Lucca, Italy-based A. Celli
Nonwovens has introduced the Neck-in management system and Slitto-Motor.
These are the results of a research and development program Celli
started three years ago designed to generate innovation in the area
of automation and operator-friendliness. Neck-in management is operator-friendly
software meant to design reel size and can automatically manage
fabric elasticity and shrinkage, while coordinating both knife positioning
and cardboard core cutting.
Ason Neumag Corporation, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, a division of Neumag Zweigniederlassung der Saurer GmbH & Co., recently celebrated the opening of its state-of-the-art pilot facility, the Spunbond Solutions Center, in Neumüster, Germany. The patented AST process offers several unique core competencies, such as shrink-free PET, ultra-fine filaments, high-speed spinning and high production and fabric qualities. The 1.2-meter-wide pilot line, a smaller version of a full production facility, highlights all the components of the intellectual properties of the AST patents. In addition to core Ason Neumang technology, the line incorporates components from Küsters, Edelmann and other first-tier suppliers. A needle loom is currently being added to the line. Website: www.asonnuemag.com. Green Bay-based Associated Machine Design has introduced the W-Flex series wipes production line. The line can produce continuously folded flat-pack style wet, dry or treated wipes. Various solutions and coating systems are available depending on the intended use of the product as well as a wide range of fluid viscosities. Individual wetting tube control can be accomplished using a patent pending valve and control system coupled with dedicated flow meters. The system can be equipped to read out and monitor critical machine process functions allowing for data collection and alarming. Website: www.associatedmachine.com. Industrial weaver AstenJohnson, Charleston, SC, offers a full line of products for spunlace, spunbond, meltblown, airlaid and wetlaid processes. The company's latest offering for spunbond/SMS and glassmat production is the WebMaster F325, specifically designed for the rigors of high-speed nonwovens production. It provides exceptional hold down while delivering support and release properties. Also, the GlassMaster 200NP provides a balance of properties required for the production of high quality fiberglass-based mats. Website: www.astenjohnson.com. Pistoia, Italy-based Automatex, has developed a needleloom system, the Automair. The system uses suction directly on the stripper and bedplate to reduce down time for cleaning. The looms are built for continuous production speeds of at least 1500 rpm with a 40 or 55 mm stroke. The patented, forged camshaft and oiling system are similar to those on an automobile. The absence of bearings and heavy construction drastically reduces maintenance and noise levels by 20-30%, eliminating the need for a sound room. Website: www.dawsontextile.com. Rotary cutting and embossing dies and anvils producer Best Cutting
Die, Skokie, IL, is known in the converting industry for its complete
in-house vacuum heat-treating capabilities and services. This procedure follows heat-treating and is used to stabilize the material to increase the life of the dies. Website: www.bestcuttingdie.com. Boschert, Loerrach, Germany, offers a round/square seat geometry
for its safety chucks called the VT-7 style. This new style separates
the load of the roll from its torque, resulting in extended life
for the roll shaft journal and for the seat of the safety chuck.
The bar rides on the seat during operation because the load of the
roll is on its round segment. This translates into a smoother, vibration-free
run every time. Designed for slitting and edge sealing synthetic materials where
narrow widths, down to the inch, are desired, Branson Ultrasonics
has introduced the Model F-20 Ultrasonic Slitter which produces
20% higher amplitude for faster weld cycles. Ultrasonic slitting
seals the slit edge with vibratory energy at rates ranging from
40 to 300 surface feet per minute. The sealed edge is tapered with
no bead or bulk and eliminates the “dog bone” effect
on rolled material. A producer of web guiding systems, BST International, Elmhurst,
IL, has introduced two products for the control and guiding of moving
webs. The ekr Pro Com 60 is a compact unit designed for simple integration
and use over a wide range of printing, converting and OEM applications.
