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)
