About

Aviridi is an Ontario-based manufacturing company specializing in sustainable fiber molding machines, automation, and related technologies. The company develops equipment for pulp thermoforming and molded fiber production, supporting alternatives to plastic packaging and other applications that require biodegradable, water-conscious, and lower-waste manufacturing processes. Its CIMA Pulpformer platform is designed to help customers produce molded fiber products efficiently while conserving water and reducing waste. Aviridi has invested significantly in product development and is advancing its equipment from pilot stage toward broader commercialization and improved industrial performance.

Project

This project will enhance Aviridi’s CIMA Pulpformer 1200 Duo through dual-product automation and material optimization. The work focuses on designing and validating an upgraded gantry robot with improved durability, stability, suction performance, vibration control, and Z-axis flexibility. McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute will support robot design verification, component fabrication, fault analysis, preventative maintenance planning, and lab-based testing of fiber materials. The project will also analyze tensile strength, water resistance, biodegradability, mechanical strength, break points, and brittleness, generating recommendations for additives such as starches and resins to improve final product performance.

Impact

The project will deliver a validated robotic prototype, improved material formulations, and strengthened intellectual property for sustainable fiber molding. By enabling simultaneous production of two products per cycle and improving material performance, Aviridi expects to increase throughput, reduce production time, and improve the commercial value of molded fiber products. The initiative supports Ontario’s advanced manufacturing and sustainable packaging ecosystems by accelerating robotics adoption, improving local machinery capabilities, and helping manufacturers transition toward lower-waste, biodegradable alternatives to conventional packaging materials.