The unit uses a unique new operator interface, which combines color-coded
icons for simplicity and an LCD dot matrix display, with data in
both numeric and graphic form. The ekr Pro Com controller is available
in both stand-alone or panel-mount units, providing the flexibility
for integration into OEM systems. The system integrates the ekr Pro Com family of controllers, a
new CCD Pro Sensor, Pro Logic module and a new ProTouch touch screen
user interface. Website: Chase Machine & Engineering, West Warwick, RI, recently celebrated
its 50th year of web handling. Known for its design and manufacture
of ultrasonic web handling machinery such as laminators and slitters,
Chase continues to provide its customers with state-of-the-art solutions
for their web handling challenges. Chicago-based Chicago Cutting Die is now manufacturing a complete line of embossing and crimping tools for the nonwovens converting industry using premium tool steel in the manufacturing process. The rolls can be fully heat treated, surface heat treated or used with an ultrasonic sealing horn. Website: www.chicagocuttingdie.com A machine supplier within the airlaid industry, Dan-Webforming,
Aarhus, Denmark, is combining airlaid technology with other technologies
to create new product applications. These combinations include carded-airlaid-carded
(CAC), carded-airlaid (CA), spunbond-airlaid-spunbond (SAS) and
airlaid-spunbond-airlaid (ASA) technologies. Tension equipment manufacturer Dover Flexo Electronics, Rochester,
NH, has introduced the WebHandler tm3 digital tension controller.
The compact and simple WebHandler tm3 brings precise, automatic
closed-loop web control to nonwovens converting machinery at a highly
competitive price. Working with input from DFE tension transducers,
the compact Webhandlertm3 controls output to a tensioning component
such as a pneumatic brake, clutch or DC drive. Franklin, MA-based Dynisco has introduced a wear-resistant coating for melt pressure transducer diaphragms called DyMax. DyMax has replaced Armoloy as the industry standard for melt pressure transducer coatings. All Dynisco melt pressure transducer products with Armoloy coating
will now come with DyMax. Elsner Engineering Works, Hanover, PA, has introduced its Model
ENR-760 and ENR-1000 Automatic Nonwoven Rewinders. Monomonee Falls, WI-based Enercon has introduced the Plasma3,
a proprietary atmospheric glow discharge surface treatment system
for functionalizing narrow and wide nonwoven webs. The Plasma3 system
can modify the entire fiber network of webs with dual-sided treatment.
Fab-Con Machinery Development Corporation, Port Washington, NY, produces final state finishing equipment for the knit and nonwoven textile segments. The company’s most recent offerings have focused on the development
of a reliable, highly productive mechanical systems for improving
the softness of certain woven, printed knit and nonwoven fabrics.
Fleissner opened a newly upgraded nonwovens technical center at its Egelsbach, Germany headquarters and provided a workshop for customers of the nonwovens industry under the motto “nonwovens speed-up.” The workshop accomplished two things for the company. The first was to demonstrate its desire to lead dynamic development in the nonwovens market with its high-performance machinery; the second was to demonstrate that Fleissner's new line is available for hydrentanglement trials at speeds from 200 to 600 m/min. Website: www.fleissner.de. F.O.R., a division of Fincarde based in Biella, Italy, has developed
the Injection card specifically for the nonwovens industry. Manitowoc, WI-based Foster Needle has introduced the Conical Star
needle. The new design mixes the efficient fiber-carrying capacity
of the Star Blade with a stable conical blade shape. Ideal for process-heating a wide range of air-permeable products, Glenro’s Through-Air Dryer supplies heated air to the interior of the dryer enclosure through a perforated plenum mounted above the product line. Heat transfer throughout the entire product is almost instant. Air drawn in through the suction plenum is returned to the burner chamber for reheating and re-use. The dryer has a small footprint, measuring only 6.5 feet long by seven feet by 4.5 feet deep excluding ductwork and heating apparatus. Website: www.glenro.com. Ulatrasonic plastic bonding and welding systems producer Hermann Ultrasonics, Schaumburg, IL, has introduced the Microdialog touch CS operator interface to provide process control and easy operation. An industrial 12-inch, full-color touch screen allows the user
to enter process parameters, save weld recipes and visualize important
process data as graphics. Fully digital ultrasonic generators Dynamic
digital control CS provide peak power outputs of up to 4000 watts.
