Kelheim Fibres Breaks New Ground In Innovation Management — Viscose Fiber Expert Practices Open Innovation

KELHEIM, Germany — February 15, 2017 — By organizing a competition for new ideas on the subject “100% cellulose fibres – re-thought” viscose fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres has broken new ground in innovation management. The competition was part of the start-up contest “Plan B – Biomass. Business. Bavaria“ organized by Biocampus Straubing under the patronage of the Bavarian State Secretary for Economic Affairs Franz Josef Pschierer.

“In R&D we don’t just rely on receiving ideas for new products or new applications in our dreams, but we proceed in a focussed and methodical way”, said Walter Roggenstein, R&D manager, Kelheim Fibres. “For us, this competition in cooperation with Biocampus Straubing was an attempt to boost our innovation process and to open it to beyond the boundaries of our company.”

Matthew North, commercial director, Kelheim Fibres, added: “The competition was not only about specific ideas — we have seen completely new conceptual approaches and we have gained contacts in industry sectors and application areas formerly unknown to us. And by opening the process to outsiders we could avoid the risk of operational blindness.”

Kelheim was extremely pleased with the results of this experiment, particularly with the broad spectrum of ideas: More than 20 different proposals — ranging from very simple, clearly defined application ideas to visionary future products — were submitted. Equally varied were the people behind these ideas, from school pupils to experienced tradespeople to academics.

The winner of the competition, Dr. Jürgen Pettrak from “Straubinger Entwässerung und Reinigung” (local wastewater authorities), was rewarded with prize of 2,500 euros. His idea focused on the use of filters made of functional viscose fibers during a fourth clarification stage in wastewater treatment plants to filter out the increasing amount of endocrine substances found in wastewater. These endocrine substances find their way into into the water due to the growing use of drugs in human medicine as well as in large-scale farming and, if not filtered out, they may finally affect our genetic material.

But Kelheim Fibres was also excited by the other proposals, which concern the use of viscose fibres in environmentally sound yet at the same time tailor-made wound care, in semi-finished products with printed electrical circuits, eco-friendly felt pens, panels of pressed straw for construction applications and an idea for a regional marketing for regionally produced fibre products. These ideas were awarded further prizes.

“We will not put these great suggestions away in a drawer,” promises Walter Roggentein. “I am convinced that some of these ideas will lead to projects and finally to new products. For us, the success of this competition will lead to a further opening-up of our innovation process – on the inside as well as on the outside.”

Posted February 15, 2017

Source: Kelheim Fibres

Middle East’s Fast-Fashion Retailer Splash Partners With Dow To Bring Long-Lasting Freshness To Apparel

DUBAI — February 15, 2017 — Splash, a fast-fashion retailer, is partnering with Dow Microbial Control — a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company — to offer its customers a range of apparel products using Dow’s patented SILVADUR™ technology, which features built in odor protection and longer lasting freshness. Splash currently operates over 220 apparel stores and 55 brand stores across the Middle East.

Splash Basics offerings will be treated with Dow’s patented SILVADUR™ technology, which inhibits the growth and minimizes the presence of unwanted odor-causing bacteria that are prominent on consumer goods. When these nuisance bacteria land on fabric surfaces, SILVADUR’s technology intelligently releases silver ions which neutralize them on contact, enabling the apparel to stay fresher longer.

“Over more than 20 years, Splash has earned a reputation as a trend-setter in the apparel industry in the Middle East,” said Raza Beig, CEO, Splash and ICONIC, and director of the Landmark Group. “As an industry pacesetter, we recognize the growing trend toward more hygienic lifestyles among our consumers. It is our goal to meet their needs by offering products in our stores that feature freshness protection and control odors.”

“The relationship between Splash and Dow is an excellent example of how industry leaders, working together, can benefit the marketplace,” said Karel Williams, global strategic marketing and brand director for Dow Microbial Control. “The growing desire of consumers to control odors in apparel has changed their priorities when they purchase products as they focus more on making savvy investments that feature intelligent freshness protection, which enables consumers to wear them more and wash them less. Leading retailers like Splash understand that meeting the consumer need for odor control will both increase value and build customer loyalty.”

Posted February 15, 2017

Source: Dow Microbial Control 

INDEX™ 17 Exhibitor Preview: Autefa Solutions

FRIEDBERG, Germany — February 2, 2017 — Following the slogan for this year’s INDEX, “Connecting you with nonwoven solutions”, company Autefa Solutions is ready to take up the challenge. Nowadays Nonwovens producers are looking for new energy saving and advanced technologies especially in the field of disposables.

The Autefa Solutions V‐Jet is a new hydroentanglement system which saves up to 30% of the hydraulic energy required for the Spunlace process. The patented jet‐strip design enables a pressure reduction while keeping the product quality constant in comparison to a standard jet‐strip. The Spunlace process is optimized with the Square Drum Dryer SQ‐V, which has significantly better energy efficiency and drying performance than a common Drum Dryer – at the same footprint.

