In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, nonwoven producers constantly have to seek avenues to innovate and stay ahead of the curve. Enter Trützschler Nonwovens’ modern NCTC (Nonwovens Customer and Technology Center) – a hub of innovation, now also equipped with a brand new T SUPREMA needle-punching line.
The Egelsbach facility is conveniently located just 15 km away from Frankfurt/Main airport, Germany, and offers fiber-based nonwoven producers a myriad of opportunities to explore and expand their horizons.
At the heart of NCTC lie its cutting-edge, commercial-scale trial lines allowing for rapid product development and process engineering. NCTC also boasts comprehensive laboratory and testing facilities. The showroom showcases hundreds of nonwoven samples derived from both internal trials at NCTC and those provided by customers. They give tangible evidence of Trützschler machinery’s capabilities.
Needle-punching in the NCTC
Whether your focus is on geotextiles, filter media, automotive textiles, or other durable technical nonwoven materials, our facility is primed to implement your ideas. The T-SUPREMA needling-punching line is powered by the precision of the Trützschler Nonwovens’ T-BLEND fiber preparation system, NC roller card, crosslapper and web drafter. Efficient and uniform bonding is achieved through the integration of two needlelooms and a felt drafter, provided by Texnology srl.
Notably, the line’s strength lies in its wide working window. Its exceptional flexibility allows to manufacture both lightweight and heavyweight nonwovens, extending from 30 grams per square meter (gsm) to over 2,000 gsm on the same line configuration.
Spunlacing and through-air bonding
Central to the NCTC’s hydroentangling line are two distinct roller cards and the AquaJet spunlacing system. A high-speed NCT card consistently handles both man-made and virgin cotton fibers with, while the NCA airlay card offers opportunities by processing short fibers, reaching as low as 12 mm fiber length. This versatile configuration, featuring a 1,000 mm working width, reaches production speeds of up to 300 meters per minute at the winder.
The modular AquaJet system allows for flexibility beyond lightweight and medium-weight nonwovens typically used in wet and dry wipes, cosmetic pads or medical applications. With the capability to generate high-pressure (up to 400 bar) water jets, NCTC’s AquaJet also accommodate the production of durable technical nonwovens, such as coating substrates and even hot gas filter media. Incorporating unwinders facilitates the development of composite products, such as Carded/Pulp (CP) nonwovens made from pulp-based, wet-laid and carded webs.
This multi-purpose line also houses an Omega-shaped thermobonder for implementing through-air bonding processes. NCTC’s through-air bonding configuration allows for the production of soft, flexible and bulky nonwovens with specific characteristics tailored to the intended use.
Experiencing T-ONE for product development
Utilizing digitalization, Trützschler Nonwovens’ T-ONE implementation for trial lines aids nonwoven producers in optimizing their product development workflows. NCTC integrates T-ONE for efficient trial documentation, encompassing line configurations, product quality data, and recipe refinement.
NCTC fosters a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. By bringing together experts from various fields, it becomes a melting pot of ideas and expertise. Through collaborative trial and training sessions, customers can tap into Trützschler’s wealth of knowledge, pushing existing boundaries of products and production processes.