Water treatment specialist, Idrosistem Energy, Bassano del Grappa, Italy, has introduced its latest sand filtration with flotation device combined in the same unit. The system works using a recycling mechanism in which the water is saturated with air similar to the way it is in a flotation unit. The result is increased efficiency in the removal of any finishing products, including surface agents and oils. It is now possible for spunlace producers using cotton to treat wastewater directly in the sand filters without having to pre-treat the fiber in a flotation unit. Website: www.idrosistem.com. Sparta, NJ-based Indemax, Inc., has been producing direct replacement hot-melt glue machine parts for machines made by such companies as Nordson, Meltex and Graco since 1978. Indemax makes special hoses up to 80 feet long with inside diameters in excess of six inches, used to heat everything from polymers to lipstick. Hose to actual glue temperatures translate to optimum control and extended hose life. Indemax nozzles are sized to within .0005 inches of the intended diameter, and modules are drip-proof because they are shut off at the tip, incorporating double hydraulic seals. Website: www.indemax.com. Independent Machine Co., Fairfield, NJ, has introduced its latest system for slitting and traverse winding nonwoven material. The system includes the insertion of a polyethylene liner at each winding position to protect the product as it is spooled or rewound and allow for each position to traverse or pancake wind. The new 10-inch-wide system features six Smartwinder 2000 modular cubes which operate inline with the unwind slitter section. The slitter includes a cantilevered unwind with programmable constant tension, auto edge guide, adjustable peel off roll, entry and “S” wrap pull rolls and the exclusive IMC interchangeable slitting assemblies for shear, score and razor slittings. Website: www.independentusa.com. Isra Surface Vision, Norcross, GA, is a worldwide producer of surface inspection systems for nonwovens. Based on the Smash Web Processor, a new faster and advanced system is available. The system is a modular system that combines superior capability, speed and expandability at an affordable price. The open architecture allows the real time inspection information to be interfaced with PLCs, control systems and networks. The defects can be zoomed individually or displayed in a photo album format with cross web and down web location, size and type. Website: www.isravision.com. Testing and equipment manufacturer James H. Heal, Halifax, U.K., has added a range of instruments to its offerings. Included are the xenon arc light and weather fastness tester, Appolo, and a advanced instrument facilitating the close control of sunlight, temperature and humidity. An addition to Heal's Martindale family is the Mini-Martindale, a single-head abrasion tester that can be used for a range of applications. The digital tear tester, Elmatear, now has improved jaws and can be connected to a PC for analysis of test results. TruBurst, Heal's intelligent bursting strength tester is now available as an advanced model that allows cyclic testing. Website: www.james-heal.co.uk. Küsters has introduced the Krefelda calender innovation that helps cut both time and production costs. The Twin Calender enables the changing of a pattern or an easy
switch from embossing to bonding within minutes. The Watt Fluid Applicator by Huron, OH-based Latanick Equipment, is an “economical process” that applies a measured amount of liquid accurately and evenly, moving at variable processing speeds on a manufacturing line. Fluid application has been applied up to a 96-inch width in the cross direction. It can be controlled from a thread speed exceeding 1500 feet/min. Website: www.plantfloor.com. Rockford, IL-based Martin Automatic has introduced a splice unit for the production of disposable products. The new MSL splice unit will splice most substrates, including traditional nonwovens, airlaid nonwovens, films, tissues and laminated webs. The MSL can be provided as part of a separate unit for integration by the customer. The cantilevered splice unit was designed for easy operator access and thread-up. The flexibility of the MSL allows it to be mounted in any orientation, making it ideal for retrofitting to existing unwind equipment. Website: www.martinautomatic.com. Carding machine, fiber preparation and blending line manufacturer Masias Maquinara, SA, has developed a new airlaying line that enables the user to feed a pad formed with virgin or recycled fibers directly to an oven or a needle punch machine. Masais installations include complete fiber preparation lines, air laying and pad forming units, ovens and cutting and rolling units. The airlaying line is currently available for trials in the Masias showroom. Website: www.masias.com. Massen Machine Vision Systems, Lohnerhofstr, Germany, continues to solve the most demanding quality problems in industrial nonwovens production a new fast, automatic inspection system that ensures the esthetical quality of color-printed nonwovens. Website: www.massen.com. Westerly, RI-based Maxson Automatic Machinery Company has introduced its Dual Position Roll Stand, that is able to handle two rolls. Each position can lift a roll up to 84 inches in diameter and up to 7000 pounds at speeds up to 3000 feet per minute. Hydraulically powered, each position loads a roll by lowering both arms