The Crosslapper Topliner CL 4004 SL is characterised by a high infeed speed of up to 130 m/min and a precise weight distribution. These advantages are very important especially for lightweight applications in spunlace lines. The lapping of the web layers is continuously monitored, which minimizes rejects and saves material.

For the production of flushable wipes Autefa Solutions and Campen Machinery plan and realizes complete hydro laced airlaid process lines. The concept hits the specific need for medium and small size Airlaid production solutions.

There is also a growing interest in high speed through air thermobonding lines for hygiene products such as acquisition and distribution layers (ADL). These materials are used in baby diapers, sanitary napkins and adult incontinence products. The key strengths of the Autefa Solutions belt dryers are uniform airflow and the precisely adjustable temperature distribution, the ability to maintain loft or to create high densities. André Imhof, CEO Autefa Solutions Austria explains: “The customer today is more demanding and requires best possible Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The High productivity, the flexibility for various nonwovens products with low maintenance costs will increase the demand for top quality machines from Autefa Solutions.”

For the needle nonwovens process, Autefa Solutions presents the Needle Loom Fehrer Stylus ONE, a machine for all needling applications. StylusONE covers the needs of the market for a reliable and economic machine. With a performance of max 1200 strokes/min the Needle Loom StylusONE distinguishes itself through productivity, guaranteed longevity and maintenance free gear boxes.

Autefa Solutions delivers turn‐key lines as well as individual machines for nonwovens manufacturing.

Application fields are the production of artificial leather, filter products as well as paper‐machine felts, automotive felts, geotextiles, floor coverings, felts for insulation and nonwovens for the hygiene industry.

The product range includes fiber preparation machines, nonwovens cards, aerodynamic web forming machines (Airlay), crosslappers and needle looms. The product range additionally includes equipment for thermobonding, drying as well as cutting‐, winding‐ and festooning‐ technology.

Posted February 14, 2017

Source: Autefa Solutions

INDEX™ 17 Exhibitor Preview: Brückner

LEONBERG, Germany — February 7, 2017 — As one of the leading producers of finishing and thermal treatment lines for the nonwovens and textile industry, BRÜCKNER considers its participation in the INDEX trade fair in Geneva as absolutely obligatory. On booth no. 1580 in hall 1 the visitors have the opportunity to inform themselves from April 4-7, 2017, extensively about new products and technologies.

In the nonwovens sector the Brückner portfolio comprises all types of application systems, thermal treatment lines, dryers as well as cutting and batching units. On the occasion of this year’s INDEX trade fair in Geneva Brückner wants to present their customers and prospective clients the new developments and improvements in the field of belt dryers, a type of dryer which gained compared to conventional drum dryers more and more acceptance in the last years.

The design of the high-performance dryer SUPRA-FLOW BH, which had been particularly developed for the air-through drying of light hydroentangled nonwovens, has been optimized. This type of dryer is characterized by its particularly high evaporation capacity, a high energy efficiency, the gentle material transport and an excellent drying homogeneity. It is thus clearly more than an alternative for the use of an air-through drum dryer and offers many benefits for the user.

Another new development is the SUPRA-FLOW BE-ADL belt dryer developed for ADL products for thermo-fusion of card nonwovens. In the design of this dryer particular attention was paid to a gentle fabric transport, a high temperature accuracy and a precise air control. The air circulation in this dryer follows also the air-through principle.

In the last decades Brückner supplied many lines and dryers for the international nonwovens industry. The final use of the nonwovens is manifold and range from the construction trade to the garment and automobile industry to medical textiles, cleaning or care articles and filter materials. Very different application systems are used for these articles, screen printing and slop-pad coaters, coating machines, flocking units, powder scattering units, spray booths or foam impregnation units or padders. Depending on the purposes Brückner offers also different dryers matching the customers’ individual needs and processes. Brückner’s portfolio comprises among other systems also flat dryers with one or several fabric passages, vertical dryer, cylinder dryers, drum dryers, airlaid dryers, infra-red radiation dryers, high temperature dryers and combinations thereof.

Particularly in case of lines with large working widths Brückner gained a very positive reputation in the last years. Many very large lines are in operation worldwide, the largest has a working width of more than seven meters and has been designed for the heat-setting of geo nonwovens.

If you are interested in detailed information about our products or technologies for your individual article or process the experts will advise you with pleasure on the BRÜCKNER booth and they are looking forward to meeting you.

Posted February 14, 2017

Source: Brückner

INDEX™ 17 Exhibitor Preview: Kelheim Fibres

KELHEIM, Germany — Viscose specialty fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres presents a mixture of new and well-established — and further enhanced — products at index17 in Geneva.

