In a breakthrough for scaling up dry moulded fibre packaging, PulPac has launched a new machine platform, the PulPac Scala, which is based on injection moulding, a technology associated with plastic conversion, and combined it with the company’s new Mill-to-Web fibre unit. The first Scala machines are sold by launch partner Huarong Group and equipped for producing fibre-based lids.
Dry moulded fibre is a fibre-forming technology invented and licensed by Swedish packaging tech company PulPac to replace single-use plastic. The company claims the technology makes it possible to produce sustainable packaging that's resource-, energy-, and cost-efficient. Together with turnkey partner Huarong Group from Taiwan, PulPac is now launching a compact and scalable dry moulded fibre machine platform.
PulPac's CCO, Sanna Fager, said, "When we launched dry moulded fibre a few years ago, we did it with a great machine platform. The PulPac Modula is still the best fit for producers with high volumes and a need for modularity. But one size doesn't fit all, and we saw an opportunity to dry moulded fibre approachable to even more packaging producers."
About 100,000 injection moulding machines are produced yearly, and most of them make single-use plastic – Pulpac says that needs to be replaced with “sustainable alternatives”. The company says the Scala offers all the benefits of dry moulded fibre, fits in a 40-foot container, and comes at a significantly lower investment than the PulPac Modula.
Fagar added, "Its name is, of course, a play on words. Due to its low investment threshold, any producer who wants to gain market leverage in this new, exciting, and fast-growing market can start small and then scale up."
Viktor Börjesson, PulPac's CPO, commented, "As the inventors of dry moulded fibre, our knowledge about the technology is unrivaled. Huarong brings 40 years of experience in building machines for the plastic industry. We merged our cutting-edge tech to Huarong’s existing and functioning clamping unit, and the result is a compact, hassle-free, plug-and-play machine for dry moulded fibre manufacturing."
