Packaging companies continue to focus on sustainable materials and processes, especially for single-use products. Food service packaging manufacturer Matrix Pack has partnered with Curt G. JOA, a manufacturer of converting machinery for the hygiene industry and single-use products. Matrix Pack is launching a new line of hot and cold drink lids, which will be the start of a line of sustainable foodservice packaging products using PulPac’s dry molded fiber technology. With the help of JOA, Matrix hopes to further develop this business in North America and Europe.
According to Ryan Brown, business development manager at JOA, “In PulPac’s dry molded fiber technology we see enormous potential to bring sustainable packaging to market. We look forward to applying our engineering excellence and industrial expertise to develop complete machine platforms for Matrix Pack.”
Matrix Pack will work with Curt G. JOA to commission the first dry molded fiber production machine at Matrix’s technology center in Greece. “Together with JOA and PulPac, we are looking forward to transforming this into an industrial success, and then roll out the optimized process in large scale in our North American and European plants,” said Dionysis Valentis, business development director at Matrix Pack. “With cutting-edge technology access, top-notch raw materials and our manufacturing expertise, Matrix Pack’s technology and business platform is poised to meet growing consumer demand for innovative and sustainable eco-friendly food packaging products.”
Dry molded fiber is a resource- and cost-efficient, fiber-forming technology for replacing single-use plastic at scale. PulPac said the manufacturing process turns generic pulp into almost any three-dimensional shape. It is as fast as plastics processing but uses less energy and virtually no water. The technology was invented and owned by PulPac and was made available to packaging manufacturers via licensing. PulPac signed a license agreement with Matrix Pack in early July.
PulPac is a Swedish company that develops fiber-based, sustainable packaging technology. With its global network, the company developed dry molded fiber to provide the packaging industry with a cost and energy-efficient alternative to replace unnecessary single-use plastic.
Matrix Pack is a supplier of fiber food packaging products. From its beginnings as a drinking straw producer, the company has embraced technology and new raw materials to where it is at the forefront of fiber products technology.
JOA designs and manufacturers machines for the disposable market. Machines from JOA convert nonwoven materials, plastics, paper, films, foil, tape and elastics into hygiene, medical and other specialty single-use products.
