Pulp is a natural material made from wood fibers. It is biodegradable, renewable, and available in large quantities, making it one of the most promising alternatives to plastics.
While pulp has traditionally been used in paper production, it is also becoming a key component in sustainable materials across various industries.
In the Nonwoven and Textile industry, pulp is already being used to create innovative, sustainable solutions. ANDRITZ enables the production of high-performance nonwoven materials used in hygiene, wipes, durable, automotive, medical, packaging and other applications. These solutions combine the natural benefits of pulp with industrial scalability—paving the way for more responsible single-use products.
As environmental regulations tighten and demand for eco-friendly solutions grows, pulp-based nonwovens are gaining interest. They offer a greener alternative to synthetic materials, are compostable, and can be produced efficiently at scale.
Traditional fiber-forming methods often rely on large amounts of water to shape and bind the material, which is why the process is called wetmolding . This not only increases energy consumption, for example in the drying process, but also limits production speed and scalability.
Dry Molded Fibers offer a different approach. It transforms pulp into strong items, using a process that is almost completely dry.
This means significantly lower water usage, faster cycle times, and a cleaner, more efficient production environment.
ANDRITZ, with decades of expertise in fiber processing, uses advanced techniques to enable customers to create products, not only sustainable, but also high-performing and visually appearing, whether it comes to trays, containers, coffee lids, cutlery or packaging - ANDRITZ Dry Molded Fiber technology is a viable alternative to plastics across industries.
❌ Made from fossil fuels
❌ High water and energy consumption
❌ Not biodegradable
❌ Often incinerated or land filled
❌ Breaks down into microplastics
❌ Harms marine life and ecosystems
❌ Under restrictions in Europe
✅ Made from renewable, plant-based fibers
✅ Less water and energy usage
✅ Fully compostable
✅ Recyclable
✅ No fossil fuels needed
✅ Easy post-industrial waste recycling
✅ Adjustable for a range of applications
Lifecycle of single use plastic items
Lifecycle of single use Dry Molded Fiber items
Mat forming
Cellulose pulp is grinded and air-layed on a conveyor using airlaid or mill-to-web forming units .
Barrier applications
Barrier product is sprayed on the pulp mat to give desired properties based on end product requirements.
Compression Molding
The fiber mat is conveyed and pressed under heat and pressure in a mold, allowing bonding between the fibers and giving mechanical strength to the product.
Recycling
All the fibers not used during compression step and grinded again and sent back to the first step. Thanks to this step, up to 99% of the raw material is used to form products.
No drying ovens. No water removal. Just clean, efficient production.
ANDRITZ decided to combine its expertise with the know-how of the Dry Molded Fiber technology owner PulPac.
As a result of the collaboration, ANDRITZ is able to offer complete Dry Molded Fiber lines, further expanding its broad portfolio of sustainable solutions.
To get further information about the partnership, click the link below.
✅ Up to 95% less water than wet molding
✅ Up to 80% less lower CO₂ emissions
✅ Up to 10x faster production speed
✅ Fully recyclable and composable
✅ Extensive selection of applications to replace plastics and wet molded fiber
✅ Coffee cup lids
✅ Cold drink lids
✅ Cutlery and trays
✅ Medical packaging
✅ Consumer electronics packaging
✅ Sustainable raw material source
✅ Mechanically refined
✅ Delivered in roll form for easy integration into the DMF process
Get insights into Dry Molded Fiber technology and its growing market potential. Discover how the pulp, packaging and single-use-item industries can become more sustainable. Dry Molding offers a low-emission, fiber-based alternative to single-use plastics — scalable, efficient, and ready for the circular economy.
ANDRITZ Diatec offers a huge range of different tchnologies for the converting industry
ANDRITZ airlaid technology for hygiene end uses
ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER supplies one of the world’s best technologies and valuable services for pulp production – chemical, mechanical, or recycled fibers. We deliver complete production lines or individual components for your pulp mill.The major target for pulp producers is to achieve an environmentally sound friendly, save, and steady production of pulp with a uniform quality. High yields at low operating costs are as important as healthy and save operation for the people and the environment.
Technologies for every major pulping, recovery, and power process.The major challenges facing pulp producers are to achieve steady-state production of uniform pulp quality with the lowest possible consumption of chemicals and water at the highest efficiency. And to do this within tight environmental regulations. ANDRITZ is one of the few technology suppliers to deliver a complete kraft pulp mill and to have it performing with world-renowned environmental excellence.
