Working across diapers, adult incontinence and feminine Hygiene applications, Indorama Ventures innovations meet customer demand for lower base material weights, optimum fluid distribution, comfort and protection. Customers can expect to see the product portfolio featured to demonstrate functional attributes including strength and durability, micro and macro protection, lightweighting, sensation and experience as well as sustainability.

Continuing to support customers’ sustainability objectives and provide sustainable source materials for hygiene applications, Indorama Ventures’ portfolio includes Deja CO2 neutral fibers, a carbon neutral solution for PP staple fibers. The range highlights Indorama Ventures’ ambition and ability to produce PP, PET and rPET mono and bicomponent fibers with a lower carbon footprint.

Indorama Ventures’ development of Biotransformation Technology for nonwovens and fibers has been shortlisted under the ‘raw materials or components’ category of EDANA’s INDEX Innovation Awards, which will be presented during this year’s INDEX23 exhibition. Through its 10-year partnership agreement with technology innovator Polymateria, Indorama Ventures is applying Polymateria’s unique biotransformation technology to fibers and nonwovens.

Biotransformation is the world’s first technology that is capable of delivering full biodegradation of Polyolefin products in the open terrestrial environment. Polyolefin-based materials produced by this technology are especially useful for applications where materials may be leaked into the environment as unmanaged waste.

Shachar Rachim, CEO at Indorama Ventures’ Hygiene Group, said: “Underpinning all of Indorama Ventures’ products, across our comprehensive range of innovative, recycled, biodegradable and sustainable polymer solutions, is sustainable development. We are pleased to see our Biotransformation Technology collaboration being recognized and shortlisted for Excellence in the nonwovens and related industries at INDEX23. The development of fully biodegradable and recyclable hygiene components means we can offer scalable, innovative and commercial solutions to the industry that are environmentally friendly. It reinforces how sustainability is a strategic focus for Indorama Ventures, and we look forward to sharing this and other innovations with industry visitors to INDEX23”.

Avgol, an Indorama Ventures company, will use INDEX23 to showcase its commitment to developing solutions that deliver meaningful change. “We will present a holistic approach to sustainability with everything from our biodegradation technology and the use of more natural components, to introducing new materials with improved carbon footprint and recyclability,” said Avgol’s Acting CEO Sivan Yedidsion. “It is vitally important that we can engage with customers and partners and gain additional insight into their own desired approaches to meeting sustainability objectives — and present the industry with how we can work in synergy by bringing our own technologies, logistics and production achievements. Our overall message is one of collaboration, validated results and being future focused to make meaningful and, more importantly, relevant changes.” Come meet the Indorama Ventures’ Hygiene Team at Stand 2119 at INDEX23.

Posted: April 18, 2023

Source: Indorama Ventures Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL)

“In our approach to offer fibers that build futures, we prioritize the delivery of a fit-for-purpose performance fiber that also embraces circular economy and boasts sustainability-related properties. Through collaboration, and by leveraging our R&D capabilities, we can help nonwoven producers to take positive steps towards their sustainability targets and product performance goals,” commented Maria Teresa Tomaselli, general manager, Beaulieu Fibres International.

Material & carbon footprint reduction with Meralux®

For more sustainable hygiene nonwovens, INDEX23 visitors are invited to discover the Meralux® BICO TRILOBAL class of fibers, enhancing raw material savings, nonwoven basis weight reduction, significant CO2 reduction, and recyclability potential. With their particular cross-section shape, these unique polypropylene/polyethylene fibers achieve a reduced weight of fibres with the same fibre coverage compared to a round BICO PP/PE fiber. Savings of up to 54 percent fiber use can be achieved, resulting in a 57-percent carbon footprint reduction*. Meralux BICO TRILOBAL fibers offer possibilities for higher opacity, higher bulkiness and improved liquid management, to bring significant improvements to the dryness of nonwovens for hygiene applications. Moreover, the fibres are designed for recycling thanks to the use of polyolefin polymers.

