Tara Olivo, associate editor08.06.15
EcoTechnilin
Unit 4
Grovemere Court
Bicton Industrial Estate
Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire
PE28 0EY, U.K.
+44 (0) 1480860403
info@ecotechnilin.com
www.ecotechnilin.com
EcoTechnilin is a leading producer of nonwoven, natural fiber mats in Europe, primarily for the automobile industry. The company is British-owned with a factory in France and an R&D center in the U.K.
The French factory is located in Normandy in the center of the area where flax-production has been a main industry for over a century. The factory was set up by two flax cooperatives to use the shorter fibers that were discarded during the production of the long flax fibers used by the world’s textile industry.
EcoTechnilin’s parent company Wellgrain is the largest independent grain trading company in the U.K., and in the mid 2000s the grain price was low, so there were incentives for farmers to grow crops such as linseed and hemp. This led to EcoTechnilin’s start in the nonwovens industry.
“The first technology developed by EcoTechnilin was a simple airlaid oil absorbent made from linseed fibers mixed with PE before being lightly consolidated in an oven,” says William Anthony, marketing director EcoTechnilin. “The factory in France was purchased in 2009 as it had become clear that there was strong demand from the car industry.”
Each year, EcoTechnilin produces around 7000 tons of mat for applications including door trims, trunk trims, parcel shelves and head linings. The company uses the carding/crosslap/needlepunch process to make NF/PP, glass/PP and 100% flax nonwovens. “The strength and properties of these materials can be enhanced by patented processes that are unique to EcoTechnilin,” Anthony explains.
In addition to the automotive industry, which Anthony says is a key and significantly growing market as customers see that thermo-compressed nonwovens offer an extremely cost effective solution for light-weighting, the aerospace industry is another target market for the company.
“The latest nonwoven material combines flax, basalt and a waste-sugar-based bioresin to form a fast curing, strong, fire-resistant composite that is now in production in an airline galley cart,” he says. “We have developed some innovative, 100% bio-sourced materials for construction; these are currently ‘on-the-shelf’ waiting for the time that the market will be prepared to pay a little extra for bio-sourced, carbon-negative materials.”
Anthony also highlights the benefits of using natural fibers such as flax: they are lightweight and strong; they are hollow so they have good resin retention; they have better properties at failure and no sharp edges; they are sustainable and recyclable—EcoTechnilin’s flax is considered “waste;” they have low embodied energy and are easy to manhandle—the fibers don’t prick or sting; and they have minimal environmental impact.
Currently, EcoTechnilin is shipping material to North America, Central America, South America, Eastern Europe and Asia, and Anthony is confident that nonwoven production lines will be installed in these markets as demand continues to rise.
“We have consistently invested in processes that add value to our materials,” he says. “These are achieved both in-house and through work with partners and allow us to provide nonwovens, pre-pregs and pre-compressed materials that bring real benefits to our customers by increasing performance while reducing costs and cycle times.”
With EcoTechnilin’s technology, Anthony says it is the only company that understands and offers solutions for the whole process from field to end user. “Bespoke lines and an experienced team mean that we are able to offer the best quality nonwovens in the world,” he touts, adding that the company recently won the project for the new E Class Mercedes automobile, which was awarded on the basis of the quality of EcoTechnilin’s nonwoven flax/PP material.
“Nonwovens is experiencing significant growth, and we anticipate our turnover doubling in the next three years,” he concludes.
Unit 4
Grovemere Court
Bicton Industrial Estate
Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire
PE28 0EY, U.K.
+44 (0) 1480860403
info@ecotechnilin.com
www.ecotechnilin.com
The French factory is located in Normandy in the center of the area where flax-production has been a main industry for over a century. The factory was set up by two flax cooperatives to use the shorter fibers that were discarded during the production of the long flax fibers used by the world’s textile industry.
EcoTechnilin’s parent company Wellgrain is the largest independent grain trading company in the U.K., and in the mid 2000s the grain price was low, so there were incentives for farmers to grow crops such as linseed and hemp. This led to EcoTechnilin’s start in the nonwovens industry.
“The first technology developed by EcoTechnilin was a simple airlaid oil absorbent made from linseed fibers mixed with PE before being lightly consolidated in an oven,” says William Anthony, marketing director EcoTechnilin. “The factory in France was purchased in 2009 as it had become clear that there was strong demand from the car industry.”
Each year, EcoTechnilin produces around 7000 tons of mat for applications including door trims, trunk trims, parcel shelves and head linings. The company uses the carding/crosslap/needlepunch process to make NF/PP, glass/PP and 100% flax nonwovens. “The strength and properties of these materials can be enhanced by patented processes that are unique to EcoTechnilin,” Anthony explains.
In addition to the automotive industry, which Anthony says is a key and significantly growing market as customers see that thermo-compressed nonwovens offer an extremely cost effective solution for light-weighting, the aerospace industry is another target market for the company.
“The latest nonwoven material combines flax, basalt and a waste-sugar-based bioresin to form a fast curing, strong, fire-resistant composite that is now in production in an airline galley cart,” he says. “We have developed some innovative, 100% bio-sourced materials for construction; these are currently ‘on-the-shelf’ waiting for the time that the market will be prepared to pay a little extra for bio-sourced, carbon-negative materials.”
Anthony also highlights the benefits of using natural fibers such as flax: they are lightweight and strong; they are hollow so they have good resin retention; they have better properties at failure and no sharp edges; they are sustainable and recyclable—EcoTechnilin’s flax is considered “waste;” they have low embodied energy and are easy to manhandle—the fibers don’t prick or sting; and they have minimal environmental impact.
Currently, EcoTechnilin is shipping material to North America, Central America, South America, Eastern Europe and Asia, and Anthony is confident that nonwoven production lines will be installed in these markets as demand continues to rise.
“We have consistently invested in processes that add value to our materials,” he says. “These are achieved both in-house and through work with partners and allow us to provide nonwovens, pre-pregs and pre-compressed materials that bring real benefits to our customers by increasing performance while reducing costs and cycle times.”
With EcoTechnilin’s technology, Anthony says it is the only company that understands and offers solutions for the whole process from field to end user. “Bespoke lines and an experienced team mean that we are able to offer the best quality nonwovens in the world,” he touts, adding that the company recently won the project for the new E Class Mercedes automobile, which was awarded on the basis of the quality of EcoTechnilin’s nonwoven flax/PP material.
“Nonwovens is experiencing significant growth, and we anticipate our turnover doubling in the next three years,” he concludes.
