Romania-based Minet S.A. has ordered a neXline spunlace eXcelle line from Andritz. The new line will be able to process various fibers from 25 to 70 gsm to produce a wide range of hygiene products. Start-up is expected during the second quarter of 2022.

The production capacity of the line, which will be the first of its kind in Romania, will be 10,000 tons a year, while the operating speed will be up to 250 meters per minute and the maximum output at the carding outlet around 1,500 kiloggrams per hour.

ANDRITZ will deliver a complete line, from web forming to drying. The line will integrate one high-speed TT card, the robust Jetlace Essentiel hydroentanglement unit equipped with a neXecodry S1 system for energy saving, and a neXdry double-drum through-air dryer.

 “The Minet group is a company with a long-term vision and sustainable growth. Our strategy has always been to identify and fully meet market needs,” says Minet commercial director Cristian Niculae. “The main reason why we decided in favor of a spunlace process was the fast development of our local wipes market recently. Romania should have spunlace nonwovens, so Minet – as the local frontrunner in nonwovens – has decided to become the first factory there using this technology.”

Previous collaborations between Minet and Andritz include the installation of a neXline needlepunch eXcelle line, which primarily serves the automotives market.  For this contract, Andritz delivered a complete line from fiber preparation to end-of-line, also integrating card, crosslapper, batt drafter, two needlelooms and a Zeta felt drafter with a working width of more than six meters. The line is also equipped with the unique ProDyn web profiling system, operating as a closed-loop control system in order to ensure perfect evenness of the products.

Founded in 1983, Minet is the most important producer of nonwovens in Romania and serves more than 1000 customers. The company delivers about 20 million square meters of needlepunched felts per year targeting many different fields, such as automotive, geotextiles, and wadding.