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Frequently Asked Questions

Do not hesitate to call us for expert advice regarding any of our products.

Can you Export Paper Cups?
We can export paper cups.  Please call our advisors for more information.

What Materials are your cups made from?
Short run cups are suitable for both hot and cold drinks. Medium and long run cups can be made in either heavy weight board for hot drinks or double poly board for cold cups.
If extremely high quality printing is required on hot cups, on large quantities you may be recommended to use double poly coated board as this is a better surface to print on.
We do not recommend the use of brown / craft cups, as they have a tendency to smell very strongly of cardboard when used.
We can not use recycled materials in the construction of our cups as HSO maintain any food contact materials must be made from virgin material. The polyethylene coating (PE) represents a very small % of the total weight of the cup, and is completely stable, it not only makes the board waterproof, it is melted on the seams to weld the cup together.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a new material that is made from corn starch, is biodegradable and can be used to make a variety of products, please ring for more information.

Wax Paper Cups – this material has been discontinued and replaced with PE board, PE produces better cup, better print, and unlike wax PE can be recycled.

Do you have any other products in your range?
Our website represents a very small part of a huge range of products. Please ring or e-mail so that we can advise you on the best product for your purpose. Cups range from 3oz to 170oz.

What do people use cups for?
Water – usually a cone (water cone ) or single poly 200ml cup usually 70mm in diameter to go through cup dispensers.

 Hot drinks – single poly heavy weight board, can be used with sleeves / clutches, there is also extra insulated cups, double wall and triple wall cups to choose from.

Soup Cups – there are several options- cups suitable for thinner soups, either single or double wall cups Containers, with a paper lid (top of the range) with a plastic lid makes it more economical.

Cold Cups – double poly board stops condensation that has formed on the outside of cup soaking into the board and making cup soggy.

Sweet Cups – for selling sweets by volume rather than weight, usually in 12,16 and 20oz cups, as these would have a common lid.

Paint / Ink mixing – need to be manufactured under strict manufacturing conditions to stop contamination with silicon, can be supplied in 7oz,9oz, 12oz, 16oz and 22oz.
The ink used on the cups needs to be kept to a minimum if used with solvents as the inks used for printing are solvent based, solvent resistant inks can be used, but there is a increased cost. It is common to have a warning on these cups “do not drink”

Resin cups – as well as paint mixing sizes, they can also be purchased in 32oz,44oz, 85oz and 170oz.


Misprints – sometimes there are misprints available in various materials and sizes, there is no guarantee when these would be available, but customers can always ask for a update on their availability. When using misprints in a factory or for chemicals, there is a danger with using misprints that a user may mistake them for a drink and consume chemicals being mixed, this problem can be overcome by the use of warning stickers.


Which type of cup is suitable for sampling?
For portion control depending on volume required there is a 3oz cup, most common is the 4oz Espresso cup, and for larger portions 7oz or 8oz are available.

Portion Pots – used for portions of sauces

Ice Cream – Please call us to discuss the right product to suit your particular need.

Paper food containers - we are quite happy to discuss your requirements and advise on the best course of action.

Hot Nuts – these are usually a 5/6oz container, please ring for further information.
Medical
Midstream Urine Collector – 9oz cup normally printed do not drink
Pill cups

What do you mean by the term Hot Cups?
These are ideally suited to hot beverages, please make sure that a full risk assessment has been done, and that serving temperature is recorded at regular intervals on all drinks to make sure that maximum temperature is not exceeded.

It is common to put a small amount of cold water in the top of black tea, black coffee and Americano to reduce the drink to a safe temperature.

The heat transfer through the side wall of a cup whether china or paper will give an indication to the user of the temperature of the drink they are about to consume.

When producing your own print you may want to put a warning on the side of the cup. For example 'Caution Contents may be hot'.

Do I need lids?
Lids are available for most products, the most common would be Straw slotted for cold drinks.
Gourmet lid – sip through for coffee to go market.

Clear Dome lid no hole – for packaging (only suitable for cold use) Clear Dome lid with a hole – use with a spoon straw for iced teas and coffees, slush, milk shakes, gives the drink a upmarket look. (Only suitable for cold use)

When applying lids, rest lid on the cup, and roll palm of hand from one side to the other, this should cause a click whereby the operator knows correct fit.

When applying hot lids, use the same process, but where possible make the sip through, on the opposite side to the seam, as the seam sometimes but rarely causes a leak in the lid when below the sip through hole. Lids for tea bags slide and sip, enabling the use of tea bags on a string.

Please ring for further information.

Lids are not printed, but on high volume accounts, they could be embossed with the customers logo.

What about environmental issues?
All our paper cups come from managed softwood forests, most cups can be recycled by pulping in specialist mills or shredded and composted. Paper cups are from a renewable resource.
If you would like more information please go to our environmental issues page. If you would like to discuss this in more detail please do not hesitate to ring, we would be very happy  to discuss the issues involved.

How should I store my cups?
Cups should be stored in a clean dry space. They should not be stacked in such a way as to crush boxes as this can result in distortion preventing correct fitting of lids, and cups may become compacted, preventing easy separation of cups.
For hygiene reasons it is best to leave cups in sleeves as long as possible, if not using dispensers. Place cups upside down on counter to prevent contaminates entering cups.

What about dispensers?
It is a very good idea to have mounted cup dispensers to hold your cups, this will keep cups clean, stop damage and speed up service.