity molds deliver 4-5 second cycles with output of 5,760-11,520 pieces per hour.
- •The Herzog needle-valve nozzle system ensures clean gate vestige below 0.1mm height, essential for tableware aesthetics.
SPV5 series machine for high-cavity tableware molds
Need Expert Advice?
Talk to our engineers about your specific production requirements. Free consultation.
Material Selection and EU Compliance Requirements
Spanish tableware producers primarily use food-grade PP homopolymer with MFI of 40-60 g/10min at 230C/2.16kg for optimal flow in 0.4mm wall sections. PP pricing in Europe averages EUR 1,510/MT as of February 2026, making material cost the dominant factor at 60-70% of total production cost. For transparent tableware items, GPPS with MFI of 15-25 g/10min offers superior clarity with processing temperatures of 200-260C. The EU Regulation 10/2011 on plastic materials in contact with food mandates overall migration limits of 10 mg/dm2 and specific migration limits for individual substances. All PP and PS grades must carry EU food-contact declarations of compliance. Spain's transposition of EU Directive 2019/904 (Single-Use Plastics Directive) restricts certain single-use items including plates, cutlery, and stirrers unless made from natural polymers. This regulation shifts demand toward reusable PP tableware with wall thickness of 0.5-0.8mm designed for 10+ wash cycles, and compostable alternatives. HWAMDA SPV5 machines process both conventional PP and emerging bio-based PP blends without modification, giving Spanish producers flexibility to adapt their product portfolio as regulations evolve.
Production Economics and ROI Analysis for Spain
A complete HWAMDA SPV5-270 tableware production line for the Spanish market, including machine, 32-cavity fork/spoon mold, SWITEK robot, and auxiliaries, represents a total investment of approximately USD 180,000-250,000. Running 24/7 at 90% OEE with 3.5-second cycle times, a single 32-cavity line produces approximately 23.7 million pieces per month. At a wholesale price of EUR 0.008-0.012 per piece for disposable cutlery, monthly revenue reaches EUR 190,000-284,000 against raw material costs of approximately EUR 85,000-120,000 (assuming 3.5g average piece weight and PP at EUR 1,510/MT). Energy consumption at 1.1 kWh/kg with Spanish industrial electricity rates of EUR 0.12-0.15/kWh adds approximately EUR 4,500-6,000 monthly. Labor costs for 3-shift operation with 2 operators per shift total approximately EUR 8,000-10,000 monthly. Net operating margin ranges from 25-35% before depreciation, delivering payback within 12-18 months. For producers targeting the reusable tableware segment under SUP Directive compliance, higher per-unit selling prices of EUR 0.03-0.08 per piece dramatically improve margins despite slightly longer 4-5 second cycle times.
Key Specs
- •A complete HWAMDA SPV5-270 tableware production line for the Spanish market, including machine, 32-cavity fork/spoon mold, SWITEK robot, and auxiliaries, represents a total investment of approximately USD 180,000-250,000.
- •Running 24/7 at 90% OEE with 3.5-second cycle times, a single 32-cavity line produces approximately 23.7 million pieces per month.
- •Net operating margin ranges from 25-35% before depreciation, delivering payback within 12-18 months.
High-cavity mold detail — precision machined cavities
Logistics, Installation, and After-Sales Support in Spain
HWAMDA ships to Spanish ports including Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao with typical sea freight transit of 28-35 days from Shanghai. Machines are containerized in 40ft HC containers with anti-corrosion packaging and shock-monitoring devices. The HMD 270M8-SPV weighs approximately 16 tonnes and requires a single 40ft container, while the HMD 320M8-SPV at 19 tonnes may require specialized flat-rack shipping for oversized configurations. Spanish import procedures for Chinese injection molding machines under HS 8477.10 carry 0% MFN duty within the EU, with VAT at 21% recoverable for registered businesses. CE marking documentation, EU Declaration of Conformity, and complete technical file are provided with every SPV5 machine. HWAMDA's European service network includes partner engineers in Germany and Turkey, enabling on-site technical support within 48-72 hours for Spanish installations. Remote diagnostic support through the INOVA controller's Ethernet interface provides first-response troubleshooting within 4 hours. Key trade shows for customer engagement include Equiplast Barcelona (triennial), Hispack Barcelona, and Empack Madrid. HWAMDA maintains spare parts availability for all SPV5 components with 5-7 day air freight delivery to Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
For lightweight cutlery (forks, spoons, knives) weighing 3-4g, the HMD 270M8-SPV with 2700kN clamping force and 32-48 cavity molds delivers 3-3.5 second cycles. For heavier plates and bowls at 5-8g, the HMD 320M8-SPV with 3200kN clamping force handles 8-16 cavity molds at 4-5 second cycles. Both models feature 368-385mm/s injection speed and INOVA controller optimized for 0.4mm wall thickness tableware production.
Related Guides
Ready to Start Your Project?
Get a free consultation and quotation for your thin-wall packaging production line.
Join 500+ manufacturers in 60+ countries who trust HWAMDA.
Get Free Quote