Kiefel Explore - Fiber Thermoforming

The wishes of customers are rarely as clearly stated as when it comes to packaging: sustainability is an essential component. Our modern thermoforming technology offers the possibility to process a wide range of materials. You can choose from classic, recyclable plastics such as rPET, bio-based materials including PLA or even natural fibers – Whatever your choice, Kiefel has the right machine, tool and automation solution for you.

For more information, please visit our website.

The wide range of raw materials that can be used for this purpose in the field of natural fibers gives you full flexibility. You will not only receive a high-quality packaging, which is exactly tailored to your individual design wishes, but also a packaging solution that offers optimal protection for your product.

Fiber casting—also known as “molded pulp”—is a sustainable material produced using a wet pressing process. In this process, an aqueous fiber pulp made from recycled paper or cellulose is sucked into a mold and then dried.

The result is robust, recyclable, and biodegradable molded fiber parts that are used as individual fiber molds in a wide variety of molded fiber packaging – for example, as shock-absorbing, eco-friendly packaging solutions for electronics, cosmetics, food, or shipping products.

Fun fact: Egg packaging is one of the oldest applications for molded fiber packaging. Classic egg carton production uses the wet pressing process, as is common in fiber molding.

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Pulp preparation

Waste paper or pulp is dissolved with water to form a fiber slurry (pulp). This is cleaned and, if necessary, mixed with additives (e.g., starch for stability).

Shaping

A mold with fine holes (usually made of metal, similar to a sieve) is immersed in the pulp. Vacuum pressure causes the fibers to settle on the surface of the mold, creating a wet preform.

Pressing

In plastic thermoforming, the wet preform is pressed between heated mold halves to compact it and create a smoother surface.

Drying

The still wet fiber molded parts are dried thermally or by pressing – either with hot air, infrared, UV, or contact heat.

Post-processing

The finished fiber molded packaging can optionally be trimmed, punched, printed, or impregnated, depending on the desired end product. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Automated Molded Fiber Trimming System(th,tr,es).