Dieffenbacher was also responsible for the steel construction, transport and conveyor systems, and the plant’s electrics and automation.
Michael Rupp, Head of the Recycling Business Unit at Dieffenbacher, said the installation now allows everyone to see the capabilities of the unique Fiber2Fiber process. “This innovation not only supports the circular economy but also sets new standards for sustainable production in the industry,” he added.
The Fiber2Fiber technology uses a steam process to recover fibres from waste fibreboards. In Dieffenbacher’s FiberXtractor, the fibreboard waste is processed in a closed autoclave system using only steam at high pressure. When pressure is rapidly released, the steam causes the fibreboard structure to burst apart, separating the fibres without damaging their original structure. These fibres are immediately reintegrated into the production of new fiberboards, “proving the process’s economic and technical viability”, says Dieffenbacher.
Dieffenbacher is placing great emphasis on one of the attributes of the Fiber2Fiber process – its ability to handle both internal production waste and post-consumer material. Post-consumer waste, in particular, presents challenges due to contaminants such as sand, silicate and coatings that must be removed before reintroducing the fibres into the production process. Dieffenbacher’s sifter technology addresses this challenge by ensuring that only clean fibre fractions are processed. The entire process is designed to be integrated into existing production lines, offering flexibility and scalability to meet the needs of different manufacturers and their final products. “Our Fiber2Fiber process stands out
for several reasons,” explained Jean- Christophe Zimmermann, Head of Sales of Dieffenbacher’s Recycling Business Unit. “First, it recycles high-quality fibres that are indistinguishable from those derived from virgin wood. Second, it effectively removes contaminants and coatings, making the recycled fibres suitable for a wide range of applications. Third, the process is robust and tolerant of impurities, ensuring consistent output even with variable input materials.”
UNILIN’S RECYCLING JOURNEY Unilin had kicked off its journey in MDF/HDF recycling with the launch of a pilot plant at
in the wood being stored for longer and the
consumption of less energy to manufacture MDF and HD were attractive for Unilin. Stage 2 of the project – the industrial installation last year – represented a €20m investment, with the facility’s wood fibre recycling capacity dramatically increasing to
Dieffenbacher Fiber2Fiber plant at Unilin’s MDF production site in Bazeilles, France
70,000 tonnes of wood fibres per year. The new plant can recycle fibreboard at a rate of 10 tonnes per hour – a big increase on the 1 tonne per hour rate of the pilot plant. Collecting MDF waste in sufficient quantities to feed the installation required a structured approach. Unilin had already set up several take-back programmes with its customers and partners, while also hoping that the Government will recognise the recyclability of fibreboard in order to motivate the general public to sort MDF and ensure it doesn’t end up as energy fuel. Last year also saw another breakthrough for Unilin when Unilin Technologies, the intellectual property division of Unilin, was officially granted the European patent EP 4114629 for its Osiris wood fibre recycling technology. At the time Louis Van Roy, Business
Development Director at Unilin Technologies, said the patent represented a major step forward in circular wood fibre usage. “By transforming waste into valuable raw
materials, we are paving the way for a more sustainable fibreboard and laminate flooring industry,” he said. Part of Unilin’s ambition of pushing
forward circular wood fibre usage is making Osiris available for licensing through Unilin in
collaboration with its partner Dieffenbacher, which provides the necessary machinery and equipment integration. The Osiris technology was showcased
by Unilin’s Panels division at Interzum in Cologne in 2025 and by Dieffenbacher at Ligna in Hannover during the same year. Unilin Technologies is a key player in the flooring industry, known for its licensing business model for innovative technologies. The company has gained widespread
recognition for introducing the widely used click systems Uniclic, Unidrop and Unipush, establishing itself as a leader in laminate and resilient flooring products. Unilin said recycling is the future and “not just for us”. “That is why we will also make our
innovative and patented recycling technology available to other manufacturers in the industry through licences,” the company said. “We did the same when we invented the click system in the nineties. We believe that our recycling technology will drive our industry forward, benefiting everyone in the process.” Dieffenbacher was established as Unilin’s preferred partner for offering Osiris machine and equipment technology into fibreboard production processes globally in October 2024.
www.wbpionline.com | Summer 2026 | WBPI
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