Save energy and water consumption with UltraBond

On the path towards 100-percent recyclable industrial applications, choose UltraBond, Beaulieu Fibres International’s innovative bonding staple fibre to gain a significant ecological footprint reduction for 100-percent polyolefin nonwoven products and eliminate the need for latex or other chemical binders.

Nonwoven producers benefit from a reduction in production and energy costs, and ultimately from a lower carbon footprint, as processing UltraBond requires no water and happens through thermal bonding, a 100 percent dry process.

This “greener” production process is highlighted in Rewind event carpet, a 100-percent PP needlepunched flooring solution. During production it requires 85-percent less energy and 100-percent less water, and generates 55-percent less CO₂ compared to traditional event carpet**.

Progress in the move away from virgin fossil-based fibers for nonwovens

As of March 2023, Beaulieu Fibres International is able to offer bio circular products from all three manufacturing sites. The ISCC Plus certifications for both the Belgian and Italian plants confirm to the nonwoven market that the development of sustainable fibre solutions with a negative carbon footprint is now possible.

Touch & Feel

There are samples to discover at Beaulieu Fibres International’s INDEX23 Stand 1340.

Be the first to share feedback on Beaulieu Fibres International’s newest technology demonstration of Hyper Soft fibres for even more comfort. The extremely soft PET/PE BICO fiber-based nonwoven prototypes will be presented to visitors for comparison to the current softest fibers commercially available. Over to you to indicate which samples could become the new future standard in top sheet softness.

Drop by the INDEX23 Innovation Lab to discover even more fibre technology. This dedicated display area will showcase the diverse applications of nonwovens and their specific properties. Nonwoven samples, produced with industry-related fibers from Beaulieu Fibres International, will be displayed in the areas of adsorbent hygiene products, personal care/baby wipes, construction/building, geotextiles and filtration.

*The environmental impacts of Meralux were calculated through an LCA analysis
^**The reduction in environmental impacts was confirmed in a cradle-to-gate LCA analysis

Posted: April 17, 2023

Source: Beaulieu Fibres International

From the latest breakthroughs in biotransformation technology through to collaborations that ensure customers meet their own sustainability objectives, Avgol will showcase to visitors of the world’s leading nonwovens exhibition its commitment to developing component materials that deliver meaningful change.

Together with its sister companies from Indorama Ventures Limited (IVL), Avgol will be presenting biotransformation capable fibers, spunbond, meltblown and SMS for diversified end-use markets at the event, from April 18-21. Avgol will present and be available to discuss with visitors how this developing technology and the company’s other related products can help businesses achieve their 2030 sustainability goals.

“With INDEX being the key global Hygiene show in 2023, it presents a great opportunity to demonstrate and discuss our very latest innovations, and to highlight the value we bring to our customers, and ultimately to the consumers,” said Avgol’s Acting CEO Sivan Yedidsion.

From booth 2119 at Geneva’s Palexpo, Avgol will highlight the latest breakthroughs since recently announcing its collaboration with Algaeing. Avgol uses patented algae bio-based formulations for colorants in its products, combining a unique environmental solution for modifying the aesthetic qualities of materials with Avgol’s ongoing commitment to sustainable polyolefin based spunbond and meltblown fabrics.

“We see potential with the colorant technology in proof of concept and prototyping phases and we are looking forward to presenting the materials to the market,” Yedidsion said. “This is a fast-changing market right now, and with the impact of new legislation, raw material availability, evolving customer requirements and consumer interest, this year’s INDEX gives us the ideal opportunity to discuss these challenges in person,” he said.

Roberto Boggio, CCO at Avgol, added: “We will present a holistic approach to sustainability with everything from our biodegradation technology and the use of more natural components, to introducing new materials with improved carbon footprint and recyclability. It is vitally important that we can engage with customers and partners and gain additional insight into their own desired approaches to meeting sustainability objectives — and show the synergy with our own technologies, logistics and production achievements.

“Our overall message is one of collaboration, validated results and being future focused to make meaningful and, more importantly, relevant changes,” Boggio said.

