DOE Launches CRAFT Initiative to Transform US Pulp and Paper Industry with AI

Published
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RobotToday Industry Briefing RobotToday Industry Briefing graphic: a blueprint-style humanoid robot outline with annotations for perception, actuation and mobility, next to the Industry Briefing wordmark. 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RobotToday Industry Briefing

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated the Center for Research and Advancement of Forest Product Technologies (CRAFT) to modernize the pulp, paper, and packaging industry. This initiative aims to leverage artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, and advanced materials science to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness in an industry reliant on outdated infrastructure.

CRAFT will collaborate with national laboratories, universities, and industry partners to improve manufacturing processes and reduce production costs. The focus will be on optimizing existing facilities rather than building new mills, utilizing AI-driven improvements and complex modeling to address operational bottlenecks and enhance yields.

CRAFT plans to work directly with manufacturers to identify issues and test pilot-scale technologies before commercial rollout. The initiative will also provide access to advanced automation and data-analysis capabilities, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory research and factory deployment while supporting workforce development in the sector.

Original report

US top lab turns to AI to modernize America’s decades-old paper and pulp industry

InterestingEngineering.com · Muskan Bhatia
Read at InterestingEngineering.com

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