Industrial MFC Production Equipment for On-Site Microfibrillated Cellulose Manufacture
Explore FiberLean’s patented Microfibrillated Cellulose (MFC) grinders that enable pulp, paper, board, tissue, moulded fibre and specialty paper producers to manufacture MFC on-site. Low cost, energy efficient, and robust.
Explore MFC Production Equipment from the World’s Leading Supplier
Jump to the full technical specifications and equipment details for each of our Vertical Wet Stirred Media Mill Grinders via the buttons below:
The Trusted MFC Experts
FiberLean supplies compact MFC production equipment that enables pulp, paper, board, tissue, moulded fibre and specialty paper producers to manufacture microfibrillated cellulose on-site, integrated into the wet-end of your process.
Built around proven stirred media milling technology, FiberLean’s industrial grinding systems are designed to deliver high throughput continuous microfibrillated cellulose production with high uptime and low maintenance costs. Continuous, single pass, controlled fibrillation, with reliable mill integration and scalable production capacity thanks to our modular systems.
From our decades of experience specialising in MFC production, we know that when it comes to assessing how to produce MFC commercially, the focus is not just on fibrillation. It is on product quality, operating efficiency, practical installation and easy integration, and the confidence that MFC production equipment can run continuously within an existing mill environment.
Why Traditional Industrial MFC Production Is Challenging
Producing MFC at industrial scale is more demanding than simply increasing refining intensity. Conventional approaches can drive up energy demand, damage fibre structure and struggle to move from promising pilot results to reliable continuous production. For mills, the challenge is to produce a highly fibrillated material with commercially viable energy input while still preserving the fibre characteristics that give MFC its performance value.
That is why equipment selection matters.
We know commercial considerations of in-house MFC production equipment are not just about comparing machines; they need to assess whether a production route can deliver stable quality, manageable operating cost and practical integration into existing stock preparation and paper making systems.
“At first, we were trying to keep a poker face, but now we cannot hide our excitement. These are the best results we’ve ever seen on our machine!“
Product Quality Manager
Stirred Media Milling for Controlled Fibre Fibrillation
100% mechanical, additive-free process
FiberLean MFC equipment is based on stirred media milling – a mechanical process used to fibrillate fibres in suspension.
Our Vertical Wet Stirred Media Mill Grinders are loaded with ceramic grinding beads. The ceramic grinding media are energised by a rotating agitator within the grinder, creating controlled interactions that disintegrate the fibre cell wall, liberating microfibrils. This enables consistent fibrillation while maintaining effective microfibril structure.
Process parameter optimisation can vary collision energies by orders of magnitude, allowing for efficient fibrillation of a wide variety of cellulose pulps and control of MFC properties.
FiberLean applies this process within a continuous, single-pass production system designed for industrial use.
Compared with alternative mechanical routes, this approach supports high fibrillation, maintains long fibril lengths and preserves effective aspect ratio.
In practical terms, the process used in our Vertical Wet Stirred Media Mill Grinders helps create MFC with stronger bonding, bridging and network-forming behaviour, which is central to value creation in pulp, paper, board, tissue, moulded fibre and specialty paper products.
Designed for Continuous, Modular MFC Production
FiberLean’s MFC grinders are engineered for stable, scalable operation within working mill environments.
Continuous, Single-Pass Operation
- MFC is produced in a continuous flow process
- No batch processing or recirculation loops
- Stable, predictable operation aligned with paper machine workflows
Modular, Scalable Capacity
- Systems designed as modular production units
- Three models with production capabilities ranging up to 1200 dry tonnes of MFC per year
- Multiple units can be installed to increase output
Efficient, Mechanical Process
- Fully mechanical, additive-free fibrillation
- Energy input controlled through flow rate and motor power
- Robust, simple system design
How FiberLean MFC Grinders Operate
FiberLean MFC grinders use a vertical stirred media mill to fibrillate fibres through a 100% mechanical, additive-free process, and controlled conditions.
In a FiberLean grinder, collisions between grinding beads break and fibrillate intervening fibres into MFC.
Pulp suspension is added continuously to the top of the mill. The pulp, water and ceramic grinding beads are combined within the stirred vessel.
As the media move and collide, fibrillation occurs when the pulp gets trapped between the grinding media particles.
The grinding media act as the working surfaces for fibrillation, providing a high active surface area that enables efficient, high-throughput MFC production.
Fibrillated MFC exits continuously through screens near the base of the mill, creating a defined, continuous, single-pass production process.
Three Grinder Options – One Proven Approach to MFC Production
FiberLean’s MFC production equipment enables customers to produce microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) in-house reliably, using robust, technology that integrates into existing mill infrastructure thanks to the compact footprint of our grinders. Multiple FiberLean grinders can be installed in a modular manner depending on throughput requirements.
Each Vertical Wet Stirred Media Mill Grinder system is engineered for continuous operation, predictable performance, and clear return on investment.
Model | Typical use case | Footprint (m) | Max height (m) | Throughput (dry kg MFC/h) | Production capacity (dry t MFC/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FiberLean G125 | Moulded fibre producers | 1.1 x 1.1 | 3.8 | 12 | 100 |
FiberLean G175 | Tissue mills; small paper mills | 2 x 2 | 4.9 | 70 | 600 |
FiberLean G250 | Medium to large paper and board mills | 2.6 x 2.6 | 7.5 | 140 | 1200 |
Note: Most chemical pulps are suitable as feedstocks including recycled pulps having a significant chemical pulp component. Throughput and annual capacity will vary depending on grinding energy and the MFC characteristics required.
Select the Right MFC Production Equipment for Your Application
FiberLean grinders are used where producers want to manufacture MFC on-site for paper and board strength development, fibre reinforcement, barrier concepts, filler optimisation, moulded fibre performance and broader sustainable material development.
