Special waste management:
from waste to briquette
Compacting Special Materials into Briquettes: There May Be a Solution for Your Waste
Alongside the main categories — wood, metal, textiles, biomass, paper, plastic — there is a universe of industrial waste materials that companies struggle to manage efficiently. These include materials that are difficult to classify, composite materials, and residues from specific manufacturing processes.
With the COMAFER series of briquetting machines, this waste (which must be ground beforehand if necessary) can be turned into dense cylindrical briquettes, reducing its volume by up to 90%. Fewer containers, fewer unloading operations, lower costs.
In 50 years of activity, COMAFER has tested over 100 types of materials. Many of these ‘impossible materials’ can be briquetted perfectly with the right machine and the correct configuration. Some require specific accessories. Only a very few prove to be unsuitable.
Not sure if your material can be briquetted? Send us a sample: COMAFER’s Research & Development department will conduct a free briquetting test and provide you with a detailed technical report outlining the recommended process parameters.
Industrial sectors with unconventional needs
Some industrial sectors regularly produce materials that fall outside standard categories. COMAFER works successfully with:
Tanning and footwear industry
Shavings of leather, hides, and skins: materials with difficult physical characteristics that the Dinamic Series handles correctly with specific configurations.
Electrical and electronics industry
Ground cables, sheaths, mixed plastic-metal materials: separation is complex, but a briquetting machine can add value to the mixed flow for recycling.
Fashion accessory industry
Shredded buttons, buckles, and zippers; manufacturing dust: small volumes but high specific value that warrants optimized management.
Pharmaceutical and cosmetic sector
Production waste from tablets, capsules, pharmaceutical powders: specific applications with high confidentiality and safety requirements.
Environmental management and remediation
Remediation materials, dry sludge, treated contaminated soil: case-by-case evaluation with mandatory preliminary testing.
Why choose COMAFER for unconventional materials?
In 50 years of activity and with over 30,000 machines sold in 70 countries, COMAFER has accumulated a testing database unique in the industry. Many competitors decline requests for non-standard materials; COMAFER transforms them into technical development opportunities. The company policy is clear: test first, sell later. No machine is proposed without a technical verification of compatibility with the customer’s material.
UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 certification guarantees that every process — from laboratory testing to machine configuration, from production to after-sales assistance — is documented, repeatable, and verifiable.
The COMAFER Research & Development service
COMAFER’s internal R&D department is the heart of our personalized service: a laboratory equipped with machines from all series and a full range of accessories, where it is possible to reproduce the customer’s real operating conditions.
How does the testing service work?
Send a sample of your material
The COMAFER technical team analyzes the material and selects the optimal test configuration
The briquetting test is performed on the machines available in the laboratory
You receive a technical report including: recommended machine, optimal pressure, expected hourly production, required humidity, and any necessary accessories
Upon request, you can visit the laboratory in Brescia to witness the test in person
Automated System: From Briquette to Bag
COMAFER offers an integrated, turnkey system for the automated processing of wood chips into bagged briquettes.
For high production levels, it is possible to connect the briquetting machine directly to the processing or storage plant, achieving a fully automated production cycle.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about briquetting
How do I send the sample for testing?
Contact us via email or through our contact form describing the material. We will provide you with instructions for sending the sample (minimum quantity, packaging methods, technical information to attach). For hazardous materials or those with special characteristics, a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is required.
Is the test free?
Yes. The briquetting test in our R&D department using small quantities, the technical analysis, and the report with recommended parameters are completely free of charge. COMAFER considers the test an integral part of our responsible sales process: we only offer machines that we have verified are suitable for the customer’s material.
What is the waiting time for a test?
The average turnaround time from receipt of the sample to the technical report is 5–10 business days, depending on the complexity of the material and the workload of the R&D department. For urgent requests, please contact us directly so we can assess the priority.
Can I attend the test in person?
Yes. You are welcome at the COMAFER headquarters in Brescia (Collebeato) to witness the test in person. We recommend arranging the visit in advance to best organize the testing session. The visit is also an excellent opportunity to see the entire range of machines in operation.
What happens if my material cannot be briquetted?
You will still receive a technical report explaining the reasons why the material is not suitable and, where possible, suggestions for alternative solutions (pre-treatment, mixing, different machines). Technical transparency is a fundamental value for COMAFER: we do not sell machines for incompatible materials.
Does the R&D department also test combinations of different materials?
Yes. Some companies produce mixed waste streams. COMAFER’s R&D department can test combinations of materials to determine whether the mixture can be briquetted and what the quality of the resulting product will be.
Start transforming your waste chips into resources
Talk to a COMAFER sales representative to find the machine best suited to your production needs. Free quote within 48 hours, free testing of your material.