Transform industrial waste into resources: all briquettable materials
Two machine series for wood, textile, and metal. From prototype to automated system
Compact your industrial waste into briquettes to obtain resources
Every day, Italian manufacturing companies produce tons of waste: wood chips, metal scraps, textile remnants, plastic, paper, biomass. Managing them costs time, space, and money.
COMAFER briquetting machines — manufactured in Brescia since 1975 with over 30,000 machines sold in 70 countries — transform this waste into compact, manageable, and reusable briquettes.
The result? Lower costs, more order, new value.
Why transform your waste into briquettes?
Regardless of the material processed, briquetting offers concrete and measurable advantages:
-90% Volume
Drastic reduction in waste volume: less warehouse space, fewer containers, fewer trips to the collection center.
-70% Recycling Costs
Briquettes cost less to dispose of and are worth more at collection centers compared to loose chips.
-80% Handling
Less operator time dedicated to waste collection, thanks to simple handling with forklifts.
Sustainability
Fewer containers, fewer trips, fewer emissions. Briquettes are part of the circular economy and improve the company’s ESG profile, increasingly relevant for customers and investors.
Choose your waste material
COMAFER handles over 100 types of materials. Select the category that corresponds to your waste to discover the most suitable solution.
Do you have a material not listed? COMAFER can test it in its Research & Development department in Brescia. Contact us to send a test sample.
Wood and derivatives
Chips, sawdust, dust, packaging, carpentry and woodworking waste.
Metal
Chips and scraps of aluminum, steel, cast iron, copper, brass, titanium, and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Textile
Remnants, textile fibers, wool, cotton, absorbent materials, shredded fabric.
Biomass
Agro-industrial residues: pomace, rice husks, chaff, hay, fodder, shells, food waste.
Paper and cardboard
Ground paper, cardboard, filter waste, withdrawn banknotes, tissue paper.
Plastic
Polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, EPS polystyrene, polyurethane, PMMA, and other industrial plastics.
Other
Ground cables, leather, hide, feathers
Material moisture: the key parameter
To obtain optimal quality briquettes, the processed material must have a moisture content between 8% and 17%. Materials with moisture outside this range may require pre-treatment or special configurations.
If in doubt, our R&D department can perform briquetting tests on your specific material before purchase.
How does a COMAFER briquetting machine work?
COMAFER briquetting machines are hydraulic machines that compress chips and industrial waste at very high pressure, forming compact cylindrical briquettes. The cycle is fully automatic:
- The waste is loaded into the hopper (manually, via silo, or aspiration system)
- An agitator feeds the material to the compaction chamber uniformly
- The hydraulic cylinder compresses the material, forming the cylindrical briquette
- The clamp manages automatic ejection of the briquette into the container or onto the conveyor belt
The entire process is managed by a PLC with operator interface. The machines are equipped for Industry 4.0 connectivity via OPC-UA protocol.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about briquetting
What is a briquetting machine and how does it work?
A briquetting machine is a hydraulic machine that compresses chips, powders, and industrial waste at very high pressure, forming cylindrical briquettes. The process is automatic: the material is loaded into the hopper, dosed, compressed, and the briquette is automatically ejected.
What materials can be briquetted?
COMAFER has tested over 100 types of materials: wood, metals (ferrous and non-ferrous), textiles, biomass, paper, cardboard, plastics, and many others. If you have an unconventional material, you can send a sample to our R&D department for a free test.
How much volume is saved with briquetting?
Can I profit from briquettes?
Yes. Briquettes of wood, paper, and natural materials can be used as fuel for boilers and fireplaces (average calorific value 4,000-4,500 kcal/kg, vs. 2,000-2,300 kcal/kg for firewood). Metal briquettes have a higher commercial value than loose chips because they guarantee a melting yield exceeding 90%.
Are COMAFER briquetting machines compatible with Industry 4.0?
Yes. The machines meet the requirements for access to tax benefits under the Industry 4.0 Plan. The OPC-UA protocol ensures connectivity; the remote assistance module enables diagnostics and software updates.
What is the difference between Dinamic, Special, and Metalpress Series?
The Dinamic Series is designed for wood, paper, plastic, biomass, and similar materials. The Special Series is optimized for textile remnants and very bulky and light materials, thanks to the vertical pneumatic cylinder that improves chamber filling. The Metalpress Series is dedicated to metal chips and incorporates coolant recovery systems.
Industry 4.0: tax benefits available
COMAFER briquetting machines comply with the requirements for access to tax benefits provided by the Industry 4.0 Plan (hyper/super depreciation).
Data exchange occurs via OPC-UA protocol; the remote assistance module enables diagnostics, customizations, and software updates from headquarters.
Why Choose COMAFER
50 years of experience in industrial briquetting
- Founded in 1975 in Brescia — 50 years of continuous production
- Over 30,000 machines sold in more than 70 countries, 20,000+ satisfied customers
- UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certification since 1999
- Made in Italy — 1,800 m² facility in Collebeato (Brescia)
- Premium components: hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical systems among the best on the market
- More than 130 specific checks during testing for each machine
- After-sales assistance with qualified technicians and spare parts warehouse even for discontinued machines
- Member of ACIMALL and AMAFOND
Not sure which machine is right for you?
Our technicians can analyze your needs and recommend the optimal configuration. Contact us or send a sample of your material for a free test. Discover which combination of briquetting machine and accessories is best suited to your production. Our technicians are ready to help you.