ANDRITZ lines up innovative nonwoven process solutions

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its latest nonwovens solutions at INDEX 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland (April 8-11, booth 2114). ANDRITZ Nonwoven provides with its worldwide leading companies ANDRITZ Asselin-Thibeau, ANDRITZ Knsters, and ANDRITZ Perfojet turnkey solutions for spunlace, needlepunch, wetlaid/wetlace, and finishing.

Whats new since INDEX 2011?

ANDRITZ pools its expertise in market approach, technology, R&D, manufacturing, and service for the benefit of its customers. With the integration of Asselin-Thibeau, ANDRITZ can now supply in-house key technologies all along the drylaid production line. The technologies of ANDRITZ Asselin-Thibeau, ANDRITZ Knsters, and ANDRITZ Perfojet complement each other ideally in process solutions for a great variety of applications. In all processes, ANDRITZ technologists have been working on resources efficiency with regard to electricity, gas, water, chemicals, air management, carbon footprint, and operators. Thus, the in-depth experience of ANDRITZ Nonwoven has led to such major innovative developments as the neXline wetlace, a line concept that integrates ANDRITZ Knsters wetlaid technology with ANDRITZ Perfojet hydroentanglement. Wetlace is an ideal process for the production of flushable wipes, as has been proved also by certificated product quality according to the latest EDANA/INDA guidelines.

The innovative carding technology from ANDRITZ Asselin-Thibeau is one of the core components in drylaid technology. An important development is the Isoweb TT card for significant enhancements in CD tensile values, MD/CD ratios, and a commercial speed of 300 m/min. ANDRITZ offers a full range of solutions in spunlace with two proven line concepts. For highest capacities, the neXline spunlace eXcelle is the preferred solution; this unique design combines the latest generation of TT card and Jetlace Essentiel hydroentanglement unit. This top-speed spunlace line is the best choice for commodity products like wet wipes, producing lightweight fabrics with less than 20 gsm at very high capacities. For medium capacities, the neXline spunlace aXcess is the right choice. This spunlace line is equipped with one Varioweb in-line card with three doffers in combination with the Jetlace Avantage hydroentanglement unit.

Another major development is the eXcelle card for through-air bonding, which is ideal for multi-layer products. ANDRITZ is increasingly successful with its sales of production lines for ADL hygiene products, in particular for top sheet products that have a combined drainage effect to enhance the ADL web properties.

In order to step ahead in nonwovens technology, ANDRITZ has set up a technology platform with competence and service centres all around the globe. In three European ANDRITZ sites, state-of-the-art technical centres have been installed with a focus on core competences: spunlace in Montbonnot, France; drylaid and needlepunch in Elbeuf, France; wetlaid/wetlace and calendering in Krefeld, Germany. In order to customise the technologies to the demands of the Asian markets, ANDRITZ has also installed a new technical centre and manufacturing site in Wuxi, China. Together with its sales and service locations in Spartanburg, USA, and Chennai, India, ANDRITZ Nonwoven is a one-stop supplier for its global customers.

Spunlace pilot line

At INDEX 2014, visitors will have the opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art technical centre for spunlace at ANDRITZ Perfojet (Montbonnot, France) and to see the latest innovations. Our guests will have access to an unrivalled spunlace pilot line and can attend various line demonstrations. In addition, process experts will give a detailed presentation of all the equipment forming the spunlace line. Thanks to the combination of Isoweb TT card and Jetlace hydroentanglement system, this high-p