Nonwovens machinery specialist Reicofil has developed new nonwovens technology that will allow it to improve its offerings to hygiene applications while expanding into new market areas. The company’s developments in high loft spunbond technology offers unique possibilities for the manufacture of thick, soft nonwovens that have the potential to unlock new areas of application for our customers, according Michael Maas, operations director research & development at Reicofil.
 
The hygiene market is seeing an uptick in demand for bulky and soft nonwovens, a trend that is being driven by Asia and influencing the European and U.S. diaper markets: These soft touch applications play an increasingly important role, especially in topsheet and back sheet applications where mid-segment product ranges are being gradually squeezed out of the market by premium products. Maas comments: “In the future, our customers will have to offer soft nonwoven products all over the world. It is critical to their businesses to adopt developments early and to be innovative. We already started years ago to develop the technology basis for softer products. Today we are able to offer various solutions for different customer needs.”
 
Voluminous nonwovens generally consist of self-crimping fibers but the Reicofil  technology, uses filaments from two different raw materials produced in a side-by-side structure and bonded using hot air or a special embossing calendar. The result is a premium nonwoven used as a top and backsheet in premium diapers.
 
“Our technology is reliable and efficient, Maas says. It offers a perfect balance of production costs and product properties.”
 
The process for 3D nonwovens is being constantly developed at the Reicofil Technology Center, the world’s largest research and development center dedicated to the production of spunbond nonwovens. In Troisdorf, Reicofil uses three high-tech lines to carry out research in close cooperation with customers, institutions and other partners.
 
Another area where Reicofil sees potential for its high loft nonwovesn is in packaging of bulk goods. The company’s “Rethinking Packaging” project includes solutions for packaging bulk materials with nonwovens. The team has developed nonwoven cement bag prototypes. “Imagine transferring this solution to packaging all kinds of bulk goods—there is a gigantic potential for nonwovens in the packaging industry,” Maas adds. “Our current developments will wipe away paper bags and woven polypropylene bags due to its superior performance per weight and its unbeatable price.
 
Reicofil will present this new technology as well as other developments at the K Trade Show for Plastics and Rubber in Dusseldorf, Germany.