New concept of AUTEFA improves automatic fibre logistics productivity and quality.
AUTEFA Solutions Germany, world market leader of automatic fibre logistics and manufacturer of hydraulic fibre presses, presented a new machine concept two years ago with the UNI-FORK. The UNI-FORK optimises the process of pressing a bale, increases the efficiency of the process and improves the quality of the fibre packing. In the meantime, the process reached marketability and machines have already been installed at customers of AUTEFA Solutions successfully.
One of the customers is Shandong Yingli in China. As one of the first Chinese companies Shandong Yingli produces Lyocell fibres. Lyocell is an industrially-produced regenerated fibre based on cellulose, produced with direct wet spinning process. Lyocell fibres are used for different applications such as textiles in the medical area and as nonwoven product for hygienic and cosmetics products. Using the fibre in the hygienic industry means highest requirements for the bale packing. Therefore Shandong Yingli was interested in the new solution of AUTEFA. Shandong Yingli was also convinced of the total concept with the extensive optimisation of the process. For this reason the company bought a fully-automatic fibre press from AUTEFA.
The concept of UNI-FORK and AD-WRAP
The UNI-FORK intelligent concept saves costs with a very small investment for a fully automatic process while improving quality. The central idea of the system is to use one transfer fork for one or more prepresses and to operate one or more main presses. At Shandong Yingli the cut Lyocell fibre of two (or more) independently working fibre lines go via a condenser to two (or more) AUTEFA pre-presses and are pre-compacted to a bale. These pre-compacted bales are taken out with the central working UNI-FORK on a rotating basis of the pre-presses and handed over to a central main-press. The main-press compresses the bale totally and makes the strapping around the bale. Afterwards the bales will be packed with two overlapping, elastic stretch hoods of polyethylene (AD-WRAP). In this way, the packing of the fibre bale is completely protected against dirt, foreign fibres (like hair) and insects. It has protection against contamination like no other type of packing. For every kind of hygienic fibre, it is a significant improvement, avoiding waste, decreasing costs and improving sustainability of the supply chain. Companies who still strap and pack manually can quickly profit with the AD-WRAP. A return on investment can be recognised in approximately 1.5 years.
Other advantages of the UNI-FORK are the high total capacity of up to 60 bales/h per main press, the gentle fibre transfer and the universal usability. Not only high-performance fibre lines with over 300 tonne per day but also small fibre lines for aramid, polypropylene or coloured fibres can be designed individually.
UNI-FORK and AD-WRAP from AUTEFA Solutions are known worldwide, are unique and are protected by a patent. Both machines together form a system which leads to a strong reduction of personnel costs, high availability of the machine and a short amortisation period.