Yangi has added an undercut feature to its dry-forming platform for moulded fibre packaging, extending the process to a geometry widely used for snap-fit closures in plastic packaging. The company is presenting the capability through a coffee-lid demonstrator and positioning it for other fitted closures.
Undercuts create the interlocking shapes that allow a lid to snap onto a container and release reliably. Yangi says such precise geometries are technically difficult in moulded fibre, where the material and forming process must deliver a mechanical fit without compromising the closure. The new feature is intended to bring that functionality to fibre-based alternatives.
Performance in a coffee-lid demonstrator
In the coffee-lid application, Yangi says a precision-engineered undercut provides a secure, consistent fit with a measured lid removal force of 6 N. The lid was tested through 10 simulated coffee pours over 10 minutes, maintaining a leak-tight seal and structural integrity when exposed to hot beverages at 93°C. The figures describe the demonstrator tested by Yangi.
The undercut technology is also intended for fitted closures in snack containers, takeaway containers, dessert and ice-cream tubs, confectionery packaging, dry and ambient food containers, and packaging for personal care, cosmetics and consumer goods. That range points to applications where a secure lid or closure is central to function, not merely presentation.
Dry-forming platform and production claims
The undercut capability builds on Cellera, Yangi's dry-forming platform powered by its patented FiberIQ fibre-formation system. Unlike conventional wet moulding, Cellera forms fibre without a water-based forming step. Yangi expects this to lower water and energy requirements in producing renewable fibre-based packaging.
For a coffee lid, Cellera's four-second production cycle is estimated to reach 300 lids per minute. Yangi describes the platform as designed for high-volume, cost-competitive manufacturing, combining precise fibre distribution with advanced forming technology to deliver consistent quality and functional performance.
Industry view and showcase
Carlo Semeraro, head of Commercial Partnerships at Yangi, said achieving precision in dry-moulded fibre requires advanced tooling and forming expertise. He said the coffee lid demonstrates the performance available today, but the larger opportunity is applying the functionality across a wider range of packaging. CEO Johann Kaiser said the challenge is not simply to replace plastic with fibre, but to make fibre perform at the level the market demands. Each new capability, he added, reinforces fibre's position as a competitive alternative by delivering the functionality, quality and industrial performance needed for the transition.
Yangi will display the undercut feature and other dry-moulded fibre packaging developments at the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht from 10 to 12 November 2026. Visitors can see Cellera dry-forming technology through an immersive VR experience at Stand 28 in the Networking Zone.
The announcement follows Yangi's commissioning of its serial Cellera machine platform. Combining Cellera with the dry-forming process is expected to reduce resource consumption and CO2 emissions by 70%–80% compared with conventional plastic alternatives, according to the company.