The booth design concept for Techtextil Frankfurt 2024
Durable Nonwovens: A Focus on Innovation
ANDRITZ, a leading international technology group, will be showcasing its comprehensive portfolio of state-of-the-art nonwoven and textile production technologies at Techtextil. This article explores the innovative solutions ANDRITZ offers across various sectors, with a particular focus on textile sorting and recycling, natural fibres, durable nonwovens, and life-cycle services.
Championing Sustainability Through Textile Recycling
ANDRITZ is at the forefront of developing sustainable solutions for the textile industry. The company recognizes the importance of a circular economy and provides not only machinery but also expert knowledge to its clients. Their offerings encompass the entire textile recycling process, from automated sorting and preparation to mechanical, chemical, or combined recycling solutions.
A recent breakthrough is the automated textile sorting line, a collaborative effort between ANDRITZ, Nouvelles Fibres Textiles (a textile recycling company), and Pellenc ST (a waste sorting specialist). This line sorts garments by composition and colour, catering to both post-consumer and post-industrial waste. It even removes buttons and zippers for further processing in ANDRITZ tearing machines. The sorted textile waste can then be transformed into recycled fibres for various applications, including spinning, nonwovens, and composites.
Furthermore, ANDRITZ champions the use of eco-friendly bast fibres like hemp, kenaf, and jute. Their sophisticated solutions for decorticating bast fibre straw pave the way for cottonizing and respinning processes. This technology allows manufacturers to create products from natural fibres, reducing plastic dependence and environmental impact.
Techtextil will also see a dedicated focus on ANDRITZ’s solutions for durable nonwovens. The company offers comprehensive processes like needlepunch, airlay, and wetlaid, supported by technical centres where customers can experiment and develop new products.
The neXloom Elliptica-type DF-4: A Game Changer in Needlepunching
A highlight in the needlepunch sector is the brand-new neXloom Elliptica-type DF-4 needleloom. This machine excels at processing very lightweight nonwovens (as low as 40 gsm) at high speeds while maintaining exceptional visual quality. Available in large widths, it boasts optimised pre-needling consolidation for a uniform appearance. The DF-4 achieves this by reducing the drafting ratio in the first needleloom stage, minimising fabric delamination during needling. Additionally, ANDRITZ’s oil-lubrication technology and renowned needleloom frame contribute to reduced maintenance and a longer lifespan for the machine. The ability to adjust the advanced stroke set-up during operations further enhances its market appeal. This innovative needleloom is ideal for pre-needling applications in demanding industries like automotive, paper felts, spun-bond products, and synthetic leather, where superior product quality and uniformity are crucial.
Airlaid Technology: A Versatile Solution
Airlaid technology plays a vital role in producing durable nonwovens for various applications, including automotive parts, building insulation, carpet underfelt, mattresses, and furniture. The process involves blending, fine opening, airlaying, and finally mat consolidation (achieved through needling, thermobonding, a combination of both, or spunlacing). This technology allows for the processing of diverse fibres, from virgin and recycled fibres to non-fiber materials like foam, shredded paper, and straw. ANDRITZ’s airlaid technology guarantees uniformity and homogeneity for a broad weight range (300 to 1,200 gsm). Additionally, the optional 3D web-forming equipment caters specifically to the automotive industry‘s need for multi-density webs.
Wetlaid Technology for Specialized Applications
ANDRITZ’s wetlaid technology efficiently processes technical fibres like carbon, metal, aramid, glass, and micro glass fibres, or fibre blends, for technical applications in industries like transportation, aerospace, hydrogen, battery, filtration, and construction. These delicate fibres require specific handling during the forming process. To address this, ANDRITZ develops customised wetlaid production lines with dedicated forming processes for technical fibres and products.
Revitalising Existing Lines: Retrofits and Upgrades
ANDRITZ understands the need for nonwoven producers to stay competitive. The company offers retrofit and upgrade solutions for existing nonwoven production lines. With extensive experience across all nonwoven production segments and a vast installed machine base, ANDRITZ is well-positioned to recommend and implement the most suitable upgrades for existing lines. Customers can also leverage ANDRITZ’s state-of-the-art technical centres to test the latest equipment and evaluate performance improvements.
The ANDRITZ Nonwoven & Textile team eagerly awaits welcoming visitors to booth B93 in hall 12 at Techtextil. They are committed to providing innovative and sustainable solutions that empower businesses to thrive in the ever-evolving textile and nonwoven landscape.