PulPac surpasses 500 patent grants as Dry Molded Fiber gains industrial traction

PulPac has announced that its intellectual property portfolio for Dry Molded Fiber has exceeded 500 national patent grants worldwide, marking a milestone as the technology transitions from an emerging concept to an established industrial manufacturing method.

The company said the achievement reflects growing market adoption of Dry Molded Fiber, a process that is increasingly viewed as a scalable and competitive alternative to traditional wet fiber forming. For decades, fiber-based packaging has been dominated by wet processes, but industry dynamics are shifting as dry forming technologies gain traction.

“Dry Molded Fiber is no longer an experimental technology. It is an industrial category in its own right,” said Viktor Wingård Börjesson, Chief Operating Officer at PulPac. He added that the company’s intellectual property platform and engineering experience provide a stable foundation for companies investing in the technology, with rising industrial engagement indicating broader market commitment.

PulPac’s patent portfolio covers multiple stages of the process, including fiber preparation and airlaying, forming and pressing methods, tooling configurations, and integrated functional features. The company said the milestone reinforces its position as a leading intellectual property holder in industrial dry fiber forming.

The development follows sustained investment in research and development, with PulPac reporting close to 800,000 hours dedicated to advancing Dry Molded Fiber. The accumulated expertise is intended to reduce implementation uncertainty and support industrial-scale deployment.

Industrialization efforts are being supported by a network of machine builders with expertise in injection molding, nonwovens, fiber processing, and packaging automation. Ongoing advancements within this ecosystem, including expanded platform capabilities, are contributing to broader adoption across markets.

PulPac also cited regulatory drivers, including the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, as accelerating demand for scalable fiber-based alternatives. The company noted that Dry Molded Fiber is increasingly being implemented alongside plastic conversion and traditional wet molded fiber processes, rather than replacing them entirely.