Avgol, an IVL company, offers the global hygiene market a comprehensive range of ultra-lightweight spun-melt nonwoven fabrics. “Avgol is building a portfolio of products and materials to offer 100 percent sustainable end-products for Hygiene, Medical, PPE and Industrial applications,” commented Nick Carter, vice president, marketing at Avgol. “Our continued collaborations and links with academia, trade organizations across the consumer landscape and other companies, including our counterparts in the production space, is a critical aspect towards supporting customers with unique offerings that will maintain the importance, and relevance, of responsible absorbent hygiene products into the future.”

INDEX 23 will be held from 18-21 April 2023 at Palexpo International Exhibition and Congress Centre, Geneva, Switzerland.

Visitors to booth #2119 will be able to speak with the Avgol experts about the latest developments in breakthrough solutions that can help deliver performance while also meeting their own sustainability objectives.

Posted: April 14, 2023

Source: Avgol – An Indorama Ventures Limited Company

Kelheim Fibres is currently working on various development projects to design fully biobased AHP (absorbent hygiene product) concepts that do not compromise on performance. In this area, the company continues to focus on its wood-based specialty fibers, which the tampon industry has trusted for decades. However, the requirements for AHP products differ, as each layer must fulfill a specific function.

To meet these requirements, Kelheim Fibres has developed a range of functionalized specialty fibers, including hydrophobic Olea, trilobal Galaxy®, and the hollow fiber Bramante. These specialty fibers ensure optimal results in every layer of the AHP product.

All of Kelheim’s fibers are manufactured from 100-percent wood pulp derived from certified and sustainably managed forests. They are fully biodegradable — microorganisms in soil and seawater ensure that no residues remain.

“As pioneers in our industry, we do not limit ourselves to producing innovative fibres,” said Dr. Crnoja-Cosic, director of New Business Development at Kelheim Fibres. “Together with our partners we develop holistic concepts that cover the entire value chain. Through this collaboration based on the Open Innovation principle, products are created that take into account the real needs of customers and are thought through from beginning to end, so they can be quickly ramped up to a commercial scale.”

A current example of such a partner project is the development of a completely bio-based panty liner with the nonwovens manufacturer Sandler and the hygiene products manufacturer pelzGROUP, which is due to be launched on the market shortly.

In addition to new projects in the field of biobased disposable and reusable solutions, Kelheim will also present its tried and tested fibers at the fair, for example for tampons or flushable wipes. The Kelheim Fibres team is looking forward to your visit at booth 2415 at INDEX.

Posted: April 12, 2023

Source: Kelheim Fibres GmbH

In the last years BRÜCKNER realized some very challenging projects in the nonwovens industry. These include lines for the heat-setting of geotextiles, finishing lines for nonwovens in the medical technology as well as thermofusion lines for the bonding of voluminous nonwovens for the furniture industry.

Besides the current sales successes, the continuous further development of the processes and the associated line technology plays a decisive role for the German world market leader. The basis of each BRÜCKNER line is the technologically best possible line configuration, which is always individually tailored to the customer and his needs. For this purpose, customers and interested potential customers can carry out tests in BRÜCKNER’s Technology Center at any time. Heat-setting, thermofusion, coating, laminating, drying and finishing tests can be carried out on two lines in production scale.

In order to provide even better support in the future, especially for customers in the nonwovens production sector, a flow-through belt oven was added to the range of test machines at the BRÜCKNER Technology Center at the beginning of the year.

This is a small and compact thermo treatment line which, due to its short length, is excellently suitable to simulate also fast running processes with short dwell times at moderate test speeds. The electrically heated unit is equipped with all relevant sensors for measuring the local system pressures, the air volumes, the air temperatures, the material surface temperature and the process air humidity.

BRÜCKNER’s sales engineers will be pleased to advise you at the INDEX in hall 1, booth 1580 about the concrete possibilities for the optimization and development of nonwoven products in BRÜCKNER

Posted: March 23, 2023

Source: Brückner Textile Technologies GmbH & Co. KG

• Presenting model ExxonMobil baby diaper made using its broad product portfolio
• Displaying high loft nonwovens that include ISCC PLUS mass balance certified circular polymers using Exxtend technology for advanced recycling of plastic waste
• Highlighting ISCC PLUS mass balance certified circular polymers as an opportunity to help the hygiene industry create solutions with sustainability benefits

“INDEX23 is the perfect platform to demonstrate that not all hygiene solutions are created equal,” said market development manager, Gertrud Masure. “Our broad product portfolio and a collaborative approach is creating differentiated solutions that help unlock business opportunities across the value chain. This is an ideal opportunity for customers to discuss their challenges and new product ideas with our polymer and application experts.”

A major innovation being presented will be the model baby diaper of which the chassis is made exclusively with ExxonMobil’s extensive portfolio of products. “This innovation allows us to demonstrate the broad capability of our portfolio, combined with our hygiene application expertise, as we look to unlock business opportunities with interested parties committed to collaborative new developments,” said Masure.

Also on display will be a new version of the recently introduced high-loft, ultra- soft, silky-smooth nonwoven solution for premium hygiene products using an innovative blend of Vistamaxx performance polymers, Achieve Advanced PP and ExxonMobil PP. Developed collaboratively with Reifenhäuser Reicofil, this nonwoven solution delivers sustainability benefits by including ExxonMobil PP ISCC PLUS mass balance certified circular polymers using Exxtend technology for advanced recycling of plastic waste. Produced efficiently in one step from pellet to nonwoven via high-speed spunbond process, this differentiated soft nonwoven is ideal for use in premium diapers, pant-type diapers, feminine care and adult incontinence products.

“This innovation demonstrates how certified circular polymers can help deliver sustainability benefits in highly technical hygiene applications, helping the industry achieve its circularity ambitions,” Masure said.

“Delivering the same quality and performance as resins made from conventional feedstock, customers can be confident when using certified- circular polymers in existing applications,” said global market manager Olivier Lorge. “Our Exxtend technology can play an increasingly important role in creating a more circular economy for plastics by helping to broaden the range of plastics that society recycles. With ambitions to scale our technology at multiple sites around the world, we can help meet customers’ growing demand for certified-circular content.”

As part of the INDEX23 Conference Program, ExxonMobil will present “Innovative solutions for a better tomorrow” on April 18, 2023 @ 14.30.

Posted: March 23, 2023

Source: ExxonMobil

Trützschler Nonwovens and Voith displays new opportunities of paper-grade pulp as raw material for hydroentangled, biodegradable, single-use nonwovens. Since energy efficiency manufacturing is on everybody’s agenda, find out about our solutions for reducing energy and other resource consumption. Our cooperation partner Voith and its subsidiary Toscotec will be available for in-depth talks about wet-laying machinery. Voith provides highly innovative solutions for manufacturing textiles and nonwovens that offer economic and ecological benefits. As a full-line supplier, Voith achieves optimal fine-tuning of nonwoven products by focusing on long-term partnerships.

Trützschler roller cards for CP, spunlacing, needle-punching and thermobonding processes are all equipped with high performing Trützschler card clothings. At the booth Trützschler Card Clothing will present latest innovations and the extensive, worldwide avaiiable service offers that secure continuous high running performance.

With T-SUPREMA, needle-punching becomes as easy as never before. Trützschler Nonwovens’ key partnership with Texnology s.r.l. already proved our concept. We show solutions for both durable nonwovens used in technical end uses and disposable nonwovens for hygiene purposes.

An integral part of all T-SUPREMA lines is the T-ONE software package. This working environment integrates AI-based algorithms to simulate line behavior for easily optimizing line efficiency, resource consumption or nonwoven quality. Moreover, the software digitalizes major production-related working processes such as quality control or recipe management and constantly monitors product data, machine parameters and line performance.

Meet Trützschler Nonwovens, Trützschler Card Clothing and Voith at booth 1641, the focal point for all parties interested in carded and wet-laid nonwovens production. We are looking forward to meeting you

Posted: March 20, 2023

Source: Trützschler Nonwovens

SUSTAINABILITY – key focus for Andritz Nonwoven

Sustainability is a serious responsibility for the entire industry and will continue to be so for the years and decades to come. Thus, ANDRITZ’s “We Care” sustainability program combines all ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) initiatives, goals and achievements under one roof. “We Care” takes a multi-dimensional, comprehensive, and practically oriented approach towards sustainability. At INDEX, ANDRITZ will highlight its sustainable products and solutions to produce nonwovens and will present them at the EDANA Sustainability panel on April 19, 2023.

For many years now, ANDRITZ has offered different nonwoven processes for biodegradable wipes, like spunlace, Wetlace and Wetlace CP, with one goal in mind: reduction and elimination of plastic components, while maintaining the high quality of the desired product properties. The latest development in this field is the ANDRITZ neXline wetlace CP line. This is a fully engineered production line combining the benefits of drylaid and of wetlaid technologies to produce a new generation of biodegradable wipes. To reduce the energy consumption of these lines, ANDRITZ has developed the neXecodry drying technology. It is a combination of dewatering and drying processes that significantly reduces energy consumption and achieves better fabric quality with higher bulk and no pattern degradation.

Customers can conduct trials and test all options together with the ANDRITZ experts at the technical center in Montbonnot, France. It is the first nonwovens test center for wipes worldwide with integrated pulp formation and neXecodry system. ANDRITZ will organize a shuttle bus from Palexpo exhibition center to its unrivalled spunlace and Wetlace CP pilot lines in France to conduct trials.

Another strong focus will lie on the ANDRITZ product range of complete textile recycling lines for post-consumer and industrial textile waste to produce fibers for re-spinning and/or nonwoven end-uses. Customer awareness and regulations are pushing clothing brands to recycle their textile waste in their own products. Recycled fibers can also be used in the nonwovens industry for various applications, such as automotive, insulation, mattresses, filtration, and furniture felts. All these kinds of materials can be produced by the ANDRITZ airlay technology, which can perfectly process recycled fibers. It is offered as a complete line with thermobonding, needlelooms, or other bonding methods.

The current movement for sustainability and the use of recycled fibers, in blends or even 100%, is also reflected in needlepunch products and processes. ANDRITZ fully supports this market demand and has developed comprehensive solutions to control and collect the additional dust generated during the manufacturing process of recycled fibers. With the right dust collection equipment, the process is also sustainable.

For resource savings in durable nonwovens production, ANDRITZ presents its ProWinTM technology for profile web weight correction, which is used to optimize fabric evenness and provide a faster return on investment in the needlepunch segment. By combining the well-known and proven technologies ProWidTM and ProDynTM, ProWin allows customers to achieve the lowest CV-ratio ever, reaching more demanding markets and saving up to 2% additional fibers compared to ProDyn. In addition, ProWin drastically smoothes the level of instantaneous acceleration in the crosslapper. As a consequence, the same equipment can run faster with less mechanical stress, improving the crosslapper’s lifetime and potentially minimizing maintenance operation costs.

Highlights in hygiene nonwovens and applications

ANDRITZ provides complete lines and individual machines to produce hygiene nonwovens and applications, such as air-through bonding, spunlace lines, nonwovens calenders, Spunjet equipment, and complete converting lines for baby, adult, and fem care products.

For instance, one highlight at INDEX will be the latest technology development in the spunlaid sector: the patented nonwovens process called Spunjet. It is the in-line hydroentanglement of continuous filaments, creating a new generation of spunlaid nonwovens with unrivalled bulkiness and softness compared to standard spunbond fabrics. Spunjet offers customers the best properties ever achieved in existing and new nonwovens applications.

Moreover, ANDRITZ will put the spotlight on its eXcelle adult pant converting line, which offers top-class components and an innovative technology process. The growing market for adult incontinence products has resulted in a state-of-the-art process with highest quality standards, such as the development of ultrasonic side seam solutions with excellent results in terms of bond strength and system reliability. The machine speed no longer limits quality bonds. As a result, operations and size changes are faster and easier. The modern forming system for higher SAP (superabsorbent polymers) concentration and the turning and placing system guarantee maximum process stability and put customers’ adult pants at the top of the adult hygiene market.

Spot-on and digital service to keep machines running

Running complete lines calls for in-depth nonwoven expertise and excellent service. ANDRITZ focuses also on its full-service portfolio, which can ensure improved uptime, productivity, and product quality. This includes on-site support, specific training, line audits and troubleshooting, upgrades and modernization, original spare parts, remote service and digital solutions, and roll repair centers in Europe, North America, and China.

Another highlight for INDEX will be digitalization. ANDRITZ offers a broad and constantly growing range of innovative products and services in the industrial digitalization sector under the brand name Metris. One focus area is the Metris all-in-one digitalization platform, which provides full support for industrial plants throughout their entire life cycle. It combines a complete set of functionalities for professional production management, simulation and optimization using the latest artificial intelligence methods, plus cyber security, and condition monitoring with smart sensors in an integrated approach. ANDRITZ will offer a live demonstration at its booth at INDEX.

The entire ANDRITZ Nonwoven team is looking forward to welcoming customers at our booth (2114).

Posted: March 1, 2023

Source: ANDRITZ

The nonwovens sector has grown significantly in recent years. According to EDANA, the association grouping European companies operating in the sector, after the impressive growth in the previous year, the production volume of nonwovens grew by 2 percent in 2021, exceeding 3 million metric tons.

“The growth in nonwovens production has also driven the demand of machinery for nonwovens,” said Alessandro Zucchi, president of ACIMIT. The Italian technological supply has consequently expanded. At the 2023 INDEX edition, the presence of a significant number of Italian machinery manufacturers testifies their desire to play a leading role also in the production of machinery for nonwovens”.

The trend of Italian exports testifies the strong increase in production of nonwovens machinery. Indeed in 2021 Italian sales abroad reached a value of 102 million euro (+77 percent over the previous year) and in the first nine months of 2022, the value of Italian exports stood at 92 million euro.

Visit the Italian Pavilion @INDEX2023, Hall nr. 4, booths nr. 4131 & 4137

Posted: February 22, 2023

Source: ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers

DiloGroup plans to participate in both exhibitions and present at INDEX the latest developments in needling technology in anticipation of the machinery exhibition ITMA and to draw the visitors’ attention to the latest demands of environmental sustainability in nonwoven production. The research work of DiloGroup traditionally focuses on production lines for the webforming and needling of staple fiber material. After years of gradual advancements in the intense needling technology, we have succeeded in achieving the industrial scale of “MicroPunch” intense needling technology.

Good abrasion resistance of this intensely needled material allows the production of apparel, artificial leather, battery separators and filter media as well as medical and hygiene nonwovens.

The production of comfort tissues with a weight range of 30 to approximately 60 grams per square meter made from fine fiber blends using polyester and viscose has been a domain of the water-entangling technology so far. This product being a typical disposable is in the crossfire regarding sustainability and recyclability. Therefore biodegradable or decomposable fiber material is the target for more environmental sustainability.

In addition, for the evaluation of a web consolidation process, low carbon emission and low energy consumption are important criteria.

The classical needling technology and its qualification for the production of lightweight nonwovens at low cost per kilogram has been technologically and economically proved in the meantime after many years of research work. It has become possible by an intense concentration of needles in the board and very fine barbs on these specialty needles which allow an economic mounting and quick exchange due to a new module design.

Compared to water-entangling lines, the “MicroPunch” needling line provides a drastic reduction in energy consumption (electricity and gas).

In view of heavily increased costs for electricity and gas, this reduced consumption has a great impact on the total cost for a kilogram of finished product in many countries.

We look forward to welcoming you at our booth # 2010 during INDEX.

Posted: February 8, 2023

Source: DiloGroup