Last week Pegas Nonwovens announced it would add a second line to its Egyptian operation. The news came as a surprise to no one. When it established the site back in 2011, the company said it would add a second line to the site in the 2015-2016 timeframe.

What was interesting about the announcement however was the company’s decision to invest in the latest Reicofil technology—the S-Twin MB-s 2600 RF4 Compact BiCo line. This new technology platform offers lower capacity, and a lower initial investment, than other Reicofil lines.

Pegas reports the capacity on the new line will not exceed 10,000 tons per year, significantly less than other spunmelt investments which have ranged from 15,000 to 24,000 tons in recent years. Executives also cited lower investments costs and low demands on infrastructures as reasons why it chose this line.

This new platform, of which Pegas is the first reported customer, represents a new day in the nonwovens industry. By offering potential customers a smaller line, Reifenhauser is lowering the cost of entry into the spunmelt market and offering opportunities for newcomers to the industry. Companies can still have all of the benefits of Reifenhauser technology like high processing speeds, lighter weights and fabric uniformity at a more affordable price point.

For existing customers like Pegas Nonwovens, which has been buying Reicofil lines regularly for more than a decade, the new technology allows a more gradual capacity increase, which is ideal for developing markets where growth is strong but instable. In announcing its new line, Pegas said the it would allow it to gradually increase its capacity with minimal building modifications.

As for Reicofil, the new technology will help it attract up and comers in emerging markets like China or North Africa who could not meet the initial investment requirement for larger lines. I think we can expect to see more of these lines popping up around the world.