HP says research validates its molded pulp tooling innovation

Palo Alto, California-based HP Inc. says Canada-based Innofibre, which HP calls the molded fiber industry’s leading independent research institute, has “validated significant advantages” that can be gained with the new HP Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling Solution.

In a presentation at the International Molded Fiber Association (IMFA) annual conference, HP says it is showcasing the independently verified performance leadership of its recently introduced HP Advanced tooling system.

HP describes its Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling Solution as “an innovative and environmentally-friendly solution for molded fiber manufacturers. Today, Innofibre, the industry’s leading expert on cellulosic product innovation, released new research data validating HP’s solution as a more productive, efficient option for molded fiber tooling compared with traditional woven wire tooling.”

Tarik Jabrane, a researcher at Innofibre, says, “Based on our testing, HP’s Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling Solution can offer greater precision, along with faster forming and drainage times. Compared to traditional molded fiber tooling, HP’s tools can be changed quickly and easily, with fewer stops in the workflow. The speed of iteration and ability to change tools enables more prototyping and ultimately provides a more cost-effective option for the industry.”

“We are proud our efforts to introduce a truly disruptive solution for the packaging industry have been validated by Innofibre’s research,” says Mariona Company, global head of molded fiber solutions at HP. “Based on the data released by Innofibre, it is no surprise we are gaining traction with molded fiber manufacturers in Europe, the United States and Canada as they look for innovative new tooling options to meet customer demand.”

Molded fiber, also known as molded pulp, is currently used in handling and packaging thousands of products, including food containers, packaging of household items and electronics, and single-use medical service items.

Unveiled in September 2020, HP’s Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling technology has been designed to enable fast and enhanced design and fabrication of high-performance molded fiber tooling in as quickly as two weeks, compared to four to six weeks experienced by customers using traditional methods, according to HP.

HP says customers in the molded pulp sector have begun using HP’s tooling solution:

• United Kingdom-based Vernacare, a provider of paper molding products specializing in single-use medical products, is looking to increase productivity with HP’s rapid screen replacement. “Compared to traditional manufacturing, HP’s solution increases the speed from concept to execution, and has the potential to improve our productivity efficiencies and machine volumes,” says Garry Partington, research and development manager of Vernacare.
• U.K.-based Polyco Healthline Group, which specializes in protection and hygiene products and services including disposable gloves, workwear and bags, has used molded pulp for more than two decades and its Thermofiber division develops non-medical molded pulp accessories. The company is working with HP to develop applications that reduce the amount of plastics used in the industry.
• Eco Pulp, a Finland-based packaging producer that specializes in technical molded pulp inserts, is currently using HP’s tooling solution to produce packaging for electronic devices. “Thanks to HP we are increasing our production efficiencies,” says Ari Henttonen, managing director of Eco Pulp. “The middle screen is saving us a lot of time in the production process. It is light and easy to carry, making the process faster and more sustainable.”

HP is a lead presenter at the virtual IMFA annual conference from April 13-14, delivering a keynote address together with Eco Pulp, Polyco Healthline Group, and Vernacare. HP also is delivering a technical session together with Innofibre and Canada-based Pulp Moulding Designs Inc. (PMD), providing “a deep dive into Innofibre’s research and HP’s technology advancements.”

On April 20, HP will follow up on its sessions at IMFA with a free, in-depth webinar and Q&A session to discuss opportunities to transform molded fiber packaging with its end-to-end solution. More information on that webinar can be found on this web page.