INGEDE Method 4

Introducing INGEDE Method 4 – Industrial Physics

INGEDE Method 4 is the internationally recognized procedure for determining macro‑contaminants in recovered paper and recycled pulp. These contaminants include stickies, hot melts, coatings, plastics, shives, and other debris that can interfere with deinking, reduce furnish cleanliness, and cause defects in the final sheet.

The method provides a structured, repeatable way to separate contaminants from fibers and visually assess what’s entering — or escaping — your recycling process.

What INGEDE Method 4 Covers

INGEDE Method 4 outlines procedures for screening recycled pulp at low consistency to isolate and quantify macro‑contaminants. Key elements include:

• Mechanical separation of fibers from contaminants
• Low‑consistency screening to protect fiber structure
• Deposition of contaminants onto filter paper for visual evaluation
• Identification of stickies, plastics, shives, coatings, and other debris
• Consistent sample preparation and screening parameters

The method applies to:

• Recovered paper and recycled pulp
• Deinking and repulping operations
• Furnish evaluation at multiple process points
• QC, troubleshooting, and contaminant‑reduction programs

INGEDE Method 4 provides a clear, standardized way to understand the contaminant load in recycled fiber streams.

Where INGEDE Method 4 Is Used

This standard is widely used across recycling and papermaking operations, including:

• Recycled‑fiber mills
• Deinking plants
• Packaging, tissue, and printing‑paper producers
• Integrated mills monitoring furnish cleanliness
• R&D and quality‑control laboratories

It supports both routine contaminant monitoring and targeted troubleshooting.

Why Contaminant Analysis Matters

Understanding macro‑contaminants in recycled pulp is essential for:

• Reducing sheet defects and customer complaints
• Preventing machine fouling, picking, and downtime
• Identifying sources of contamination across the process
• Improving screening efficiency and furnish cleanliness
• Supporting continuous improvement and process stability

Contaminants that slip through early often become costly problems later — INGEDE Method 4 helps you catch them before they reach the machine.

Testing solutions for INGEDE Method 4

One product from the Industrial Physics portfolio aligns directly with INGEDE Method 4’s focus on contaminant detection:

Technidyne Pulmac MasterScreen™ Fiber Contaminant Analyzer

The MasterScreen™ shows you exactly what’s hiding in your pulp. It mechanically separates fibers from stickies, dirt, shives, vessel cell elements, plastics, and hot melts at low consistency. Contaminants are automatically deposited onto filter paper, giving you a clear visual record of what’s in your furnish — no guesswork, no interpretation required.

When contaminants appear in your finished product, the MasterScreen™ helps you trace them back to the source. Sample anywhere in your process — digesters, refiners, cleaners, grinders, repulpers, or screening systems — and the MasterScreen™ isolates what’s getting through. The result: fewer complaints, less downgraded product, and faster troubleshooting.

Industrial Physics also provides deep knowledge resources on pulp evaluation, including guidance on standard methods such as TAPPI T 275 and broader insights into contaminant analysis to help you maximize the MasterScreen™’s performance.

Your Global Test and Measurement Partner for INGEDE Method 4

Industrial Physics supports recycled‑fiber and papermaking operations with the tools and expertise needed to evaluate contaminants in line with INGEDE Method 4. From low‑consistency screening to fiber‑strength testing, handsheet preparation, and contaminant analysis, we help ensure your furnish is clean, stable, and ready for production.