They can be installed in a modular manner to suit any capacity requirement.
Whether you are evaluating MFC for the first time or scaling production across multiple machines, FiberLean offers three equipment platforms tailored to your operational requirements, all designed for integration into continuous mill operation, stable process control, and balanced throughput and energy performance.
G125 – Small or Development-Scale
Designed for mills looking to evaluate MFC production equipment performance or supply lower-volume applications.
G175 – Mid-Scale Production
A flexible solution for mills introducing MFC production equipment into ongoing production environments.
G250 – Industrial-Scale Deployment
Engineered for large-scale paper and board mills requiring high-volume MFC production.
Microfibrillated Celullose Samples, Trials & Supply
Alongside installed equipment, FiberLean can support development work through its demonstration capability and product supply. FiberLean can provide MFC for trials and sale from its facility in Cornwall, with press cake typically supplied in 1000 kg bags and smaller samples available.
Our MFC production facility is capable of producing up to 2000 dry tonnes annually, providing a practical route to application development, machine trials and pre-installation validation.
We Are Here to Help
All FiberLean grinders use the same proven mechanical process – ensuring consistent fiber quality, predictable performance, and compatibility with existing paper production systems.
Selecting the right MFC production equipment depends on your production scale, integration requirements, and business case – our team works with customers to define the optimal configuration based on their specific mill conditions.
Compact MFC Production Equipment Designed for Mill Integration
Integrating new process technology into a paper mill requires control, not compromise. Space constraints, process stability, and production risk all need to be carefully managed.
The compact footprint of every grinder in our MFC production equipment range enables their retrofit integration into existing mill environments as a defined production module, with clear process boundaries, predictable operation and minimal disruption.
Built for Real Mill Conditions
Each FiberLean grinder system is engineered to operate within the practical constraints of working mills, including footprint, utilities, and process interfaces. This ensures our MFC production equipment can be introduced without requiring fundamental changes to core operations.
Easy to Expand and Retrofit
FiberLean’s MFC production equipment enables mills to adopt MFC production progressively – starting at a defined scale and expanding as operational confidence and business case are established.
This approach supports investment decisions based on real performance data, rather than theoretical modelling.
Complete Process Module & Set Up
Each FiberLean Grinder system is supplied as a complete unit, including feed systems, valves, instrumentation and control architecture.
This modular approach reduces integration complexity and gives mill teams confidence in how the system will behave in practice, ensuring operators retain full visibility and control. This enables MFC production to be managed within existing operational workflows, without introducing unnecessary complexity.
Supported Installation, Start-Up & Commissioning
With over a decade of experience producing MFC, developing MFC applications and running trials, the FiberLean team is ideally placed to assist you with implementing MFC into your products or processes and commissioning your MFC plant.
Our expert engineering team works directly with customers to provide full support, ensuring systems are implemented safely, compliantly, and perform as expected from day one.
Our services can include:
Our hands-on approach reflects extensive experience integrating MFC production systems into live mill environments.
The FiberLean Difference
MFC integration doesn’t need to be disruptive. With FiberLean, it becomes a controlled, engineered addition to your existing process – designed to deliver measurable results without compromising production stability.
Proven Industrial Performance
FiberLean’s patented MFC technology has been supporting the production of MFC since 2010. Our grinding technology is built and proven for commercial use, with continuous production capability, modular installation options and support for full-scale trials, start-up and commissioning. The result is an equipment platform that links fibrillation quality with practical industrial deployment.
Stirred Media Milling vs Conventional Refining
Technology | Fibrillation quality | Energy efficiency | Industrial scalability |
|---|---|---|---|
FiberLean stirred media mill | High fibrillation with better preservation of fibril length and aspect ratio | Commercially favourable positioning; process conditions can be tuned to the target product | Proven modular industrial installation |
Conventional refining / alternative mechanical routes | Can generate fibrillation but may also increase fibre damage or struggle to optimise quality at scale | Can become energy-intensive depending on target quality | Varies by route; scaling from lab to continuous plant can be harder to de-risk |
Downloads
- Download the FiberLean MFC grinder model overview.
- Download the FiberLean MFC grinder technical specifications.
Discuss Your MFC Production Equipment Requirements
Whether you wish to explore pilot trial information for evaluating on-site MFC production in your mill or compare the G125, G175 and G250, get in touch – our experts are always here to help.
FAQs
What makes FiberLean’s MFC stirred media milling different from conventional refining equipment?
FiberLean equipment is built around stirred media milling, which is used to generate high fibrillation while preserving effective fibril length and aspect ratio more effectively than many alternative mechanical routes. The system is also positioned for continuous, modular industrial use rather than only laboratory-scale production.
How will FiberLean MFC grinders integrate into my mill?
FiberLean systems are supplied as modular units with defined interfaces, DCS connectivity and full installation and commissioning support.
What is the production capacity range of the FiberLean grinder range?
From ~100 to ~1200 tonnes per year per grinder. Multiple grinders can be installed in modular combinations where higher output is required.
Can FiberLean support pilot work before a full installation?
Yes. MFC can be supplied for trials and validation prior to equipment installation. You are welcome to visit our demonstration plant at our site in Cornwall, too – arrange a visit here.
Your Global Experts for MFC Production Equipment
Global Technical Support for Microfibrillated Cellulose (MFC) Applications
FiberLean specialists are strategically based across the UK, Europe, and the USA, providing on-site technical trials and industrial scale-up support worldwide.
Email: info@fiberlean.com
Global Sales & Support – Lars Erlandsson
Europe Sales & Support – Ron Lai
North America Sales & Support – Mark Paradis
UK Technical Hub & Demonstration Plant – Ben Bulson