Valmet’s new 3D fiber press matches plastic packaging speed with 5-8x faster moulded fibre production

FINLAND – Valmet has launched a 3D Fiber packaging system that produces moulded fibre trays, plates and food containers at 5-8 times the speed of conventional wet-moulded methods, while recirculating trim waste back into production for circular resource efficiency.

The Finnish industrial technology group introduced Valmet 3D Fiber technology on 11 June 2026, expanding its offering for the rapidly growing moulded fibre packaging sector. 

The system directly presses cellulose pulp into three-dimensional forms using foam injection forming, eliminating multiple converting steps typical of traditional manufacturing. 

The production line operates with less than 10-second cycle times across a 1,200 x 800 mm forming area, enabling high-volume output for markets where plastic alternatives face increasing regulatory pressure. 

Why Valmet’s 5-8x Speed Advantage Disrupts Conventional Wet-Moulded Fibre Packaging

Conventional wet-moulded fibre packaging methods operate significantly slower, limiting their competitiveness for mass-market applications such as takeaway food containers.

Valmet’s unique fibre layering technology with foam injection forming produces lightweight yet rigid end products while tailoring properties by layer, supporting optimal placement of barrier chemistry for food contact surfaces. 

The system’s outstanding surface smoothness enables appealing packaging designs for brand owners and provides a foundation for different barrier coatings. 

Valmet Packaging and Paper executive vice-president Petri Rasinmäki said that the demand for moulded-fibre packaging solutions was growing and Valmet saw strong opportunities to help customers capture this growth. 

He explained that by combining expertise in fibre-based packaging, paper process technologies and automation, Valmet could offer packaging producers a competitive end-to-end solution supporting the shift toward fibre-based packaging.

How Trim Waste Recirculation and Water Efficiency Support Printing-Ready Surfaces

The production design supports recirculation of off-quality materials and trimming broke back into the process, a feature uncommon among competing solutions. 

Efficient water circulation minimises freshwater usage and chemical consumption while maintaining consistent fibre quality for printing applications. 

The smooth surface produced by Valmet’s technology creates an ideal substrate for subsequent printing processes, including flexographic and digital printing for brand labelling and food safety information. 

Valmet has partnered with Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring since 2020 on a production concept that turns wood-based fibres into packaging products. 

A demo plant operating since 2022 at Metsä Group’s bioproduct mill in Äänekoski, Finland, produces Muoto products that have undergone successful market testing.

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