On May 13, 2025, Georgia Tech celebrated a major milestone in sustainable manufacturing with the ribbon cutting of its new Multiphase Forming Lab in the Paper Tricentennial Building. The event, hosted by the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), marked the official launch of a pioneering system that promises to revolutionize the papermaking industry.

The Multiphase Forming System, the only one of its kind in North America, dramatically reduces the amount of water needed in the paper production process. By using up to 70% less water, the system also significantly cuts down on the energy required for drying — traditionally one of the most energy-intensive steps in papermaking. This innovation, developed by principal investigator Cyrus Aidun, not only enhances efficiency but also supports broader sustainability goals by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

The grand opening event featured remarks from Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, Executive Vice President for Research Tim Lieuwen, and Carson Meredith, executive director of RBI, among others. Attendees included industry leaders, researchers, and students, all eager to witness the unveiling of a technology that has been five years in the making.

The Multiphase Forming project has garnered widespread interest from the paper and packaging industries. A recent extension of the research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE-EERE), integrates this forming system with cutting-edge refining and drying technologies. Led by Meredith, this initiative aims to further reduce energy consumption and environmental impact in paper manufacturing. John Xu has been appointed to run the facility.

Meredith said, “Today is milestone in RBI’s history, as we continue to partner and innovate with the paper and pulp industry.  We’d like to share our gratitude with our researchers, students and industry sponsors International Paper, Kimberly Clark and Solenis.”