LOW MOIST FORMING (LMF)

PROCTOR & GAMBLE

BACKGROUND

P&G, a top sanitary products manufacturer, sought GEN TRIZ's help to identify new, cost-effective paper-making technologies. Conventional paper-making process challenges: 

  • High water consumption: 1000 kg water per 1 kg dry cellulose fiber

  • Significant energy usage

  • High capital and operational costs Substantial environmental impact

WHAT WE DID

Formulated a trimming problem: How to distribute cellulose fibers without water while maintaining water-based fiber binding?

Developed Low Moist Forming (LMF) technology using steam instead of water:

  • Steam provides sufficient moisture for fiber binding

  • Requires over 500 times less moisture than conventional water-based process

OUTCOME

  • Capital cost reduction: 28% Water

  • Consumption reduction: 500 times

  • Energy consumption reduction: 2.5 times

  • Improved sustainability: eliminated need for water recycling

  • Unique paper properties: equal strength in machine and cross directions, random fiber angle, and distinctive "fingerprint" (microstructure of imperfections)

OTHER CASES

Xerox

Panasonic

Proctor and Gamble