Specialty Spunlace

This goal was met earlier this year with the introduction of a unique brand of nonwovens characterized by low-linting, strong drapability and softness. These products, marketed under the name Licial, were released for use as operating room protective garments, low-linting wiping fabrics and in niche bed linen applications.

Today, Inotis continues to stand out in the nonwovens industry, dominated by viscose and polyester fiber production, with its innovations in hydrophilic spunlace—the first phase of the Licial product launch. These products, which are made without the use of binders, limit allergic reactions in the operating room and interference with detergents and other products in industrial wiping areas.They are also designed to deal with static and flammability issues.

The second phase of the Licial product launch, Inotis’ hydrophobic products, will include all of Inotis’ standard properties—high drapability, low-linting and softness—combined with additional high barrier properties. Its release—since the product line has already met industry regulatory guidelines—is anticipated for the near future.

Typical customers of Inotis’ spunlace nonwovens are converters who manufacture wipes or wipe systems for surface preparation, automatic print cleaning, operation room cleaning and cleaning in extremely clean production environments (electromechanical components, chips, nuclear and aeronautic construction and maintenance, food, glass and lenses production).

Inotis products are manufactured at the company’s facility in Western Algeria, while all sales and marketing is handled at its subsidiary, Dinotis, in Paris, France. Although Algeria has no previous textile production of any significance, Inotis still views the country as a worthy investment. One of the capital’s leading entrepreneurs, Hafaouni Baba, has been involved in the nonwovens industry via Fanotis—a separate division of Inotis—for 15 years. These years of experience add to the country’s potential to compete in a technically demanding market.

In addition, Inotis has strategically invested in Algeria to provide an alternative location for converting activities. This will benefit many of Inotis’ existing and potential partners in Europe by providing a closer location than Southeast Asia for converting operations for woodpulp/polyester spunlace.

Bernard Kerstens, Inotis’ director of sales and marketing, commented, “Even though the local market is certainly not ready for the products Inotis makes, there is a large interest from foreign companies to set up different converting activities that would clearly benefit from the presence of Inotis.” Mr. Kerstens added that Algeria’s interest in diversifying into activities of equal or greater value to its oil and gas industry made the region financially attractive.

In the near future, Inotis plans to expand its lab facilities into a research and development facility. This will allow Inotis to use innovative technology to provide its customers with even more quality products. It will also be attractive to numerous new companies that seek to utilize Inotis’ technology for their own converting activities.

Inotis’ ultimate aim is to be a frontrunner in the development, marketing and production of spunlace nonwovens for critical environments where contamination control is of vital importance.—A.G.