HELSINKI: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is coordinating an international project that seeks to accelerate the commercialization of innovative foam forming technology.
The 3.6 million-euro project seeks to explore how current paper and board machines could be converted to foam forming. It has raised extensive interest, bringing together an international consortium of 20 industrial partners from Europe, North America and Asia.
The foam forming technology expands the use of natural fibres in the production of recyclable and lightweight products. Some products can be lightened by up to 25 per cent by mixing tiny bubbles into a water-fibre suspension during the foam forming process. The technology can also be used in the production of non-wovens and insulation materials.
The technology offers the possibility of significant cost savings for companies in paper and paperboard manufacturing. Launched in February 2015, the project continues the development work that commenced in 2008 as part of the Finnish Bioeconomy Cluster FIBIC’s research programme.
The project has received a million euros of its funding from the European Regional Development Fund, via the Regional Council of Central Finland.
