Nonwoven Solutions, LLC (NWS), headquartered in Lakemoor, IL, USA, has announced that it has purchased a complete new nonwoven production line that will feature needlepunching as the bonding technology.

To accommodate the new line, NWS has acquired the adjacent building, adding 50,000 square feet to its footprint. This space will accommodate the new line, which will feature LaRoche equipment for opening and blending, followed by N Schlumberger (Thibeau & Asselin) for web forming and needlepunching. Capacity of the line will be up to 1200 Kg/Hr at a width of 4.4 meters. As with all other production at NWS, only white or natural fibers will be processed and all will be made according to GMP quality operating standards.

“The demand for extremely uniform and very clean fabrics at low basis weights has been the driving force in making the selection for this equipment,” says Dave Gastall, plant manager.

“We knew from experience, and based on the due diligence carried out these past few months, that the equipment selected was completely up to the task,” adds Steve Brown, general manager.

On the engineered fabrics side of the business, the new line adds the ability to produce fabrics to very precise specifications at a reduced manufacturing cost, allowing NWS to offer competitive prices, strategically located in the middle of the country.

Tom Leineberg, CFO at NWS, notes that demand for NWS material has expanded to the point that the additional line was fully warranted. Gastall reports that demand has pushed NWS to become a 24/7 operation since January of this year. With commissioning expected in December 2011, NWS says it’s anxious to add capacity to meet the growing demand for its product.