High-performance meltblown system with ecuTEC+ commissioned
An Oerlikon Nonwoven meltblown system – here with integrated ecuTEC+ unit for electrostatically-charging the filter media.
NOWOtex GmbH puts its faith in Oerlikon Nonwoven meltblown technology
Neumünster, June 3, 2021 – Oerlikon Nonwoven has commissioned a further high-performance meltblown system with ecuTEC+ electro-charging unit at NOWOtex GmbH & Co. KG in Eichenzell, Germany. The Hesse-based company specializes in needled nonwovens and – with the new system – now also has meltblown nonwovens manufacturing capacities, allowing NOWOtex to expand its product portfolio. As of now, the company is producing polypropylene filter nonwovens, which are particularly suitable for protective masks. The coronavirus pandemic has not only increased demand for protective masks, the domestic manufacture of these products is now also be promoted and supported by the German Government.
Using the new meltblown system, NOWOtex will in future be manufacturing first-class filter nonwovens that can be used to produce up to 600 million operating room filter masks or 300 million highly-effective FFP2 masks per year. The system has been optimally equipped with the ecuTEC+ electrocharging unit for the production of mask nonwovens. “Thanks to the excellent collaboration, the system has been operating under stable production conditions for several weeks now, with optimum nonwoven quality of the very highest standards”, summarizes Vincent Bach, Managing Director of NOWOtex.
The Oerlikon Nonwoven meltblown spinning process excels as a result of homogeneous nonwoven properties and running meter weights.
And the system is also ideal for manufacturing other high-end filtration nonwovens for industrial applications. “The Oerlikon Nonwoven system offers us maximum flexibility, allowing us to not just manufacture nonwovens for masks. Demand is huge and, thanks to the meltblown system, we have been able to launch our new NOWOmelt product range. This is providing our clients with an even broader range of innovative nonwovens”, explains Bach, talking about the investment in the new Oerlikon Nonwoven system. And Dr. Ingo Mählmann, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing Oerlikon Nonwoven, adds: “Many systems exclusively designed for mask nonwoven production were commissioned during the pandemic. In contrast, we are focusing on sustainability. Our meltblown systems have been designed in such a way that they can be converted for other applications – both quickly and without great expense. This means that our customers are well-equipped for future requirements.”
About Oerlikon
Oerlikon (SIX: OERL) is a global innovation powerhouse for surface engineering, polymer processing and additive manufacturing. Its solutions and comprehensive services, together with its advanced materials, improve and maximize performance, function, design and sustainability of its customers’ products and manufacturing processes in key industries. Pioneering technology for decades, everything the company invents and does is guided by its passion to support its customers’ goals and foster a sustainable world. Headquartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, the Group operates its business in two divisions – Surface Solutions and Polymer Processing Solutions. It has a global footprint of more than 10,600 employees at 179 locations in 37 countries and generated sales of CHF 2.3 billion in 2020.
For further information: www.oerlikon.com
About the Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division
With its Oerlikon Barmag, Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven brands, the Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division is focusing on manmade fibers plant engineering and flow control equipment solutions. Oerlikon is one of the leading providers of manmade fiber filament spinning systems, texturing machines, BCF systems, staple fiber systems and solutions for the production of nonwovens and – as a service provider – offers engineering solutions for the entire textile value added chain. Furthermore, Oerlikon has a high precision flow control components business that currently offers a large selection of gear metering pumps for the textile and other industries, including the automotive, chemical and paint markets.
As a future-oriented company, the research and development at this division of the Oerlikon Group is driven by energy-efficiency and sustainable technologies (e-save). With its range of polycondensation and extrusion systems and their key components, the company caters to the entire manufacturing process – from the monomer all the way through to the textured yarn and other innovative polymer processed materials and applications. The product portfolio is rounded off with automation and Industrie 4.0 solutions.
The primary markets for the product portfolio of Oerlikon Barmag are in Asia, especially in China, India and Turkey, and – for those of Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven – in the USA, Asia, Turkey and Europe. Worldwide, the division – with more than 3,500 employees – has a presence in 120 countries with production, sales and distribution and service organizations. At the R&D centers in Remscheid, Neumünster (Germany) and Suzhou (China), highly qualified engineers, technologists and technicians develop innovative and technologically leading products for tomorrow’s world.
For further information: www.oerlikon.com/polymer-processing/en
