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Innovations For Nonwovens Production


evidence suggests the earliest means of turning fibers into cloth was through felting, which makes use of the scaly structure of wool to firmly interlock the fibers together. Some of the manufacturing techniques employed in today’s nonwovens industry are derived from this ancient fabric formation method, while other techniques are a product of modern engineering developed to work with man-made materials. The origins of today’s modern nonwovens industry are not clear, but according to the Nonwovens Institute, Raleigh, N.C., the term “nonwoven fabrics” was first used in 1942 when fabrics were manufactured by bonding fiber webs using adhesives.Get more news about Hot Sale Smmss Non-woven Non-woven Fabric Production Equipment,you can vist our website!

In the decades since the term was coined, the innovations have turned into a dazzling array of technologies for making products for filtration, automotive, medical, hygiene, geotextile, agrotextile, floorcovering and even apparel applications, to name just a few of the applications. Here, Textile World presents information on some of the newest technologies available to producers of nonwoven fabrics and products.

Engineered nonwoven systems manufacturer DiloGroup, Germany, offers a unique additive manufacturing process called the 3D-Lofter, which was originally introduced as a prototype at ITMA 2019. The process essentially uses a separate sliver feed mechanism that functions in a similar manner to a digital printer. The sliver is fed into an aerodynamic web-forming unit, which allows additional quantities of fiber to be placed three dimensionally in specific locations on a flat needlefelt. The added fiber can be placed to avoid thin areas and build up stress points, alter textures, build mountains or fill valleys in the base web, and even allows for colored or patterned designs in the resultant web. Dilo reports the technology offers a fiber saving potential of up to 30 percent of the total fiber mass because once the even, flat needlefelt is created, only the fibers required are then used. The resulting web may be compacted and consolidated using needling and/or thermofusion. Applications include formed needlefelt parts for automotive interior linings, upholstery and mattress products, apparel and shoe applications, and floor coverings with colored patterns.

DiloGroup also offers the IsoFeed single card feeder technology — an aerodynamic system featuring numerous 33-millimeter-wide individual web forming units placed over the card’s working width. These units can dose web or fiber strips in the running direction where they are needed to combat mass variation in the web. According to Dilo, the IsoFeed can produce web mats from the card feeder with an improved CV value of approximately 40 percent. Additional advantages of IsoFeed include fiber consumption savings when the same minimum weight is the basis for a comparison between traditional and IsoFeed feeding; and the web is visually improved and more homogeneous. Web mats from the IsoFeed process are suitable for card feeding, for feeding aerodynamic web forming units, or may be used directly in needling or thermobonding processes.

Germany-based Oerlikon Nonwoven offers comprehensive technologies for meltblown, spunbond and airlaid nonwovens. For meltblown products, Oerlikon offers stand-alone mono and bicomponent equipment or the option of “plug & produce” inserts positioned between an upstream and downstream spinning system, such as spunbond, to manufacture products with a barrier or liquid impervious layer. Oerlikon Nonwoven reports its airlaid technology is perfectly suited to producing nonwovens from pulp or cellulose fibers. Its process also permits homogenous mixing of diverse raw materials and is gaining attention for use in sustainable recycling applications.

The latest offering from Oerlikon Nonwovens is the Procter & Gamble (P&G) PHANTOM patented technology. Teknoweb Materials — Oerlikon’s partner for hygiene products and wipes — has an exclusive license from P&G to distribute this technology worldwide. Developed by P&G for hybrid nonwovens, Phantom combines airlaid and spunmelt technologies for wet and dry wipe products. According to Oerlikon Nonwoven, the two processes are merged into one step to combine cellulose fibers, long fiber including cotton, and possibly powders with man-made fibers. No hydroentanglement means it is not necessary to dry the nonwoven, which offers cost savings. The process can be adjusted to optimize required product characteristics including softness, strength, dirt absorption and liquid absorption. Phantom technology is perfectly suited for wipes production, but also may be used for absorbent core products such as diapers.