Yangi has added an undercut feature to its dry-forming platform for moulded fibre packaging, aimed at helping customers replace plastic components such as coffee lids with fibre-based alternatives.
Undercut geometries are used in plastic packaging for snap-fit connections and secure closures, creating a mechanical fit between lid and container. Translating that format to moulded fibre is technically difficult, Yangi said. The company is demonstrating the new capability with a coffee lid that uses a precision-engineered undercut to achieve a measured 6 N lid removal force.
The lid was tested through 10 simulated coffee pours over 10 minutes, according to Yangi. It maintained a leak-tight seal and structural integrity when exposed to hot beverages at 93°C.
Applications beyond coffee lids
Yangi says the undercut technology is suitable for fitted closures in snack containers, takeaway containers, dessert and ice cream tubs, confectionery packaging, dry and ambient food containers, and packaging for personal care products, cosmetics and consumer goods.
Carlo Semeraro, head of Commercial Partnerships at Yangi, said achieving precision in dry-moulded fibre requires advanced tooling and forming expertise. He said the coffee lid shows current performance, while the larger opportunity is applying the functionality across more packaging applications.
Cellera platform
The undercut capability builds on Cellera, Yangi's dry-forming platform powered by its patented fibre formation system, FiberIQ. Unlike conventional wet moulding, Cellera forms fibre without a water-based forming step. Yangi expects this to reduce water and energy requirements in producing renewable, fibre-based packaging.
In the coffee lid application, Cellera's four-second production cycle is estimated to reach 300 lids per minute. The platform is designed for high-volume, cost-competitive manufacturing, combining precise fibre distribution with advanced forming technology for consistent quality and functional performance, according to the company.
CEO Johann Kaiser said the challenge is not simply replacing plastic with fibre but making fibre perform at the level the market demands. He said each new capability reinforces fibre's position as a competitive alternative by delivering the functionality, quality and industrial performance needed for the transition to fibre-based packaging.
Showcase and scale-up
Yangi will display the undercut feature with other contributions to its dry-moulded fibre packaging range at the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht from 10 to 12 November 2026. Attendees can visit Stand 28 in the Networking Zone to view Cellera dry-forming technology through an immersive VR experience.
The announcement follows Yangi's commissioning of its serial Cellera machine platform. Combining Cellera with the dry-forming process is expected to reduce resource consumption and CO2 emissions by 70% to 80% compared with conventional plastic alternatives.
Separately, PulPac licensee Hébert Group has partnered with Andritz to scale up production of Dry Molded Fiber trays and lids. The partners are targeting water- and energy-efficient manufacturing using renewable or recycled fibres.