Technology
Fiberweb is committed to Research & Development which is demonstrated by our continuous investment in people and development assets. Fiberweb operates a 1 meter wide state-of-the-art Reicofil RF3 Spunbond-Meltblown pilot line and in 2008 invested approximately 1 million Euro to up-grade this line to operate at speeds of 800 -1000 meters per minute. Several smaller spinning lines are also available to quickly test new polymers, additives, or polymer blends.
These lines are capable of producing bi-component fibers, various fiber shapes, and can process a wide range of polymers including PP, PE, PET and PLA. This capability enabled Fiberweb to be the first company to introduce PLA (polylactic acid) based nonwovens on commercial scale.
Our production carded assets (on which we carry out our new product development programs) can handle a vast variety of fibers of different chemistry, length and denier. This includes PP, PET, bico PP/PE, PLA, viscose and Lyocell®, hydrophilic and hydrophobic cotton, crimped and special [silver containing fibres, Crabyon, Super Absorbent Fibers] fibers and many more. Thermal, air through, and resin bonding options are all available.
The final bonding and surface modification of the nonwoven are important steps to obtain the required performance attributes.. Hence, Fiberweb has developed significant expertise in various bonding technologies such as thermal, adhesive, and sonic bonding. The science of nonwoven surface modification with respect to application technology and treatment chemistry [hydrophilic (permanent or non-permanent), antistatic, alcohol repellent etc.] are key development areas for Fiberweb.
Also in 2008, Fiberweb invested in a new 1 meter wide extrusion coating line to complement the wide variety of equipment that was already available to our scientists and enginners for developing composite products using nonwoven fabrics and films.
Another opportunity for our customers to optically differentiate their product is aperturing, the process of controlled hole formation in a nonwoven web to change its appearance and touch.. An example of this technology is Fiberweb’s Coronop® line of apertured nonwovens that are commercially available with a wide range of hole sizes, hole densities and patterns.