Under its innovation programs, Imerys, Paris, France, reports that it has developed FiberLean™ MFC, a mineral/micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) composite produced using a patented and innovative manufacturing technology. This new product has great potential in multiple industries. The first commercial applications are in the paper and packaging markets, where this composite product allows paper and packaging producers to improve quality and/or significantly increase the mineral filler loading in the sheet to achieve productivity gains and reduced cost.

Imerys has signed two separate commercial agreements for the full-scale supply of FiberLean MFC, with two leading papermakers, one in Asia and one in the U.S. The Asian customer is a major producer of coated woodfree paper with a large share of its production in the high-end of the coated paper segment. The Imerys on-site production plant is due for startup in Q3 2016.

The U.S.-based customer has a strong position in the printing and writing market. Imerys will build an on-site plant to provide one of its southeastern U.S. mills with FiberLean MFC. This plant should also be commissioned and start production in Q3 2016.

Imerys will have 8,000 metric tpy of MFC capacity with the completion of these two plants, which is making Imerys the most important supplier of micro-fibrillated cellulose worldwide.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Contact Notification for Imerys FiberLean MFC became effective in November 2015 for use as a food contact substance in paper and paperboard for food packaging applications.

More information about Imerys is available online.