Flushability remains one of the most important topics. With their flat short cut fiber, Viloft®, Kelheim Fibres offers the first viscose fibre for rapidly disintegrating wet wipes. Nevertheless, the Bavarians do not rely on the performance of the fiber and their experience of more than 10 years in this area alone — quite the opposite in fact: together with the local wastewater authorities and renowned pump manufacturer WILO, comprehensive tests on products containing Viloft® were conducted in 2016.

“We wanted to go one step beyond the requirements of the flushabilty guidelines and we see what actually happens in practice – that is to say down in the sewage system. In contrast to traditional (spunlace) wipes, which led to clogging and blocked pumps, wipes made of Viloft® have passed the test with flying colors. Furthermore, our close cooperation with the wastewater authorities has made clear to us how much damage to the sewage systems is really caused by incorrectly disposed wet wipes. The increased maintenance costs amount to almost 200 Mio € per year in Germany alone — and, at the end of the day, these costs are paid by the consumer”, says Matthew North, Commercial Director at Kelheim Fibres.

In addition to their rapid disintegration, which eases the load on the pumps, wet wipes made of Viloft® and wood pulp are compostable: they consist of 100-percent cellulose and are fully biodegradable.

Hygienic fibers remain another important topic for the world-leading manufacturer of viscose fibers for the tampon industry. Their patented, extra absorbent specialty fiber Galaxy®, highest hygiene standards as well as a deep understanding for their customers’ needs enable long-lasting peer-to-peer partnerships. The ”External Business Partner Excellence Award 2016“,recently received from P&G, is proof of this.

Nevertheless, the innovative fiber experts step up to new challenges, too: Kelheim Fibres’ in-house R&D has developed a new fibre named Electra, which can be used in a wide range of applications for the dissipation of static charges. Currently, Kelheim is testing the possible use of this fiber in connection with sensitive electronic components.

Kelheim Fibres displays these products and more functionalized specialty fibers at booth no. 2415 at Index17 in Geneva.

Posted February 17, 2017

Source: Kelheim Fibres

INDEX™ 17 Exhibitor Preview: Trützschler Nonwovens

MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany — February 6, 2017 — What are the decisive criteria for successful nonwoven manufacturing? The answer Trützschler Nonwovens focuses on at INDEX is high-quality webs and low conversion costs.

A major point at the show will be carding concepts for creating perfect webs for hygiene and other applications. Many end products require distinctive web characteristics therefore Trützschler Nonwovens continuously extends its range of fiber treatment, carding and web forming machinery. At INDEX we invite for discussions on airlay cards, random cards and the various configurations of our proven standard roller card.

In the bonding process often a different type of challenge arises when productivity and efficiency become an issue.

Take for instance chemical bonded webs: with the new Trützschler High-Speed Foulard for the application of liquid binding agents we address line speed. Various optimizations on rolls (patent pending) and sub-components allow for increasing the production speed of lightweight webs by up to 50%.

Hydroentangling and drying are a third focus point at INDEX because these processes are always worth a detailed discussion. For decades both the AquaJet and the multi-drum dryer have been on top of Trützschler Nonwovens’ R&D agenda. We are looking forward to discuss the various configurations, new features and the most efficient spunlacing and drying processes.

Posted February 14, 2017

Source: Trützschler Nonwovens

INDEX™ 17 Exhibitor Preview: Suominen

HELSINKI — February 6, 2017 — Suominen, a globally leading supplier of nonwovens, will exhibit at INDEX17, a four-day nonwovens industry event, in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 4–7, 2017.

Thanks to the company’s recent investments in production technology, product development and other strategic capabilities, Suominen will showcase its broadest range of innovation ever designed for wipes, hygiene products and medical applications. We will present our latest innovations for household, workplace, as well as flushable wipes while introducing new freshness to the baby segment.

Suominen booth visitors will also have a chance to discover our approach to sustainability and how we continue to be pioneers in terms of environmental and social responsibility.

You are warmly welcomed to visit our booth #1522 to learn more about Suominen, a market-driven, global nonwovens company creating materials that make customers stand out.

Run With Suominen

We would also like to invite you to start your day with either a stimulating jog, or a brisk, refreshing walk along the beautiful Pedestrian Promenade at Lake Geneva with the Suominen team.

If you wish to join us, please meet our team at 7.00 am at Monument Brunswick on Thursday 6 April morning.

To reserve your spot on the starting post, kindly let us know by return e-mail to messages@suominencorp.com.

Posted February 6, 2017

Source: Suominen

Registration Now Open For INDEX™17

BRUSSELS — February 3, 2017 — Registration is now open for INDEX™17, the world’s leading nonwovens exhibition, which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 4-7 April 2017. The show will feature over 650 exhibitors and 12,500 visitors, providing a unique opportunity for suppliers and clients from over 100 countries to meet and learn. Online registration is available here.

