Customer Success Story: Dunacell Boosts Efficiency with IMG‑S Moisture Measurement
How Dunacell Improved Transparency & Efficiency with Dunakontroll’s first HPNA System adapted for Measuring Moisture in Straw Bales
Customer Background
Dunacell Kft. is a leading European producer of natural food fibers, headquartered in Dunaújváros, Hungary.
Founded: 1993 (with roots back to 1962)
Ownership: wholly owned by the German Josef Rettenmaier Holding (JRS) Group
Core products: food-grade fibers derived from annual plant residues — especially wheat and oat straw — along with compost produced from processing residues and biodegradable waste
Core products: food-grade fibers derived from annual plant residues — especially wheat and oat straw — along with compost produced from processing residues and biodegradable waste
Scale: ~160–170 employees, annual revenues in the tens of billions of Hungarian forints, headquarters at Papírgyári út 42., Dunaújváros, Hungary
Investments: in 2022, Dunacell announced a ~HUF 7 billion (≈ EUR 19.6 million) expansion to build new capabilities for powdered dietary fiber
Dunacell exports primarily to Europe and partially to overseas markets. Its operations focus on sustainable, value-added use of agricultural byproducts, aligning with global trends in renewable and circular raw material use.
In 2014, Dunacell installed Dunakontroll’s IMG‑S system to measure the moisture content of straw bales, a critical step in ensuring consistent fiber quality, supplier transparency, and efficient operations.
Challenge: Manual, Inaccurate & Labor-Intensive Moisture Measurement
Moisture content plays a decisive role in Dunacell’s production process:
- Higher moisture → weaker fiber structure, lower productivity, and higher costs.
- Lower moisture → stronger fibers, higher output per unit time, and more favorable economics.
As Managing Director Szilárd Széles explains:
“We don’t want to pay for the water in the straw — only for the pure fiber.”
Before IMG‑S, moisture was measured manually with handheld moisture measurement devices. This method was:
Time-consuming and labor-intensive
Non-representative, as it sampled only a small portion of a bale
Increasingly impractical, as modern baling machines produced denser bales that were difficult to open
A source of supplier disputes and repeated measurements, especially as traffic volumes increased
The primary motivation: the need for faster, more accurate, and more transparent measurement.
Decision & Implementation
Dunacell chose Dunakontroll’s HPNA system (former version of today’s IMG‑S) in 2016 after witnessing its success at Hamburger Hungária, their industrial neighbor.
Firsthand demonstration of accuracy and reliability convinced the management.
The HPNA Software was customized for straw measurement, reflecting Dunakontroll’s adaptability.
At the time — and still today — no alternative exists on the market that can measure full truckloads so quickly and representatively.
Implementation was smooth:
During the first phase, Dunacell conducted parallel testing with manual devices and IMG‑S to demonstrate accuracy towards suppliers, after which confidence in the system became universal.
Results & Benefits
The IMG-S system has transformed Dunacell’s daily operations. By providing accurate and transparent measurements, it has eliminated supplier disputes and strengthened trust across the supply chain. Just as importantly, the system has dramatically accelerated the receiving process: what once took around 15 minutes per truckload now takes only 5 minutes.
With 15–20 trucks delivering 250–300 tons of straw every day, this improvement saves Dunacell roughly 60 hours each month. Beyond the time savings, the automation reduces manual work and ensures consistent, reliable data to support production efficiency.
“Faster, more efficient, and more accurate measurement, all supported by digitalized data handling, eliminating manual work.”
- Szilárd Széles, Managing Director, Dunacell
Why It Matters
Moisture measurement is not just a technical issue at Dunacell — it is directly tied to fiber quality, profitability, and supplier fairness.
By implementing IMG‑S, Dunacell has:
Reduced manual labor and saved hundreds of hours annually
Built stronger, more transparent relationships with suppliers
Increased process efficiency and consistency
Strengthened its foundation for sustainable, high-quality fiber production
Call to Action
Dunacell’s story demonstrates how IMG‑S technology transforms biomass and agricultural fiber operations.
Contact Dunakontroll today to discover how IMG solutions can help your business achieve greater efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.
Ready to discover your benefits? Or have other questions?
Project Information
Completely synergize resource taxing relationships via premier.
Client Name
Dunacell
Category
Cellulose
Start Time
Installation: 2016
Location
Hungary