With the Modellfabrik Papier, the paper industry is taking the initiative today to achieve the climate goals of tomorrow.
MODELLFABRIK
PAPIER
Leading the way for sustainable paper production.
Driving
decarbonisation
The manufacturers of paper, paperboard, cardboard, specialty papers and hygiene papers are strong partners in the energy transition. Our research starts with the manufacturing process itself and leads the industry on the path to climate neutrality.
Developing disruptive technologies
Paper production requires not only fibers and water, but above all energy. We are exploring how we can make the production stages along the paper machine more energy-efficient and resource-efficient.
Designing transformation sustainably
As an anchor project for structural change in the Rhenish mining region, we are promoting and strengthening the transfer from science to industry. With strong partners from research and industry and from the region at our side.
Peter Bekaert im Interview mit der Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier über die Modellfabrik Papier.
Rethinking paper production — a new and climate-neutral approach
Modellfabrik Papier is one of the most ambitious joint projects currently being undertaken by the paper industry in Germany. As an innovation network, we team up leading research institutions from a range of different fields with one of the most energy-intensive industries. Together, we are exploring innovative solutions for the sustainable paper production of tomorrow.
By developing disruptive changes in the highly automated manufacturing process, we are helping paper companies to reduce energy consumption in production by 80% and save natural resources. Our research work makes a substantial contribution to achieving climate protection goals and the paper industry’s long-term future in Germany.
shareholders from
the paper industry
research
partners involved
scientists working in
the entire innovation network
Our goal: Climate-neutral paper production by 2045
Through innovative and disruptive research approaches, we want to save 80% of the energy required in the manufacturing process.
Three energy-intensive areas are in focus.
How can the properties of the fibers and raw materials that form the basic structure of the paper be modified so that they consume less energy in the manufacturing process compared to conventional raw materials? We work with both fresh and recycled fibers. In doing so, we keep an eye on the recyclability of new or modified fibers.
In the forming and in the press section, the stock is drained and formed into a paper web. We are pursuing various – conventional and radically new – process technology approaches to explore how dewatering can be made more energy efficient. While maintaining the highest standards of paper quality.
Drying the wet paper web is the most energy-intensive process step in industrial paper production. We are looking for solutions to substantially reduce the energy input here. We are also investigating how to produce paper without using any water at all.
Joining forces to develop sustainable solutions for tomorrow's paper industry.
We combine scientific excellence with application-oriented innovation.
Learn more about us!
Our team
We love what we do. Our work ensures that highly complex everyday products such as paper, board, cardboard, specialty papers and hygiene papers are manufactured in a more energy-efficient and climate-friendly way in the future. While maintaining the same high quality. At our organization, research excellence meets pioneering spirit. Take a look behind the scenes.
Our research partners & scientific advisory board
Seven research partners contribute the highest scientific excellence in various fields to our operational research. Their research fields reflect the interdisciplinary character of industrial paper production – from a circular bioeconomy to process engineering, digitalization and resource-efficient energy systems.
Our shareholders & shareholders' committee
24 companies from the paper industry form the strong backbone of our research work. The group of shareholders includes manufacturers of all paper product groups, as well as suppliers and plant manufacturers. We strategically align the development of new technologies with their focus on sustainability, decarbonization and disruption in order to effectively put research results into practice.
Our network
We are driving change! As an innovation network for the sustainable transformation of paper production, we focus on the exchange of forward-looking ideas and transformation approaches. Together with stakeholders from science, industry and politics, we bring together different areas of expertise and thus provide momentum for the solutions of tomorrow.
Our research projects
FOMOP
The FOMOP joint project, short for: Forschungscluster Modellfabrik Papier, is the core of our research work. Together with our research and industry partners, we research and develop various new approaches for the energy-saving and climate-friendly paper production of tomorrow.
FOREST
The FOREST project, short for: Framework for Resource, Energy, Sustainability Treatment in Paper Production, is creating the basis for the virtual modeling of a real paper machine in an overall system. With a modular structure, it models sub-processes of paper production, from stock preparation to winding, including the energy supply systems.
The current situation
in the German paper industry
83%
recycling rate
This high recycling rate makes the paper industry a prime example of a sustainable circular economy. For comparison: in 1990, the use of recovered paper was still at 49 %.
-45%
CO₂ emissions
Compared to 1995, the industry has reduced specific emissions per tonne of paper by 45 %. Paper production generates around 12 million tons of fossil CO2 emissions annually.
3rd place
in final energy consumption
In terms of final energy consumption, the paper industry ranks third in the industry sector, surpassed only by metal production and the chemical industry. For decades, the paper industry has continuously minimized its specific energy consumption and made it climate-friendly.
Holistic approaches:
The 5 primary areas of our mission
Overall system & energy
Raw materials
Processes & techniques
Digitisation
Bioeconomy
Comprehensive solutions
The paper industry offers ideal conditions for a flourishing, bio-based circular economy of the future.
Research
Basic research in Technology Readiness Levels 1 to 6
Structural change
Embedded in the structural change of the Rhenish mining area
Disruption
Break-through innovations and disruptive solutions
Global
With European and international potential
Network
Based on a Triple Helix model for innovation
Green Deal
Contributing to the climate goals of the Paris Agreement
News from the Modellfabrik Papier
What’s new? Find out what’s going on at our organization. We report on our research work and provide information about project milestones.
The Modellfabrik Papier is supported by:
