International technology group Andritz is presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at INDEX. Its broad product portfolio covers state-of-the-art nonwovens and textile production technologies from air-through bonding to needlepunch, spunlace, and natural fiber processing, among many others.

A highlight of this year’s tradeshow is the introduction of a new member of the Andritz Nonwoven division: Andritz Laroche. The company has been a critical partner for Andritz in the field of fiber preparation for drylaid nonwovens for over 10 years. Andritz Laroche is a leading supplier of fiber processing technologies. These include opening, blending and dosing, airlay web forming, textile waste recycling, and decortication of bast fibers.

Sustainability is obligatory for the industry and Andritz’s “We Care” sustainability program combines all environment, social, governance initiatives, goals and achievements under one roof. For years, Andritz has offered different nonwoven processes, like spunlace, wetlace and wetlace CP, with the goal of reduction and elimination of plastic components while maintaining the high quality of the desired product properties. The Andritz neXline wetlace CP line is the latest development in this field. The fully engineered production line combines the benefits of wetlaid and drylaid technologies to produce a new generation of biodegradable wipes.

To better serve customers while offering the best possible R&D and service, Andritz has invested in and upgraded its technical center in Montbonnot, France, to a Wetlace CP line. It is the first nonwovens test center for wipes worldwide with integrated pulp formation. Customers can conduct trials and test all options for wipes together with its experts.

In response to the demand to save raw materials, Andritz is presenting its neXline spunlace for lightweight fabrics. Given the challenge of reducing weight per square meter while maintaining high MD and CD tensile strength, Andritz provides the well-known TT card web forming and the high-performance Jetlace hydroentanglement units, which can more than fulfill these demands. The spunlace roll goods can achieve weights of 25 gsm and even less for ultralight spunlace fabrics, and web uniformity is excellent.

Andritz is also introducing its adult pants 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 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.

Another highlight at INDEX is the latest technology developments in the spunlaid sector. The patented nonwovens process called “Spunjet” 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.