UMaine Process Development Center

At the UMaine Process Development Center we talk a lot about cellulose nanofiber. K-12 educators love this material as it is easy to work with and can be used to demonstrate so many principles at all grade levels. Artists are excited that this material is safe to handle. We love it as it is made from wood fiber! Join this workshop next month to learn how to incorporate cellulose nanofiber into your STEAM curriculum. Please share this post with teachers you may know! Do you work for a pulp and paper manufacturer? Have your company purchase some of these kits to donate to your local school. Help us spread the word about the potential of today's pulp and paper industry. https://lnkd.in/g69MWCv6

In February, we welcomed many school groups to our facility and had the pleasure of hosting Rural Aspirations’ Maine Forest Collaborative. We love introducing engaged students to innovative applications of forest fiber and nanocellulose, as well as potential careers in forestry. During their visit, students toured the PDC and participated in a hands-on CNF activity to experience these advancements firsthand. A big thank you to Rural Aspirations for bringing another fantastic group! We look forward to inspiring more students in the future.

The UMaine Process Development Center is thrilled to be offering two different sample packs of CNF coated papers. These papers were produced on the PDC's pilot paper machine using our "secondary headbox" on the wet end of the paper machine. We are able to add a range of coat weights and are offering a selection of these for your research projects. For more information or to purchase, you can visit our nanocellulose store here https://lnkd.in/evxDRi3Q #UMaine #nanocellulose #nanocellulosevalley #pilotpapermachine

We are excited to partner with Soarce to deliver innovative and sustainable products for researchers! Soarce is redefining nanocellulose by utilizing seaweed-derived materials, available in both charged and uncharged forms. These materials are specifically designed to meet diverse industry needs, providing a sustainable, high-performance alternative for research. For more information or to purchase, you can visit our nanocellulose store here! https://lnkd.in/g2-nCHhq

At the UMaine Process Development Center we are excited to work with emerging companies and use our knowledge to propel the development of forest-based bioproducts through this new program. The article linked below from UMaine News goes in depth on the benefits of the “Tech Hub” investment for the future of sustainable innovation and continued improvement of the Forest Bioproducts Technology Maturation Program.? https://lnkd.in/ejvktGV7

Thank you to all our speakers and attendees who made the first ever Thermoformed Molded Fiber Symposium at the University of Maine such a success! Our incredible speakers offered valuable insight into all the steps of creating molded fiber products, including stock prep, formation, tooling, coating application, and end-of-life cycle. The PDC was very proud to offer this platform for the Thermoformed Molded Fiber community to begin to work collaboratively to develop standards and protocols for enhancing market growth. Demonstrations and tours of the UMaine Advanced Structures & Composites Center and the UMaine Process Development Center also highlighted current capabilities as well as future potential. Special thanks to our students, who created posters to share their research in molded fiber! We were inspired to see everyone connecting to support one another in advancing this market! Speakers: Chuantao Zhu, PhD; Tina Lawton; Matt Job; Nicholas Palumbo; Karl Palmer; Jim Fogg; Matt Griswold; Jonathan Roy, MBA; Carol Patterson; Emily E. Parsons; Colleen Walker; Chelsea Cross; Melissa LaCasse; Scott Lilley; Asem Mokaddem; Dustin Ziegelman; Teal Edelen #thermoformedmoldedfiber #pulpandpaper #sustainability #moldedfiber #kiefel #umaineinnovates #sustainablepackaging

?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ??????????????????! #Kiefel and #BruecknerGroupUSA will participate in the Thermoformed Molded Fiber Symposium at the University of Maine Wells Conference Center on December 10-11, 2024. ???????? ???? ????????????: ?? Expert insights from our colleague Nicholas Palumbo, presenting "Thermoforming Fibers: An Overview", where he’ll dive into the key factors of cellulose for molded fiber applications. ?? A cutting-edge formation study by Karl Palmer, sharing how to improve the quality and formation of molded fiber articles on the basis of Kiefel’s latest research. Let’s connect, innovate, and shape the sustainable future of molded fiber together! Will you join us? #Kiefel #BruecknerGroupUSA #Thermoforming #MoldedFiber #Sustainability #UMaine #DrivingYourPerformance

We are hiring a highly qualified postdoctoral research associate to work on sustainable packaging! This position will develop wood-fiber based solutions for sustainable packaging, focusing on development of base papers and barrier coatings, using nanocellulose materials and other bio-derived materials. This position is a joint postdoctoral fellowship on Sustainable Packaging between the University of Maine and the USFS Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. The objective of this position is to develop films and coatings that meet the barrier properties required for food packaging and have the viscosity and thermal stability needed for commercial scale use. Position details here:https://lnkd.in/gWPrC46a Please consider joining our team to help support the development of sustainable packaging solutions!

We are thrilled Solenis' Global Molded Fiber Application Expert, Chuantao Zhu, PhD, is sharing groundbreaking insights on surface application techniques from his paper "Dispersion Barrier Coating for 3D Molded Fiber: An Overview of Surface Application Technology" at the UMaine Process Development Center's Thermoformed Molded Fiber Symposium! The symposium will be held December 10-11 at the Wells Conference Center, for more details and registration, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gnSnA3K2

I am honored to have recently presented at the #Specialty #Paper #Conference in Milwaukee, WI! On October 15th, I had the privilege of speaking alongside Dr. Colleen Walker, director of the UMaine Process Development Center, to share my #PhD research with leaders in the paper industry. Dr. Walker began with valuable insights from her extensive experience, setting the stage for me to dive into my work on "Influencing Parameters on the #Recyclability of #Barrier-coated #Paper." This event provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with experts committed to advancing sustainable practices in our field. The conversations sparked here truly highlight the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing the #environmental challenges facing our industry. Looking forward to more opportunities to share our work and contribute to meaningful change! #SpecialtyPaperConference #ProcessDevelopmentCenter #SustainablePackaging #ResearchInnovation #Barriercoatedpaper #Recyclability