The demand for paper cups has increased rapidly in India with the push for sustainable packaging. This demand is primarily driven by tea vendors, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), and food delivery establishments. For small businesses or first-time entrepreneurs, setting up your paper cup manufacturing unit in 2025 is an opportunity of a lifetime. However, your ability to succeed with this business will depend to a significant extent on the machines you select.

As a well-known paper cup making machine supplier, we at SBS Machinery appreciate how daunting it is to choose your equipment. To help you in this process, we have created a review of the five best machine models available in India, designed for small-scale manufacturers. Whether launching a brand new business or replacing existing equipment, our review will help you make the right investment decision.

1. EcoCup 60: Ideal for New Entrepreneurs

For those on a smaller budget and with bigger visions of success, the EcoCup 60 is the machine to start with. It is aimed at businesses operating on a small scale and with lower costs and complexity. It is an entry-level machine that is one of the least expensive in our range, but still offers the operational capacity of producing a cup every second (± 60 cups per minute).

The EcoCup 60 can take a standard cup size of between 50ml to 300ml, which makes it versatile enough for tea stalls, small legislative places, or small packaging contracts. The EcoCup 60 doesn’t have high electricity requirements, nor does it need highly trained operatives – let’s face it, it only takes a day or two to show most new EcoCup users how to use it.

From an ROI or cost-to-benefit perspective, it offers almost an unbeatable (favorable) value proposition at the price point per cup produced – you can expect to recover your investment in about 6–8 months of continuous production. Many of our clients in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, including Patna, Nagpur, and Guwahati, have launched their respective enterprises with the EcoCup 60. If you are looking at entering into self-employment opportunities under the auspices of government subsidy and support programs, the EcoCup 60 is also eligible under the PMEGP and MUDRA loans, assuming, of course, you have a good business plan.

2. AutoCup 80: Best for Growing Demand

If you already have a steady stream of orders and want to increase your output, the AutoCup 80 is the right step to take. As a fully automatic machine, it takes away almost every step of the production process (feeding, sealing, bottom curling, and ejecting), producing 80 cups in a minute, while still maintaining high quality.

What’s different about the AutoCup 80 is its efficient production line. Counter to semi-automatic machines, the AutoCup 80 can be left to run on its own under only some monitoring. Because of the PLC control panel with built-in safety features, you can let the AutoCup process both single or double PE-coated paper, as well as food-grade biodegradable boards.

In the year 2025, customers are becoming more and more conscious not only about sustainability, but hygiene and precision. The AutoCup 80 provides ease across the board for the discerning customer. Restaurants that supply to cafes, cloud kitchens, or local distributors have seen growth in profits and pace of delivery with consistent use of their AutoCup 80!

3. SmartCup Pro: Built for Space-Constrained Setups

Urban entrepreneurs often deal with challenges such as limited workspace and inconsistent power supply. This is where the SmartCup Pro adds real value. It is compact but gets a lot done by design to be used with small factories and rented units, where the use of every square foot is needed.

As a compact machine, SmartCup Pro is different with features for the smart. It features fault detection, a digital touch interface, and uses servo motors – saying it saves energy might be an understatement. The SmartCup Pro has a modest footprint; however, it dispenses at an average of 60 cups per minute and can run for long shifts as it will not overheat.

The SmartCup Pro design has led many of our clients in urban settings (Pune, Kochi, Delhi NCR, etc) to adopt this model because it delivers results in confined spaces at a higher output. It has also made a positive impact on home-based manufacturing workspaces and the women-led MSMEs running under a startup scheme.

4. HybridCup 90: For Manufacturers Scaling Up

If you’ve successfully established yourself in the paper cup space and are looking to grow rapidly, the HybridCup 90 is the most future-ready model we have. With the capacity to produce close to 100 cups per minute, HybridCup 90 also utilizes a dual-die system that allows you to produce two cup sizes at once.

As designed for serious manufacturers, HybridCup 90 comes with a fully integrated oil-free air compressor, servo-driven systems, and automatic counting and stacking of cups. It requires a little more technical training for operators; however, SBS Machinery can install the machine for free, and there is an optional Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) to help ease the learning curve.

Clients that own this model typically supply bulk buyers, such as FMCG packaging units, schools, hospitals, and catering vendors for airlines. Some of my B2B suppliers that graduated to this model have doubled their revenue within one year.

5. Paper Bowl Pro: Perfect for Product Diversification

While paper cups seem to be in great demand, the food service industry also expects a huge boom in paper bowls and food containers in 2025. If you are thinking of adding food containers to your product range, our SBS Paper Bowl Pro gives you the extra advantage. This machine is able to make paper bowls from 250ml to 650ml and can be used to make soup cups, snack bowls, and packaging containers for delivery apps.

The production speed is a little slower than our cup machines (down to approx 50 a minute), but margins are better due to higher prices at the end user. Many companies want to start with cup production and then branch out into bowl production. The Paper Bowl Pro is designed to handle thicker GSM with food-grade coatings, making sure your packaging is leak-proof and microwavable.

This machine is very popular with caterers, food processors, and brands offering meal kits.

Support Beyond the Machine: SBS Machinery Advantage

As a trusted paper cup making machine manufacturer, SBS Machinery believes in empowering entrepreneurs, not just selling equipment. Every machine purchase includes:

• Free consultation for loans, subsidies, and factory setup
• On-site installation and operator training anywhere in India
• Pre-approved drawings and layouts for your manufacturing unit
• One-year warranty and lifelong technical support
• Spare parts availability for all models we’ve manufactured since 2015

We also help with documentation for MSME registration, UDYAM, FSSAI, pollution control compliance, and offer GST-ready quotations for loan applications.

Conclusion: Your First Machine Can Define Your Future

Opening a paper cup manufacturing unit can be extremely profitable, so long as you get the right machine from the start. The five models reviewed in this guide can fit into various stages of your business, from starting up to scaling up, and they all embody SBS Machinery’s commitment to quality, durability, and service.

If you’re not sure which machine will suit you, our technical consultants will take you through the options based on your plans, budget, space, and market.