Staple fibers for PP geotextiles reach new quality level

Product development in the Oerlikon Neumag staple fiber technology center 

Neumünster (Germany), March 14, 2024 – The new staple fiber technology center of the Neumünster-based plant construction company Oerlikon Neumag, which opened in 2022, is now also available to customers for tests on continuous inline pilot lines for processing various polymers. The ultra-modern technology center initially focused on the further development of polyester fibers.

Polypropylene inline tests for geotextile applications achieve excellent results

Joint tests with a well-known fiber producer show excellent values in the inline process for polypropylene geotextile applications. Tenacities of well over 6 cN/dtex were achieved while residual elongation remained high. This means that the fibers exceed the parameters currently established in geotextile applications. “The demand for geotextiles is growing with higher traffic volumes and increasing climate extremes,” says Oerlikon Neumag Head of Development Dr. Friedrich Lennemann. “We are seeing a trend in fibers towards higher tenacity combined with high elongation. In view of the results achieved, we believe our customers are well equipped to meet this trend with our technology.” 

High-tech staple fiber technology center supports the development of new fiber products

The 2100 m² facility provides all interested fiber manufacturers with access to current staple fiber technologies and processes. The modular fiber band processing line allows the variable combination of all components in order to reproduce the respective process. Extensive analysis options provide detailed findings for further development. 

Interested parties can also find out more about the product range at this year’s Techtextil in Frankfurt, where the Oerlikon Business Unit Manmade Fibers will be represented at the VDMA stand.

Caption: 

Inline staple fiber systems are preferred in the PP process.

About Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division

Oerlikon is a leading provider of comprehensive polymer processing plant solutions and high-precision flow control component equipment. The division provides polycondensation and extrusion lines, manmade fiber filament spinning solutions, texturing machines, BCF and staple fiber lines as well as nonwoven production systems. It also develops and produces advanced and innovative hot runner systems and multi-cavity solutions for the injection molding industry. Its hot runner solutions serve business sectors, including automotive, logistics, environmental, industrial applications, consumer goods, beauty and personal care and medical. Moreover, Oerlikon offers customized gear metering pumps for the textile, automotive, chemical, dyes and lacquers industries. Its engineering competence leads to sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for the entire polymer processing value chain with a circular economy approach.

Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division serves customers through its technology brands – Oerlikon Barmag, Oerlikon Neumag, Oerlikon Nonwoven and Oerlikon HRSflow – in around 120 countries with production, sales, distribution and service organizations.

The division is part of the publicly listed Oerlikon Group, headquartered in Switzerland, which has more than 12 600 employees and generated sales of CHF 2.7 billion in 2023.

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