BARTLETT, Ill. — October 18, 2017 — A new and automated ultrasonic assembly line reduces danger of bacterial contamination — no more sewing lines and less fraying. Herrmann Ultrasonics has developed this approach to deliver complete ultrasonic laminating and sealing steps for a new and patented abdominal swab “texart” by Portuguese medical producer Bastos Viegas.

Previously a complex sewing process with ample manual handling steps was used to produce the swab; the new swab enables “automated roll-to-finished-products assembly”. The latest material configuration developed and patented by Bastos Viegas – “texart” is made of three layers, using the best of woven and nonwovens technology. A textile net in the middle (made of polyamide/polyester) with an x-ray thread is placed between two layers of spunlace nonwoven (70-percent viscose/30-percent polyester). The wrinkled surface of “texart” increases the absorption rate and produces a soft sponge-like feeling.

Low Linting

Linting is defined as the release of fiber fragments and other particles during handling and use. Low linting is one of the biggest advantages of using non-woven spunlace materials instead of cotton gauze. In a test, release of particles (dry linting) according to EN1644-1 and ISO9073-10 was verified. The result shows a better performance for “texart” in comparison to prewashed gauze.

Fast and fully automated process for less contamination

By choosing ultrasonic technology Bastos Viegas solved the question, “How to bond the new material without heat and consumables.” Spunlace nonwovens react extremely well to ultrasonic vibrations. Herrmann Ultrasonics was chosen as a partner to develop a new machine concept for the new product.

Correct unwinding of the three layers had to be designed and then ultrasonic steps had to be incorporated.

1. Ultrasonic lamination of the three layers and sealing of the left and right edge lines.
2. Cross-seal the end of the one swab, marking the beginning of the next

Finally the product will be cut, folded and stacked. After assembly, during the sterilization process the material will contract, resulting in the wrinkled surface that establishes a good absorption rate and soft feel.

Bastos Viegas, producer and supplier of Non-Active Medical Devices, applies a long-term product strategy, taking into account the new Medical Device Regulation, MDR (going into effect as of 2020). “The TexArt swab is a highly performant medical device that can replace traditional cotton gauze dressings with an extremely reduced lint factor, absence of loose threads and increased absorbency, just to name a few of the superior characteristics.” says Luis Guimarães of Bastos Viegas “This means consequent improvements for surgical procedures and patient safety in the operating room.”

Posted October 18, 2017

Source: Herrmann Ultrasonics

TOKYO — October 18, 2017 — Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the Teijin group’s fiber-product converting company, announced today that it has developed a new bag-type filter using Nanofront^® high-strength ultra-fine polyester fiber that realizes high-efficiency dust collection, energy savings and long life.

Teijin Frontier will market the Nanofront Bag Filter mainly to manufacturers of cement, steel and powder, targeting sales of 1 billion yen by 2020.

The bag’s inside is lined with ultra-fine Nanofront fibers, which have a diameter of just 700 nm, creating a finely porous structure for the extra-efficient collection of dust and powder. The Nanofront Bag Filter can reduce fine powder dust emissions by nearly half compared with existing fluorinated-resin membrane bags. The Nanofront Bag Filter is expected to satisfy Chinese regulations for powder dust emissions of less than 10mg/m³ in urban areas.

The Nanofront Bag Filter also improves ventilation volume by nearly 50 percent compared with fluorinated-resin membrane bags, and the interval between cleanings to remove dust and powder is prolonged by about 40 percent. The Nanofront Bag Filter is also expected to improve productivity by more than 10 percent by and reducing the cleaning duration. Furthermore, the Nanofront Bag Filter is expected to last longer thanks to its thick fiber layers.

Demands to reduce powder dust emissions are increasing, especially in China. Regulations now effective in urban China have reduced such of emissions from 30mg/m³ to 10mg/m³. Fluorinated-resin membranes are used for conventional bag filters to reduce emissions by thinning the filtering area and increasing the dust-collection amount, but thinner bag filters clog and decrease ventilation volume. Also, such membranes sometimes rupture when exhaust energy is increased and they must be used in a series, which adds additional costs. Teijin Frontier’s Nanofront Bag Filter overcomes such problems while achieving highly efficient dust collection and ventilation volume.

Posted October 18, 2017

Source: Teijin Group

CARY, N.C. — October 18, 2017 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has released a new industry outlook report, “North American Nonwovens Industry Outlook, 2016-2021.”

This report marks INDA’s tenth analysis of the nonwoven/engineered materials market since its first overview of the industry in 1995. INDA’s exclusive content provides analysis across all of the nonwoven end-use markets, including 128 disposable and 127 durable categories, to provide the most comprehensive and accurate view available of the total North American nonwovens industry. Detailed supply (capacity, production, and trade flows) and demand data are presented for the North American industry for 2011, 2016, and a forecast for 2021.

Brad Kalil, the report author and INDA’s Director of Market Research & Statistics, said: “INDA designed this report to support strategic business planning and assist those in the industry in making better business decisions. This exclusive content report provides the latest market data based on an in-depth combination of primary and secondary research utilizing INDA’s proprietary demand model of 255 nonwoven categories. The projections in the report were made by analyzing current the market trends and driving forces to highlight the market potential in terms of dollar value, units, and volume in both square meters and tonnage.”

Dave Rousse, INDA president, said: “This report provides the keenest insight available into the most important disposable and durable market segments. No other report has the bottom-up data that INDA gathers, making this the most reliable and definitive view of the industry. This report breaks the conventional wisdom that the nonwovens market is two-thirds disposable and one-third durable end-use products. Anyone who must understand, assess, and manage the assets of an organization would benefit from this cost effective business planning tool.”

The report:

• Provides baseline economic and demographic trends, as they are significant drivers of demand within the North American nonwovens industry;
• Develops industry consumption figures by sales, units, square meters, and tonnage for nonwoven materials in 11 end use markets and their numerous subcategories for 2011 and 2016, and provide a forecast for 2021;
• Explains industry trends within the end use markets;
• Provides an overall picture of the North American supply side by analyzing the key metrics of capacity (1990–2016), production including operating rates (2006–2016), and trade flow data (2006–2016); and
• Defines and clarifies end use market segmentation and production processes to provide greater precision in categorizing the industry

The 370-page report — including 166 figures and 95 tables — is available for $3,850 for INDA Members, and $5,500 for Non-members.

Posted October 18, 2017

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry