Company
Nonwoven
Paper

Wetlaid Technology

The Market

Wetlaid Nonwovens are continuously gaining importance. The development of new high-tech fibres and the rediscovery of natural fibres as modern construction materials constantly open up new niche markets for nonwovens in almost all fields of industry. Areas of application are the automobile industry, the aerospace industry, agriculture and construction, the medical/hygiene industry and the domestic economy.
 
As of 1 January 2007 Andritz Küsters entered into an exclusive cooperation agreement with regard to sales, production and installation of wetlaid nonwoven production lines with PILL Nassvliestechnik GmbH, Reutlingen. The technological know-how of the PILL company and synergies within the Andritz Group now open doors and offer interesting comprehensive solutions for the production of wetlaid nonwovens.

The Process

The wetlaid technology has its origins in the paper industry.
For the production of paper a suspension of pulp and water is processed with the help of refiners, deflakers and cleaners into a homogeneous stock, which is pumped into the paper machine via the machine chest. This system is suited for paper production from short fibres or pulp with high density and low porosity. Before dewatering the pulp has a consistence of about 1%. The water flows off through a horizontal wire, whereas the fibrous mass remains on the wire.
 
For the production of nonwovens with controlled porosity, the formation route must be extended and must be inclined, so that the fibres can settle consecutively. In this process the pulp consistency is markedly reduced to about 0.03%.
Due to the low density of the suspension each individual fibre can move almost unhindered in the flowing liquid before settling onto the other fibres on the wire. This leads to the formation of a homogeneous product with controlled porosity.
 

With the neXformer wetlaid fibres from 1 to 18 mm length, in some cases even longer, can be used. 

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neXformer wetlaid 
The core of the Andritz Küsters wetlaid technology

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Wetlaid lines

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