Kiefel GmbH, the Germany-based specialist in thermoforming and joining technology, has earnedan international European Value Provider Award in the "Sustainability" category from automation group ABB. The award is in recognition of the company’s development of the Natureformer KFT 90 machine for the processing of natural fibres - cellulose, straw or annual plants - where KFT stands for Kiefel-Fibre-Thermoforming.
"As a mechanical engineering company, Kiefel is exemplary in terms of sustainability. The technology of the KFT 90 is an example of this, because the machines can be used to produce packaging from renewable and biodegradable raw materials or plant waste - combined with the highest possible energy and resource efficiency,” said Andrea Cassoni, Managing Director of the General Industry division at ABB,
With the introduction of the Natureformer in 2020, Kiefel also became the first plastic thermoforming machine manufacturer to move into highly-automated fibre thermoforming systems. In certain fields of application, the packaging can be an alternative to conventional plastic packaging.
"The award recognises our technology in the natural fibre sector, but Kiefel is increasingly committed to sustainability on many levels," said Cornelia Frank, Head of Sustainability at Kiefel. The company is also a participant in various initiatives to improve the recyclability of plastics, such as HolyGrail and PrintCYC, she noted.
The Natureformer has won acclaim elsewhere as well. In December, Kiefel was named a finalist in the German Sustainability Award for Design for its development of the KFT 90. According to the judging panel, the machine ‘impresses with its low energy consumption and short changeover times. There are also innovative components such as the tool technology developed in-house. The use of diverse natural fibres that can be used in the paper recycling cycle relieves the burden on the environment… A highly interesting product with high scaling potential that fully addresses the demand for circular economy and the processing of compostable and renewable raw materials into new packaging solutions’.
In developing the fibre thermoformer, Kiefel leveraged its expertise in plastics processing to produce a new machine that is closely modelled on its classic KMD steel rule machine.The raw paper pulp is processed in batches up to 1% fibre content, with flow simulations ensuring an even fibre distribution. The suction tool dips into the slurry and suctions off, leaving the fibres in the form of a filter cake in the tool. The suction tool is mounted on the handling robot, which transfers the component from station to station. It next moves into a flexible counter tool of the pre-pressing station, before transferring the component to the hot press. Any remaining moisture is eliminated by temperatures of up to 200°C in the upper and lower tools in combination with a clamping force of up to 600 kN.
A large number of these machines are already in operation worldwide.