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Advanced separation method enables the recycling of 70% of Medium-density Fibreboard (MDF) waste.

Four years post, a revisit to FANTONI, the Italian expert in wooden panels, exposed the cooperative deal with STEINERT as the catalyst for a world-class innovation: MDF furniture containing over 70% recycled content in its core.

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Innovative Separation Method Boosts MDF Recycling by 70%
Innovative Separation Method Boosts MDF Recycling by 70%

Advanced separation method enables the recycling of 70% of Medium-density Fibreboard (MDF) waste.

In the heart of Italy, FANTONI S.p.A., a pioneering industrial wood products manufacturer with nearly 150 years of history, has revolutionised its production process to create high-quality MDF panels with up to 70% recycled material. The secret to this remarkable achievement lies in a comprehensive multi-stage sorting process, exclusively powered by STEINERT's advanced separation technologies.

The factory's success hinges on a multi-stage separation process, for which STEINERT was chosen as the sole technology provider. The integrated system, engineered by FANTONI, includes metal separation, removal of dense contaminants, wood purification, and species sorting, all utilising advanced technologies like magnetic separation, Eddy Current technology, X-ray transmission separators, and hyperspectral imaging (HSI).

The mechanical construction of the factory, designed and built by FANTONI, has proven to be quite robust after almost four years of continuous operation, with minimal maintenance issues reported. The collaboration between FANTONI and STEINERT was a true engineering partnership, with extensive tests conducted at STEINERT's Test Center in Cologne.

The system's reliability is key to its success. Fantoni's General Manager, speaking about the system's longevity and reliability, said, "_After almost four years of continuous operation, I have to say that we were right about the concept we had... The fact that I'm not aware of recent maintenance problems speaks volumes about the system's reliability._" This kind of stability is crucial in waste management where downtime directly affects processing capacity and profitability.

The raw material for the process is post-consumer wood waste, which can contain various contaminants like nails, plastics, glass, stones, and minerals. The integrated STEINERT technology offers a robust and native solution that reduces complexity and operational costs.

The critical final stage uses STEINERT UniSort systems enhanced with proprietary Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) technology. This cutting-edge spectral analysis identifies material composition at the molecular level, enabling precise separation of different wood types and effective removal of even hard-to-detect contaminants like black plastics.

With this technology and project, FANTONI is now well ahead in the use of recycled wood for the production of fiber panels. The factory processes approximately 450,000 tons of recycled wood per year. As regulatory requirements increasingly drive demand for recycled content, this approach offers a roadmap for the sustainable future of the industry.

Interested parties can explore technical details and resources on the STEINERT website and contact a specialist. This innovative approach to recycling not only post-consumer wood but also end-of-life MDF panels herself, positions FANTONI as a trailblazer in the industry, setting a new industry benchmark for recycled MDF production.

[1] FANTONI S.p.A. (2022). FANTONI's Sustainable MDF Production: A Testament to STEINERT's Advanced Sorting Technologies. [Online] Available at: https://www.fantoni.it/en/news/fantoni-sustainable-mdf-production-testament-steinert-advanced-sorting-technologies/

[2] STEINERT (2022). FANTONI: The European Leader in Recycled MDF Production. [Online] Available at: https://www.steinert.com/en/news/fantoni-european-leader-in-recycled-mdf-production/

[3] Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) (2022). FANTONI's Commitment to Sustainability. [Online] Available at: https://www.fantoni.it/en/sustainability/epd/

  1. The manufacturing process at FANTONI S.p.A., a historic Italian industrial wood products manufacturer, relies on an advanced multi-stage separation technology provided by STEINERT.
  2. The comprehensive system, developed by FANTONI, includes several stages like metal separation, removal of dense contaminants, wood purification, and species sorting, all utilizing environmental-science technologies such as magnetic separation, Eddy Current technology, X-ray transmission separators, and hyperspectral imaging (HSI).
  3. The successful operation of this system has been instrumental in the factory's ability to produce high-quality MDF panels with up to 70% recycled material, contributing to sustainable-living practices in the lifestyle sector.
  4. Finance and industry professionals can learn more about the specifics of this technology on STEINERT's website, immersing themselves in the details of this innovative approach to home-and-garden waste management and MDF recycling.
  5. With this technology and project, FANTONI not only leads the way in recycling post-consumer wood but also end-of-life MDF panels, positioning itself as a pioneer in the industry, setting new benchmarks for sustainable-living and environmental-science in manufacturing.

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