Steam explosion

At Finvalia, we believe that looking to the past can open doors to the future. A good example is the steam explosion technology, patented in 1926 by Mason, a disciple of Thomas Edison, to obtain fibers from wood chips.
Nearly a century later, we are bringing it back to tackle one of the sector’s major challenges: recycling MDF boards and giving them a second life beyond combustion.

How does steam explosion work?

The process involves introducing small pieces of MDF into a reactor filled with saturated steam, ensuring an adequate residence time before suddenly releasing the pressure. This instant change increases the specific volume of the steam and creates tensile forces that break the resin bonds and separate the fibers without damaging them, leaving them ready to manufacture new products.

Pilot objectives

Scale up the technique: move from lab tests to a pilot line capable of processing 1 t/h, and in a second phase, 2 t/h of post-consumer MDF.
Close the fiber loop: reintegrate the recovered material into the production of panels and other high-value composites.
Reduce waste and CO₂: lower the fraction sent to incineration and the associated carbon footprint.
Explore new biorefineries: take advantage of resulting streams (lignin, extractives, etc.) to obtain renewable chemical products.

Expected results

Recover up to 90% of the fiber with mechanical properties comparable to virgin wood.
Save energy compared to traditional defibration processes.
Generate new raw materials for adhesives, biocomposites or turpentines, opening up sustainable business lines.
Demonstrate the industrial viability of a circular model applicable to other plants and lignocellulosic materials.

With this pilot, Finvalia once again shows that innovation also means rediscovering forgotten technologies and adapting them to today’s challenges. We will continue to share progress and how a discovery from 1926 can make a difference in the technical wood of 2026.