Visitors and exhibitors will have the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the latest developments in nonwovens and their innovative applications through discussions and tutorials. Exhibitors will showcase the remarkable functional qualities of these versatile materials, with leading industry speakers at dedicated seminars sharing the latest trends and case studies.

A rich four-day program will feature, amongst others, a seminar programme highlighting target sectors of application for nonwovens, including Transportation, Medical and Healthcare, Geotextiles and Filtration, the latter in the form of the FILTREX™ conference, taking place in parallel with INDEX™17 for the first time.

Each of the four sector-specific sessions will be opened by keynote speeches, which will be freely accessible to all INDEX™17 visitors. These will discuss the ‘Big Picture’ environment and identify the key challenges that will shape the future of each particular field.

Keynote speakers

  • Dominique Taffin, Senior Manager Industrial Design, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, will discuss future trends in the automotive industry, the mobility of the future, and how trends will impact the development of materials for the transportation industry.
  • Prof. Dr. Sebastian Probst, Professor of Tissue Viability and Wound Care, Haute école de santé (HEdS), will address current and future challenges in wound care
    Dr. Russell Jones, Director, Golder Associates, President of the International Geosynthetics Society, will speak about the contribution of geotextiles to the global sustainability agenda.
  • Prof. Dr. Nino Künzli, Professor for Public Health Dean of the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), Deputy Director Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), will discuss health effects due to air pollution and more specifically, particulate matter, during the free opening session of partner conference and exhibition FILTREX™.

Subsequent presentations in each of these sessions will demonstrate how the nonwovens industry is contributing to providing solutions for these diverse and complex challenges.
For additional information and the event program, please visit our website on www.index17.org.

Posted February 14, 2017

Source: EDANA

INDEX™ 17 Exhibitor Preview: Trevira

BOBINGEN, Germany — February 3, 2017 — At the leading fair for the nonwovens market polyester specialist Trevira GmbH from Bobingen/Germany will again be presenting this year its extensive product portfolio, covering the vast range of technologies and applications in this important segment. The focus is on customized new developments, as well as on innovation and optimization of existing fiber types. Other key issues are added functionalities for bico fibers and the offer of short-cut fibers for a variety of end uses.

This year Trevira will again participate in a joint presentation with sister companies from
the Indorama Ventures parent group, a repeat of the procedure followed at the last event
in 2014 and at IDEA in Boston in 2016. At Techtextil in Frankfurt in May this year Trevira
can also be found on the Indorama Ventures stand.

Posted February 14, 2017

Source: Trevira

INDEX™ 17 Exhibitor Preview: DiloGroup

EBERBACH, Germany — February 2, 2017 — International nonwoven producers meet again in Geneva, Switzerland, from April 4-7, 2017, on the occasion of the INDEX exhibition. DiloGroup will inform in detail about its machine program from fibre preparation to finished needlefelt. DiloGroup with its units DiloSpinnbau, DiloTemafa, DiloMachines and DiloSystems offers tailor-made production lines from one supplier for almost all applications.

DiloTemafa offers new possibilities for the gentle opening of longer fibers at high throughput speeds using several opening stages.

The VectorQuadroCard by DiloSpinnbau, first presented at the ITMA 2015 show in Milan, Italy, combines different types of card within one card by a simple and fast changeover of the intermediate section. The newly designed delivery system is also flexible to allow the production of parallel, random or condensed webs. The new card feeding system Unifeed that combines the principles of a volumetric system allowing fine dosing with the advantages of an open vibration chute feed is also adapted to this new card.

The newly presented horizontal crosslayer DLSC 200 from DiloMachines sets new standards in crosslapping technology with an electro-mechanical web infeed speed of 200 m/min depending on the fibers used.

The new needle module technique of DiloMachines embeds 22 needles in a plastic support and is used in needle boards with very high needle density. These modules result in a fast and precise filling of needle boards. They are used in Variopunch needling technology where bad spots in stitch distribution are eliminated by variable needle arrangements thus creating a more homogeneous and higher surface quality. This needle module technology was first used in the compact line presented on the ITMA 2015 in Milan, Italy.

This compact line is designed for the production of high quality needlefelts from special fibers such as carbon. It completes our portfolio that includes not only small production lines for laboratories and large needling lines for papermachine felts but all machines for the production of needlefelts from staple fibers.

DiloGroup has delivered more than 300 production lines to the nonwovens industry
worldwide and thus has the required know-how and a complete range of machines to supply the optimum production line for your requirements. These highly modern and innovative production lines are the result of continuous engineering development work and steady product development in our own textile research centers.

We look forward to welcoming you in Geneva at INDEX on our booth No. 2010 from April 4
to 7, 2017.

Posted February 14, 2017

Source: DiloGroup

 

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