Papel Aralar, a leading Spanish specialty paper manufacturer, has invested in a new wetlace line. Supplied by Voith-Trutzschler and the first of its kind to be installed globally, it is scheduled for start of operations in early 2015.

The investment will deepen Aralar’s involvement in the nonwovens industry, to which it is already a leading supplier of fabrics for the production of pulp-based hydroentangled products.

Aralar says it will be targeting the flushable wipes market with the introduction of the new equipment. With the latest technology available for flushable substrate production, Aralar will be able to deliver a fabric that it says will combine flushability with superior physical values in a package that will be 100% cellulosic and, therefore, biodegradable.

Long experience in the use of Voith equipment, its traditional equipment supplier, along with a track record in fiber handling and availability of in-house energy production, will position Aralar as a capable and competitive supplier to the growing flushable wipe market. The extensive expertise of the company in fiber handling for wet laid systems makes the operation of wetlace machinery a natural step.

Based in northern Spain and family-owned, Aralar has been involved in the production of fiber-based products since 1937. It manufactures 100,000 tons of low-grammage papers a year, 75% of which are exported. Aralar holds leadership positions in a number of highly technical segments within the paper industry.

For more information visit www.papelaralar.com.