German machinery and plant manufacturer Reifenhäuser Reicofil has temporarily converted two of its test plants due to production lines to make materials designed to fight the Coronavirus pandemic. The lines have been making meltblown materials for the produciotn of face masks for that past week.


Dr. Bernd Kunze, CEO of Reifenhäuser Reicofil, says, “We have considered what contribution we can make in this crisis. This is of course mainly the fast delivery of meltblown lines to build up
additional capacities. We have drastically reduced our delivery times here. But we also wanted to provide support at shorter notice. Until the currently lacking capacities are built up, we are therefore stepping in with the test plants in our pilot plant station. Not using this capacity now would be irresponsible in our view.”

Until further notice, the meltblown lines will be operated in four-shift operation running 24 hours per day. The daily output is sufficient for up to one million face masks. Trial operations will be almost completely suspended during this period.

The meltblown material from the nonwoven technology center is already sold out for the next five weeks. As no German or European producer for further processing could be found so far, the nonwoven fabric is going to a Vietnamese manufacturer of face masks. However, Reifenhäuser continues to look for opportunities to strengthen the local supply during this crisis. The company is in close contact with associations, authorities and other companies.

Kunze explains that material for other medical protective clothing could also be produced at short notice: “We assume that protective suits, hoods, etc. will also become scarce. We are happy to offer our help here as well,” he says. One of our pilot lines can produce the corresponding material, an SMS nonwoven, in the highest quality at short notice. In the medium term, however, we should also expand the real production capacities in Germany or Europe with new plants here as well.”

Reifenhauser has also shortened the supply window of its meltblown lines to three-and-a-half months.