Yangi has added an undercut feature to its dry-forming platform for moulded fibre packaging, expanding the range of closures and fitments that fibre-based formats can target. The company is positioning the capability as a way for customers to replace plastic components such as coffee lids with fibre alternatives.
Undercut geometries are commonly used in plastic packaging to create snap-fit connections and secure closures, providing a mechanical fit between a lid and a container. Reproducing such features in moulded fibre is technically demanding, because the material and forming process must deliver dimensional precision without compromising the integrity of the part.
Coffee lid demonstration
Yangi is demonstrating the new capability with a coffee lid. According to the company, a precision-engineered undercut provides a secure and consistent fit, with a measured lid removal force of 6 N. The lid was tested through 10 simulated coffee pours over 10 minutes. Yangi says it maintained a leak-tight seal and structural integrity when exposed to hot beverages at 93°C.
The result is presented as evidence that dry-moulded fibre can meet functional requirements in a demanding closure application. The company says the undercut technology is also 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.
Tooling and forming precision
Carlo Semeraro, head of commercial partnerships at Yangi, said that achieving this level of precision in dry-moulded fibre requires advanced tooling and forming expertise. He said the coffee lid demonstrates the performance the company can deliver today, while the larger opportunity lies in applying the functionality to a wider range of packaging applications.
The undercut capability builds on Cellera, Yangi’s dry-forming platform, which is 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 the production of renewable, fibre-based packaging.
Production and applications
In the coffee lid application, Cellera’s four-second production cycle is estimated to reach an output of 300 lids per minute. Yangi says the platform is designed for high-volume, cost-competitive manufacturing, combining precise fibre distribution with advanced forming technology to support consistent quality and functional performance.
Johann Kaiser, Yangi’s CEO, said the challenge has not been simply to replace plastic with fibre, but to make fibre perform at the level the market demands. He said each new capability reinforces fibre’s position as a competitive alternative to plastic by delivering the functionality, quality and industrial performance needed to support the transition toward fibre-based packaging.
Yangi plans to display the new undercut feature alongside other contributions to its dry-moulded fibre packaging range at the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht from 10 to 12 November 2026. Visitors can see the Cellera dry-forming technology through an immersive VR experience at Stand 28 in the Networking Zone.
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%–80% compared with conventional plastic alternatives, according to the company. Separately, PulPac licensee Hébert Group has partnered with Andritz to scale up production of Dry Molded Fiber trays and lids, targeting water- and energy-efficient manufacturing using renewable or recycled fibres.