Pakistan Textile Journal. march index

For the first time Fleissner will jointly exhibit in one booth with its sister company ERKO Trützschler GmbH. They will present the full capacities of the Trützschler Nonwovens Group. At the ITMA 2008 in Shanghai, Fleissner will present its newest innovations in the field of nonwoven technology at Hall: W4, Stand: B15. While Fleissner is expert in supplying machinery for spunlacing, thermal bonding, chemical bonding and general finishing process including impregnation and drying, ERKO brings technically advanced equipment for fiber opening, blending, carding, airlaying and needle punching processes to the table. The two companies form a natural team by complementing each others’ product portfolio.

The AquaJet was put on the market by Fleissner more than 10 year ago and has been used for bonding of all kinds of nonwovens from low weights (20 g/m²) to very high weights (500 g/m²) ever since. The main focus of these spunlaced products is on nonwovens made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers and spunbond webs. More than 80 AquaJet lines have been deli

vered so far, while the development of the AquaJet continues.

Especially for spunlace lines with a width of more than 5m and very high production speeds, a completely new JUMBO-AquaJet was designed. This line has been continuously operating for more than one year.

The Fleissner LeanJet was newly designed for reduced production capacities of high quality at lower investment costs.

Several of these lines are already operating successfully, being characterized by the following features:

The combination of spunbond production and spunlacing is predestined for very high production speeds. The technical design of the Fleissner AquaJet drums is especially favorable for optimum dewatering, which is of decisive importance for high production speeds and the resulting centrifugal forces of the water to be removed.

The Fleissner AquaJet line is suitable for softening usually calendered spunbonds at speeds of more than 600 m/min.

For several years, AquaJet lines have been used exclusively for spunlacing of heavy spunbonds. The advantage of this system consists in much higher production speeds compared to conventional mechanical needling. Moreover, the nonwovens are provided with a very smooth surface. Possible applications include roofing felts and geotextiles.

Spunlacing of light-weight spunbonds directly after spunbond formation was successfully optimized by Fleissner in cooperation with Reifenhäuser Reicofil. Much higher strengths were achieved compared to normally calendered spunbonds with volumes or web thicknesses doubled. These nonwovens are characterized by a very soft touch. Together with other renowned European producers of spunbond lines, Fleissner has developed spunlaced spunbond products.

AquaJet Production Lines for 2-Layer and 3-Layer Composites with Pulp and Spunbonds or Pulp/Spunbond/Staple Fiber Web (AquaPulp System) technology is a patented system that combines spunlace and airlaid technologies:

Fleissner AquaJet lines for multi-layer nonwovens made of fibers combined with pulp (CPC and CP) have been used successfully for years and a special filtration system was developed for the circulating water.

A further development stage resulted in the delivery of lines combining spunbond, pulp and staple fibers (SPC). The special advantage here lies in the use of spunbonds for increased web strength while at the same time reducing web weight. Moreover, optimized bonding of the three-layer webs results in an excellent soft touch.

Both technologies, CPC and SPC have already been successfully been implemented using Fleissner machinery.

Two-layer webs made of staple fibers combined with tissue for surgical gowns or cover sheets are successfully produced with AquaJet lines.

Fleissner has the experience gained in several decades of roofing felt production. By using Fleissner AquaJet technology instead of conventional needling, production speeds could be considerably increased while strength values remained the same.

The Fleissner SteamJet was newly developed together with STFI Chemnitz. This machine bonds nonwovens by means of steam jets which are generated in steam heads with rows of holes similar to those in an AquaJet. The steam is overheated to prevent condensation in the product. Drying after the SteamJet is not required. SteamJet bonding offers the following advantages:

v Suitable for processing all kinds of synthetic fibers, filaments, blends with natural fibers.

This process is particularly suitable for the production of nonwovens from fibers sensitive to water such as super-absorbent fibers and PVA Possible combination with thermobonding ovens for preliminary bonding and SteamJet for final bonding and structuring

The Fleissner MiniJet was developed to serve both, as laboratory line or as machine for beginners in the market. It is now standardized at machine widths of 1000 mm and 500 mm and commercially available at very attractive costs.

The main features are operating pressures of up to 400 bar and speeds up to 55 m/min. It is built as skid mounted system, hence minimizing installation costs at site. First orders are already being processed.

The Fleissner High Speed Foam Foulard may revitalize the demand for resin bonded products, as it speeds up the process from 60-70 m/min to 200 m/min. This is achieved by the integration of a small hydroentanglement step for prebonding prior to running the material through the foulard.

Fleissner offers perforating and structuring shells which allow webs to be provided with a wide range of designs during spunlacing, imparting individual aspect, softer touch and improved performance, such as absorption of moisture or retention of dirt for wipes.

An integrated spreader unit in the Fleissner AquaJet increases the CD strength of nonwovens. Nonwovens with a homogeneous streak-free surface can be produced using the patented oscillating jet head, which represents a special advantage for heavier nonwovens used as coating substrates.

Fleissner supplied a spunlace line for an entirely new product: A combination of electro spun nanoweb and polyester of splittable fiber type. Applications are artificial leather and premium sports textiles.

Nonwovens containing tubular hollows are produced in a continuous process based on a patent of Leeds (UK) University. These hollows can be filled with liquid, gel or solids during the spunlace process.

Typical applications are nonwovens filled with liquid soap or lotion. Hydrospace webs with empty hollows have a strongly increased sound absorption capacity, which is an important feature in the automotive industry.