Govt efforts vital to boost nonwovens use in India

Trutzschler Group reached two new milestones towards the end of 2013. The group celebrated 125th Anniversary. Trützschler Switzerland AG, the youngest member of the Trützschler Group, added the business unit of filament spinning lines to the product portfolio, and the first Trützschler BCF lines was poised to start production. At the end of October 2013, Voith Paper and Trützschler Nonwovens reached an important milestone: a nonwovens fabric from the jointly developed production process successfully passed the official INDA and EDANA 3rd edition tests of flushability.

Trützschler Nonwovens offers the most process variety. Depending on raw material, productivity target, and quality of finished product, one can choose between several process alternatives in all production steps: from fibre opening, web formation and web bonding, finishing, all the way to rolled or cut products, one machine or a complete installation.

Hartwig Finger, Chief Executive Officer and Marc Wolpers, Director of Trutzschler Nonwovens, spoke to Samuel Joseph, Editor of The Indian Textile Journal, in an exclusive email interview about the companys prospects, nonwovens growth on global level and a few important issues governing nonwovens in India.

Excerpts:

Editor: Which according to you are the breakthroughs in the growth of Trützschler Nonwovens?
Finger: Trützschler, besides its leading role as supplier of openers, mixers, high production cards and draw frames, has also been active in the nonwovens field for decades. It started with equipment for fibre preparation and width-controlled roller card feeding then a window of opportunity opened almost a decade ago.

Over the years Trützschler Nonwovens is formed by the assets of the well-known companies ERKO, Fleissner, and, since early 2012, the winding specialist Bastian. This gives our company the unique position of a one-stop shop for nonwovens producers: all equipment from fibre opening down to winding for needling, hydroentangling, thermo- and chemical bonding lines can be obtained out of one hand. The broad expertise in nonwoven processes and the product portfolio fuels growth in all regions since Truetzschler Nonwovens is a competent partner for niche players, mass producers and newcomers.

Editor: How do you see the future of nonwovens globally? What are the growth areas in applications?
Finger: Nonwovens are everywhere in our daily life. They are found in areas where woven, knitted or warped fabrics dont meet the specific requirements: in hygiene, filtration, building, agriculture, automotive, etc. Nonwovens showed a healthy growth over the years – we think this trend will continue over the next years.

Growth will mainly come from two fields: convenience and industrial applications.

People all over the world are looking for means to make life easier. With rising personal income the demand for single-use wipes, pads, diapers, etc will grow. The other area in which nonwovens will play a decisive role in the future is building a greener and safer world. Nonwoven filter media gives us clean air and water, nonwoven materials allow for lighter cars and last but not least nonwovens give way for better streets, reinforced dams and long-lived houses and roofs.

Editor: Do you feel nonwovens growth is slow in India? What is your solution or wish-list for India to boost consumption of nonwovens?
Finger: India is a unique country – and this is reflected in the area of nonwovens too. The consumption of nonwovens made from polyester, polypropylene and cellulosics is weak – and we dont see it grow as rapidly as in China for instance.

There is one easy reason: the middle class