and then moving each toward the roll. Sufficient clamping pressure is exited to drive the chucks into the core. Website: www.maxsonautomatic.com. Miller Weldmaster Corp, Navarre, OH, has introduced a continuous filter tubing system. The Miller system is able to pull fabric off of rolls and pre-fold it into a desired tube diameter and then weld it into a tube. After the filter has welded the filter, it is pulled directly into a precise cut-to-length system. A programmed footage counter or optical sensor dictates the filter bag length. The filter bag is then swept into any package or material handling system desired. The Miller System has line speeds up to 60 feet per minute with limited-to-no operator involvement. Miller Weldmaster also produces a complete line of fabric welding and handling equipment for the cured-in-place pipeline industry. Website: www.vinylwelders.com. Lavale, MD-based National Jet Company, manufactures spinnerets
and melt blown die tips for the nonwovens industry. Additionally, the company has recently received its ISO 9001:2000
certification, which applies to National Jet’s micro-machining
services, including the latest in micro-hole technology used in
the textile industry. Website: www.najet.com. Dawsonville, GA-based Nordson Corporation, has introduced a nonwovens
system that provides disposable product manufacturers with new performance
capabilities that improve production efficiency and reduce adhesive
usage. System development for spinning and formation has resulted in the finest bi-compnent webs in the industry. Recent visits by Chinese delegations have most certainly contributed to additional machine sales in China, an important target market. Website: www.Nordson.com. Osprey Corporation, Atlanta, is expanding its operations in Conyers,
GA, to consolidate all of its systems product lines with its auxiliary
plastics machinery manufacturing. PBI-Dansensor, Glen Rock, NJ, offers the LYSSY Water Vapor Permeability
Tester for quick and accurate assessment of moisture barrier properties
and increased reproducibility. Unlike the traditional cup test method
in which ambient moisture and temperature created constantly changing
conditions and require longer test times, the LYSSY MVTR tester
works within a sealed chamber that features a controlled humidity
and temperature environment. LYSSY water vapor transmission testers
are used to assess the quality of nonwovens, films, blister packaging,
metallized foils, impermeable fabrics, PUR-coated fabrics for nursing
and surgical and hygienic membranes. Focusing on conveyor fabric cleaning problems, ProJet BV, Meerssen,
Netherlands, offers the ProJet line of fabric cleaning products
that focus 1200 to 5000 psig water pressure at a consumption rate
of 0.25 gpm per cleaning nozzle. Sensor Products, Inc., East Hanover, NJ, has introduced D-Nip,
the first electronic, real-time nip profiling system. The system
is a valuable process control tool for any web-based production
environment as it reveals inaccurate roll alignment, roll skewing
and crown deficiencies. These problems can result in unevenly processed,
wrinkled or mottled products, compacted sheets, excessive sheet
breaks and blackening during calendaring. Pinhole detection specialist, Summit Engineering, Columbia, SC, has introduced the DC-3000 line of inspection equipment. The 3000 series offers many new features including dynamic edge guide tracking and programmable inspection lanes. Intelligent inspection lanes automatically move with the product to ensure accurately defined lanes. Standard roll mapping and a user-friendly product set-up screen simplifies product change. Roll map history is provided with every roll. Product records include defect and count size definitions that permit categorizing alarm conditions with each set-up. Basic units include 16 alarm points. Website: www.summitengineering.com. Taber Industries, Buffalo, NY, has introduced the Rotary Platform
Abraser for use in evaluating the wear resistance of nonwoven materials.
Testing equipment manufacturer Textest, Zurich, Switzerland, has introduced the FX 3000-III automatic hydrostatic head tester hydrotester. The Hydrotester III reduces observation time in a Hydrostatic Head Test to zero with an automatic drop detector. This detector recognizes the penetrating drops and terminates the test after the first or third drop has appeared. This completely eliminates the need for an operator to watch the specimen and all drops are rated equally, eliminating all inter-operator variation. The instrument may also be used without the automatic drop detector. The result is displayed in any of three selectable units of measure. Different test heads with different test areas can easily be fitted to the instrument, and 11 pre-programmed pressure gradients and pressure programs make it possible to test in compliance with any known standard. Website: www.textest.ch. Philadelphia-based Thwing-Albert Instrument Company has recently
completed the necessary requirements to achieve ISO 9001:2000 certification.
Among the testing instrument company's new offerings are the ATS-600
absorption test system. Thwing-Albert has also introduced a line of PC-controlled universal
materials tester, the EJA Vantage Series, suited for nonwovens testing.
A provider of machine vision inspection systems and products to
the manufacturing and converting industries, Santa Rosa, CA-based
Webview, Inc., has introduced Webview |