Pakistan Textile Journal. march index

The Andritz Küsters GmbH with approximately 480 employees is positioned at three locations, in Germany, Switzerland and in the USA. Together with the representations, which have mostly been active for Küsters world-wide for many years, they offer their customers continuously available consulting, technologically state-of-the-art machinery and comprehensive service. The name Küsters is always associated with the “Swimming Roll”. It revolutionized the manufacturing and finishing processes in the textile, nonwoven and paper industry.

Just a year after market presentation of the neXdetect, the innovative measuring

system of Andritz Küsters won at the Index 08 in Geneva the esteemed innovation prize in the category “machines”.

Following the Index 05 Award for the Twin Calender this is now EDANA’s second award in succession for the enterprise from Krefeld.

With this measuring technique, for which a patent has been applied, Andritz Küsters achieved a breakthrough in the detection of stripe applications on non-wovens. neXdetect reliably detects the position and width of chemical applications in the form of stripes on the dry web during running production.

As no other machine in the competition the neXdetect fulfilled the jury’s requirements regarding innovation and relevance for the nonwovens industry. For manufacturers of nonwovens with hydrophilic stripes for the hygiene industry the use of the neXdetect means a marked reduction of production costs, a reliable process control and, at the same time, a documented increase in quality standard.

“We are honoured to have received this award”, said a well-pleased Andreas Lukas, leader of Andritz Küsters Nonwoven, “as the Index Award reflects the trust of the nonwovens industry in our innovative power and our process understanding. neXdetect is far more than mere traditional mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and software. neXdetect reflects our service for process optimization.

This challenging goal could, above all, be achieved thanks to our continuous and open exchange of ideas with our customers. Together with our partner Udicom a product was created from which the entire industry stands to gain.

Increasing raw materials prices and energy costs make it necessary to control and enhance every process. neXdetect allows us to provide a substantial contribution towards a proven reduction in raw materials and energy costs.”

Until recently the precise setting of the stripe application was a very elaborate process which was only possible by investing a lot of time, generating a considerable quantity of waste and under a high degree of process uncertainty. neXdetect continuously recognises the applied stripes on the dry web during the running production process.

The neXdetect can be used inline as well as offline. This results in a considerable saving in set-up time, relief for the operating staff, besides which deviations from the product specification are immediately recognized. More flexibility, higher productivity and a real added value for the nonwovens industry.

The Andritz Küsters staff in Krefeld are already well aware that the neXdetect can perform far more than “just” detect stripes. Further development projects for a differentiated product recognition and measuring of the oil pick-up are already in the pipeline. On-the-spot decision makers relished the opportunity of seeing the neXdetect exhibited at the Andritz Küsters booth in Geneva in April 2008.