Oerlikon’s Cutting-Edge Technologies Unveiled at Techtextil 2024
At this year’s Techtextil in Frankfurt from April 23 to 26, Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions will showcase cutting-edge technologies for the production of technical textiles. With a focus on sustainability, safety, automotive, and health, Oerlikon is set to impress trade visitors at the VDMA joint stand in Hall 12 C55/56.
Ensuring Safety and Comfort in Vehicles
In modern passenger cars, safety and comfort are paramount, with an average of 30 to 35 kg of yarn playing a crucial role in achieving these goals. The use of high-performance filament yarns in airbags has revolutionised automotive safety standards. Oerlikon’s technologies, known for their high productivity and low energy consumption, provide stable production processes that meet the stringent quality standards required for airbag applications. But what makes these technologies stand out? Dr. Jen Supra, Technology Manager Technical Yarn at Oerlikon Barmag, explains: “Our technologies ensure maximum safety for occupants, regardless of climate or location, throughout the vehicle’s service life.”
Seat belts are another critical component in vehicle safety, requiring the ability to withstand immense forces while providing controlled stretch during emergencies. Oerlikon Barmag’s High Tenacity (HT) yarn process, utilising the patented Single Filament Layer technology, ensures the production of durable seat belt yarns that meet these stringent requirements.
Geotextiles: Strength Below the Surface
Technical yarns also play a crucial role beneath vehicles, particularly in geotextiles used for road construction. Geogrids, part of the base course system underneath asphalt, require ultra-high tenacity and rigidity to withstand heavy loads. Oerlikon Barmag’s system concepts produce filament yarns with exceptional properties, making them ideal for geotextile applications. The spunbond technology from Oerlikon Nonwoven adds to this portfolio, offering high production capacities with low energy consumption for polyester and polypropylene geotextiles.
Enhancing Filtration Efficiency with hycuTEC
Oerlikon Nonwovens hycuTEC hydro charging solution is a game-changer in filtration technology, offering over 99.99% filter efficiency. Meltblown producers benefit from a 30% material saving and increased filtration performance, resulting in improved comfort and reduced breathing resistance for end-users. This innovative technology, with lower water and energy consumption, is not only future-proof but also sustainable in the long run.
With its trailblazing technologies and commitment to sustainability, Oerlikon is paving the way for innovation in technical textiles. From automotive safety to geotextile applications and filtration efficiency, Oerlikon’s solutions empower industries to achieve new heights of performance and reliability.
With the Oerlikon Nonwoven hycuTEC process, raw material savings of up to 30% can be easily realised.
In the event of an accident, the number one lifesaver is not the car body or the airbag, but the seat belt. It holds the vehicle occupants firmly in position and thus enables other protective technologies to develop their full function. Yarns produced on Oerlikon Barmag machines ensure all-round safety.